NYBG EcoFlora August EcoQuest Challenge

The August EcoQuest Challenge is MONARCHS AND MILKWEEDS

Scientists estimate that Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have declined by more than half since last year. From January through July, 2019, New Yorkers observed 201 Monarch Butterflies in the five boroughs. This year, only 133 have been observed (even though observations overall are up 6%). Milkweed plants (Asclepias) are the only food source for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars. How many can you find?

Posted on August 2, 2020 12:43 PM by danielatha danielatha

Comments

Most of my milkweed Observations are indirect. The Observations are about the insects ON the milkweeds, rather than Observations OF the milkweeds themselves. I wonder if there's a way to include these Observations in "Observations of milkweeds".

I'm using the following Observation Fields to identify these interactions and associations:

Interaction->Visited flower of: When the insect was on a flower.
Example: Asclepias incarnata - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:Interaction-%3EVisited%20flower%20of=125381
Host Plant ID: If I know the insect feeds on the milkweed in some way, e.g.: monarchs, milkweed bugs
Example: Asclepias syriaca - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=table&user_id=xris&verifiable=any&field:Host%20Plant%20ID=47911
Name of Associated Plant: In addition to the above, or instead of if there is no clear direct relationship, but the insect is clearly using the plant in some way, e.g.: aphid wasps using the milkweed as a hunting ground while looking for aphids,.
Example: Asclepias syriaca: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=table&user_id=xris&verifiable=any&field:Name%20of%20Associated%20Plant=47911

I know that Collection projects can use these fields as a filter for adding Observations. I don't know if there's any automated way to add Observations to a Collection project IF they have these fields, instead of the Taxa-based criteria.

Now that I think of it, I think it's possible, if the Collection projects are separated:

Create a Taxa-based Collection Project
Create a Field-based Collection Project. This is harder to do, because the Fields don't seem to be smart enough to understand that "Asclepias" should contain all Asclepias species. We might have to list each one.
Create an Umbrella project containing the above Projects.

Posted by xris over 3 years ago

@xris Hi! Thank you so much for this comment! This is extremely helpful and FULL of information on associated species related to milkweeds. I will be posting a guide on some common species associated with milkweeds in the near future and the information above as well as your observations are a great resource. Thanks again and happy observing!

Posted by tohmi over 1 year ago

@tohmi You're welcome!

If you ever have any questions, please reach out. I'm the biggest user of the "Visited flower of" Observatino Field on iNaturalist!

Posted by xris over 1 year ago

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