TED Talks Daily How you can help save the monarch butterfly -- and the planet | Mary Ellen Hannibal
Apr 1, 2020
Mary Ellen Hannibal, an author and journalist dedicated to environmental issues and citizen science, highlights the critical plight of monarch butterflies facing extinction. She shares how grassroots volunteers can play a pivotal role in their conservation through citizen science. Listen to fascinating insights about the butterflies' life cycle, their ecological importance, and actionable steps everyone can take to help. Join the movement by planting milkweed and using apps like iNaturalist to connect with nature and make a difference!
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Butterfly Decline and Ecosystem Risk
- Butterflies face a serious threat, with many species endangered and insect populations declining sharply.
- This insect decline poses a significant risk to the ecosystem, potentially impacting humans more severely than climate change.
Citizen Science as a Powerful Tool
- Despite the current environmental challenges, there's hope in citizen science.
- Citizen science, involving individuals without PhDs in research, offers a powerful platform for saving nature.
Darwin's Orchid and Co-evolution
- Charles Darwin, a citizen scientist himself, predicted the existence of a moth with a long proboscis to pollinate the Madagascar star orchid.
- This prediction highlighted the concept of co-evolution, where species mutually influence each other's development.