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Data Accuracy

Monitoring at Knowlton Creek Field 2006

"Monitoring at Knowlton Creek Field 2006" by Gail Gilliland

Remember, since the accuracy of the entire MLMP database depends on the accuracy of individual data sets, it’s key that your data reflect what’s happening at your monitoring site as accurately as possible. Thanks in advance for your carefulness and honesty as you work on this project. We’re all depending on you!

Since most of the MLMP sites have too many milkweed plants to check, all of the data we work with are actually estimates of the actual monarch densities at the sites. There are a few things that will make these estimates as accurate as possible:

  1. Choose the plants you check randomly! If you only look at plants that look “good,” there’s a good chance that you’ll overestimate monarch density.
  2. Look at as many plants as you have time for! The more plants you check, the better your estimate.
  3. Check the plants carefully! If you miss tiny first instar larvae, or call a milkweed latex dollop an egg, your estimates will be off.
  4. Be careful in your identification of the different larval instars! Check out our Larval Field Guide for pictures and specifications of the different developmental stages.

Supplies Needed

  • Data sheets and Field Notebook: You will need at least one copy of each datasheet, and possibly more depending on the number of weeks you monitor. A field notebook (journal type or spiral-bound) is also useful for recording other observations that don’t fit on the data sheets.
  • Hand lens: A hand lens or magnifying glass is very useful for identifying eggs and small larvae.
  • Meter stick or measuring tape (for measuring milkweed density): You will need a meter stick only once during the season.
  • Rain gauge (for Activity #2): If you can, mount an inexpensive rain gauge at your site. Try to find one that is designed to prevent the water from evaporating.
  • Thermometer (optional): Mount an inexpensive outdoor thermometer at your site, or bring one when you visit the site to monitor each week.
  • Field guides (optional): To identify monarch eggs and instars, use A Field Guide to Monarch Caterpillars or our condensed version, the Larval Field Guide, on this website. A guide to wildflowers is useful for identifying the blooming plants at your site.
  • Containers for rearing larvae (for Activity #3): See Instructions for Rearing Larvae for more information.

You can buy all Monitoring supplies from our Monarch Store!

Returning Data

Attention: All participants!

  1. Enter Data Online - Login to our online data entry app and enter all your data online. You will have your own password-protected Main Menu page from which you will be able to fill in data from all of the monitoring activities. You will be able to modify them throughout the season and visualize your data as the season progresses. Please send us hard copies of your data at the end of the summer so that we can check our database for accuracy.
  2. In addition, send hard copies of data - We use these to check for accuracy. If you do not have access to a computer, please send us the hard copies of the data sheets you have completed. Retain copies of all the data sheets yourself, in case of a postal disaster!

Mailing Address:
Karen Oberhauser
University of Minnesota
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife
200 Hodson Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108

Email:
Karen Oberhauser

Monitoring Rules

  1. Be confident. You have read the instructions, you have received training--you have the ability to make good decisions in the field.
  2. Be consistent. Once you make a decision, stick with it. Much of the utility of the monitoring data lies in comparisons within a site over time.
  3. Keep excellent notes. Document what you do. Fill out all fields on the data sheets, or explain why you can’t. If you need to deviate from the protocol, keep track of what you did and why.
  4. Ask for help when you need it. You can use email, the website, or snail mail to contact us or other monitoring project participants.
  5. Monitor regularly. Missing a week or two will not make your results useless or invalid--don’t let it be a reason to not participate in the project at all. However, if you need to miss a week or two due to illness or travel, you might try convincing a friend or neighbor to monitor for you. If you are short on time one week, you can just do Activity #1 and skip the other activities that week.