Skip to main content
Home

Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

Main Menu

  • EROS Home
  • Image Gallery
  • Video Library
  • Earthshots
  • Remote Sensing Classroom

Earthshots

  • Earthshots
    • Monarch Butterflies, Mexico
      • Degraded Habitats
      • Global Forest Maps
      • Lomas de Aparicio
      • NDVI
      • Pelon
      • Monarch Value
  • Download Cards
  • More Information
  • Contact Information
Earthshots Logo

Degraded Habitats A Monarch Butterflies, Mexico story

Wildlife
  1. Earthshots
  2. Monarch Butterflies, Mexico
  3. Degraded Habitats
Description

The monarch migration is an endangered phenomenon. Logging in the overwintering sites in Mexico reduces the area available for the monarchs. The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, established in 1986, is intended to protect the overwintering areas. But studies have shown that deforestation has occurred within the reserve. Some of that deforestation can be tracked from space with Landsat imagery.

According to Monarch Watch, during the 2012–2013 season, monarch colonies occupied the lowest number of hectares of forest in the previous 20 years. But the 2013–2014 season was even lower. Recent seasons have seen a slight increase in area of forest occupied, but monarch populations this low are extremely vulnerable. Just one winter storm could severely decrease their numbers.

Landsat sensors use infrared reflectance. One of the wavelengths of light they use is called near-infrared. Actively growing vegetation reflects this wavelength, so when this wavelength is assigned the visible color red, vegetation is displayed as red in these false color images. As you take a closer look at the zoomed in areas in the other sections, watch for gray patches in areas that were once red. This indicates a degraded forest.

Not all of the reduction in the monarch population can be attributed to oyamel forest loss in Mexico. In the United States, expansion of agriculture and herbicide use are reducing the milkweed that the caterpillars need. Extreme weather conditions have also been harming the monarchs. Satellite imagery continues to be useful in tracking the monarch population in these overwintering sites and can help recover this remarkable migration.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

Mar. 17, 1993, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Mar. 17, 1993, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Apr. 21, 2000, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Apr. 21, 2000, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Mar. 19, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Mar. 19, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Mar. 11, 2014, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Mar. 11, 2014, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Apr. 1, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Apr. 1, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Apr. 1, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Apr. 1, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Mar. 17, 1993, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Apr. 21, 2000, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Mar. 19, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Mar. 11, 2014, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Apr. 1, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Apr. 1, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 27/46) — Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Monarch Butterflies, Mexico Additional Imagery & Stories

Global Forest Maps
Global Forest Maps

Researchers from the University of Maryland and USGS have mapped changes in forests globally from 2000 to 2013. The maps displayed here are from that ...

Read More
Lomas de Aparicio
Lomas de Aparicio

These close-up images show a portion of the reserve. The red spots in the global forest map indicate forest loss. The area in the center of the image ...

Read More
Monarch Value
Monarch Value

The good news about the monarchs is that they are a beloved bug. Kids in classrooms nationwide capture the caterpillars and watch them transform into ...

Read More
NDVI
NDVI

Subtle changes in vegetation are sometimes difficult for us to see when just looking at the imagery. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)...

Read More
Pelon
Pelon

These close-ups show another core zone area of the reserve called Pelon. Forest disturbance is most visible in the 2000 image. Later Landsat images re...

Read More
  • DOI Privacy Policy
  • Legal
  • Accessibility
  • Site Map
  • Contact USGS

  • U.S. Department of the Interior
  • DOI Inspector General
  • White House
  • E-gov
  • No Fear Act
  • FOIA