Non-Local Releases Of Farmed Native Milkweeds

[Paul Cherubini]

The Bring Back The Monarch Campaign Website and Xerces Society Website appear to advocate the purchase and planting of native milkweed seeds (and plug type transplants) that had been farmed by commercial nurseries located dozens to many hundreds of miles away:
http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the- ... -suppliers
http://www.xerces.org/milkweed/ In other words, someone in Colorado can get on the phone and order speciosa milkweed seeds from a California nursery. Likewise someone in Los Angeles can order speciosa and fascicularis milkweed plug transplants from a northern California nursery.

But I've noticed our native California milkweeds vary alot in characteristics such as height, leaf, stem, flower and seed pod shape, texture and toughness, etc over short distances of as little as 50 miles. And since milkweed patches are stationary rather than migratory, this means they are locally adapted which also means they are almost certainly genetically distinct.

So these milkweed restoration projects will likely cause the mixing of genetically distinct strains or ecotypes of our western speciosa, fascicularis and eriocarpa milkweeds.

This made me wonder: Is this mixing of distinct milkweed populations a good thing? Why or why not? Or should we invoke the precautionary principle and promote the purchase and planting of only locally farmed milkweed seeds and plug transplants?

[blazing star]

This is a concern of land restoration specialists as well. Some sites try to only use seeds within a defined parameter of the restoration site to exclude such questions. The problem comes into play when the land becomes so fragmented such that there remains only a very limited source of desired seed. Then, I do believe it best to gain access to seed, from further away sources, for restoration practices.

In the case of monarchs, wouldn't we already be apprised if this were going to be an issue? People have successfully raised eggs that have been shipped to them, and have raised them on milkweed not of the genetic strain of where the eggs were laid.

[Mona Miller]

What Paul did not convey about the Bring Back the Monarch Campaign is that they are collecting local seeds and distributing them. Also, getting nurseries to propagate them. This is another example of the important information that Paul leaves out while he is trying to assassinate the reputation of conservation organizations.

I actually collected Swamp and Common Milkweed seeds from my area and sent them to Monarch Watch.

http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the- ... -suppliers
Here they telling people to buy milkweed seeds as close as possible to their state and to use only species that are native to their state.

http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the- ... he-details
"Our goal is to restore milkweeds from seeds collected within each of these regions. For each region, we have listed milkweeds that are preferred by monarchs and relatively easy to establish in gardens and fields."

Look under the map of regions for this information.

Xerces Society collected local seeds for their milkweed propagation, too.

[Paul Cherubini]

I actually collected Swamp and Common Milkweed seeds from my area and sent them to Monarch Watch

Monarch Watch is over 1,000 miles away from your area of Virginia. Does Monarch Watch sell or donate your seeds to customers over much of the central and eastern USA? If so, that's my point - these milkweed "restoration" projects will likely cause the mixing of genetically distinct strains or ecotypes of various species of milkweed.

Do you think the swamp and common milkweed in Virginia is going to be genetically identical to the swamp and common milkweed in much colder and drier North Dakota? Do you think it's OK for Monarch Watch to sell or donate your Virginia collected milkweed seed to customers in North Dakota given the likelihood that your Virginia milkweed is probably locally adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of Virginia?

[Mona Miller]

My milkweed that I donated is being used for restoration for Virginia projects.

Why don't you get a life and stop picking on conservation groups.

[blazing star]

I just noticed that he picks on the conservation groups that attack his means of living - which is the selling of pesticides. Xerces is a huge conservation target for Paul and they post information about the ills of pesticides on pollinators.

[Mona Miller]

Eureka! Dr. Blazing Star, I think you have diagnosed the problem. Perhaps the remedy would be to get a new job or get a life.

[blazing star]

I should have know, based on historical occurrences, that he was motivated by money and that his posts continue to be colored with such biases.