Butterfly Mortality and Salvage Logging from the March 2016 Storm in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

A severe late spring storm in March 2016 caused significant mortality among monarch butterflies in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, with estimates of 31–38% mortality in Sierra Chincua and Cerro Pelón colonies and over 40% in the Rosario colony—marking a five-fold increase compared to previous reports. The storm's high-velocity winds disrupted the thermal protection provided by the Oyamel fir forest, exposing butterflies to lethal freezing conditions. Additionally, extensive salvage logging followed the storm, further threatening the microclimatic stability of the Reserve. This event highlights potential climate-related vulnerabilities in the region.

Brower, L. P., Williams, E. H., Jaramillo-López, P., Kust, D. R., Slayback, D. A., & Ramírez, M. I. (2017). Butterfly Mortality and Salvage Logging from the March 2016 Storm in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. American Entomologist, 63(3), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmx052