Climate change impact on a specific species/ecosystem

I chose Monarch Butterfly

Summarize a primary (i.e., peer-reviewed) research article (not a review article) presenting original research documenting climate change effects on a species or ecosystem. Please do not use the species examples already presented in the required materials for this module. Please select an article that is not more than 10 years old.

The summary should be about 500 words in length (3 or 4 paragraphs) and it should essentially provide the answers to the “who, why, where, when, how, and what” questions. The summary must be written in paragraphs with sentences (no bullet points). Imagine your summary might be published in a review journal/outlet. You should include the following parts:

1. Title of the article you are summarizing
2. Introduction
   1. The topic
   2. The author’s research question(s)/thesis statement
   3. The author’s hypotheses or predictions and the reasons behind those predictions
3. Methods
   1. Brief description of the population/community studied, materials and procedure, variables measured and controlled variables
4. Results and discussion
   1. Main results
   2. Discuss whether the results supported or contradicted the hypotheses
5. Conclusions
   1. Implications of the findings (especially in the larger context of climate change effects) and applications of the study
   2. Limitations of the study
6. Complete reference of the article you summarized following APA style.

Answer preview

Climate change has affected many ecosystems in different ways and degrees. One of the most affected insects of the monarch butterfly. I selected an article that looks into the topic of ‘Climate change and an invasive, tropical milkweed: an ecological trap for monarch butterflies.’ The main research questions designed by the researchers include whether temperatures affect the mortality and wellbeing of monarch butterflies. They also ask how temperatures and other effects of climate change affect the insects. Besides, they look into the query of the difference between how climatic conditions affect monarch butterflies now and in the future. The authors hypothesize that climatic change harms butterflies’ mortality, growth, and wellbeing. They predict such a case because of the notable difference in the number of monarch butterflies presently as compared to the past. The article suggests that climate changes and more specifically, higher temperatures, are primary reasons for the future high mortality rates and low mass feeding among male monarch butterflies.

(682words)