Genetic Variation in Abies religiosa for Quantitative Traits and Delineation of Elevational and Climatic Zoning for Maintaining Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Sites in Mexico, considering Climatic Change

Researchers have identified three distinct elevational and climatic zones for the optimal collection of Abies religiosa (sacred fir) seeds, crucial for sustaining Monarch Butterfly overwintering sites in Mexico. These zones are defined by specific elevation ranges and Mean Temperature of the Coldest Month (MTCM), with boundaries at 2650 masl or 9.7 °C, 3000 masl or 8.5 °C, 3350 masl or 7.3 °C, and 3700 masl or 6.1 °C. The study found significant genetic variation among A. religiosa populations along an elevational gradient (2850-3550 masl), with populations differing by as little as 364 meters in elevation showing distinct traits such as growth rate, frost damage resistance, and dry weight. Projections suggest that these zones will shift upwards by 350 meters by 2030 due to climate change, potentially exceeding the current highest elevations within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR). This necessitates the establishment of A. religiosa stands outside the MBBR to serve as future overwintering sites. The research involved a common garden experiment with seedlings from fifteen populations, evaluated over 30 months for various quantitative traits, providing critical insights for adaptive management strategies.

Ortiz-Bibian, M. A., Blanco-García, A., Lindig-Cisneros, R. A., Gómez-Romero, M., Castellanos-Acuña, D., Herrerías-Diego, Y., Sánchez-Vargas, N. M., & Sáenz-Romero, C. (2017). Genetic Variation in Abies religiosa for Quantitative Traits and Delineation of Elevational and Climatic Zoning for Maintaining Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Sites in Mexico, considering Climatic Change. Silvae Genetica, 66(1), 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2017-0003