Elianis Rodriguez Arzola

Presentation by Elianis Rodriguez Arzola: “The Last of Us: The Quest for Uninfected Monarch Butterflies in South Florida.“

Brief abstract: The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic species that has long been a flagship for insect conservation, habitat restoration, and the promotion of butterfly gardens. In efforts to support monarch populations, enthusiasts and educators often plant milkweed in gardens and schools. However, in South Florida, the nonnative tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) has become dominant in these gardens. Monarchs that preferentially select tropical milkweed are often exposed to higher levels of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), an obligate parasite known to negatively impact monarch growth, flight, and survivorship.

To explore the prevalence of this parasite, we captured and tested monarchs for OE spores at two distinct sites: 1) butterfly gardens and 2) natural fields in the Everglades. Our results demonstrated that monarchs from gardens were predominantly heavily infected, whereas monarchs from the Everglades exhibited no infection. These findings suggest that, despite the prevalence of OE in garden environments, the Everglades may provide a natural refuge that helps mitigate the effects of parasitic infection, potentially offering healthier individuals that could support broader conservation efforts.

Bio:
Elianis Rodriguez Arzola is a Miami Dade Honors College student, majoring in Business Administration. She combines her academic pursuits with a strong passion for butterflies and conservation. Elianis is a member of prominent organizations, including Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Student Government Association (SGA), and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) Honors Societies. She also contributes her creative talents as part of the Urbana Magazine Art Team staff