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MPG Ranch Butterfly Monitoring Program

Established in 2014 as part of our Pollinator Monitoring Program, the MPG Ranch Butterfly Monitoring Program tracks butterfly populations using modified Pollard Transects, timed surveys, inventory trips, and opportunistic sightings. Changes in relative abundance of butterfly populations are analyzed in terms of habitat restoration efforts, land management practices, weather events, and climate. Methods and results will be used to study how both survey design and butterfly detectability affect butterfly monitoring projects across the continent. This program also offers opportunities for public outreach and encourages interaction between citizen scientists and professional biologists.