Demystifying Monarch Butterfly Migration

2018 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 2026

This review discusses monarch butterfly migration and highlights navigational mechanisms, including a bidirectional time-compensated sun compass based on an antennal circadian clock and a light-dependent inclination magnetic compass used under overcast condit…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typereview

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Demystifying Monarch Butterfly Migration Reppert SM, de Roode JC. Demystifying Monarch Butterfly Migration. Curr Biol. 2018 Sep 10;28(17):R1009- R1022. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.02.067. Abstract Every fall, millions of North American monarch butterflies undergo a stunning long-distance migration to reach their overwintering grounds in Mexico. Migration allows the butterflies to escape freezing temperatures and dying host plants, and reduces infections with a virulent parasite. We discuss the multigenerational migration journey and its evolutionary history, and highlight the navigational mechanisms of migratory monarchs. Monarchs use a bidirectional time-compensated sun compass for orientation, which is based on a time- compensating circadian clock that resides in the antennae, and which has a distinctive molecular mechanism. Migrants can also use a light-dependent inclination magnetic compass for orientation under overcast conditions. Additional environmental features, e.g., atmospheric conditions, geologic barriers, and social interactions, likely augment navigation. The publication of the monarch genome and the development of gene-editing strategies have enabled the dissection of the genetic and neurobiological basis of the migration. The monarch butterfly has emerged as an excellent system to study the ecological, neural, and genetic basis of long-distance animal migration. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNorth American monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Migration/navigation mechanisms (sun compass, circadian clock in antennae)
Use of a light-dependent inclination magnetic compass for orientation under overcast conditions
Ecological/evolutionary context of multigenerational migration
Genetic and neurobiological basis of migration (genome, gene-editing enabling dissection)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "North American monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Migration/navigation mechanisms (sun compass, circadian clock in antennae)",
    "Use of a light-dependent inclination magnetic compass for orientation under overcast conditions",
    "Ecological/evolutionary context of multigenerational migration",
    "Genetic and neurobiological basis of migration (genome, gene-editing enabling dissection)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review discusses monarch butterfly migration and highlights navigational mechanisms, including a bidirectional time-compensated sun compass based on an antennal circadian clock and a light-dependent inclination magnetic compass used under overcast conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "monarch butterfly",
    "migration",
    "navigation",
    "sun compass",
    "circadian clock",
    "antennae",
    "magnetic compass",
    "inclination compass",
    "genome",
    "gene editing"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.02.067
PubMed: Not supplied

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