Exposure to constant heat of 93 degrees Fahrenheit caused about 50 percent mortality. Monarch size and survival declined sharply, along with increased infection probabilities from OE.
Interestingly, the protozoan parasite does not like the heat either, suggesting that rising temperatures could lower infection rates and help alleviate extreme heat's negative effects.
In a three-year field experiment, monarch eggs and caterpillars showed strong negative effects from heat stress, suggesting that intensifying heat waves jeopardize their developmental success.
With numerous factors influencing monarch survival, including immunity differences and milkweed quality, further research is essential to fully understand the impacts of temperature changes.
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