Written by: Paola Pinto April 22, 2024 Photo Description: Lara Rae Holladay and Lauren Womack planting monarch butterfly wildflowers and milkweed at green way at Indian Creek, Huntsville, AL Happy Earth Day! In commemoration of this special occasion, let's celebrate the dedication and care exemplified by the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is deeply committed to protecting wildlife and advocating for biodiversity. According to Lara Rae Holladay, UAH Biology Research Outreach Coordinator, monarch butterfly populations continue to decline despite being on the endangered list since 2020, raising broader concerns about pollinator health. To address this issue, the department has been actively establishing pollinator gardens and growing specific plants crucial for butterflies during their migration journey. "Milkweed is the sole food source for monarch caterpillars, and their habitat faces rapid depletion due to land development and extensive weed killer use," Holladay shares. The Department of Biological Sciences, along with the UAH Green Club, is spearheading the planting of wildflowers, including a variety of milkweeds, across multiple community centers and gardens, greenways, and preserves in the Huntsville, AL community. These habitats are crucial as milkweed serves as a host plant for butterflies, particularly monarchs, which rely exclusively on milkweed for sustenance; without it, caterpillars would be unable to transform into butterflies, Holladay explains. "In addition, we grow these plants in the greenhouse and give them away to different k-12 schools and community members that want to start their own habitats," she says. A special mix of 27 different wildflowers that include different varieties of milkweeds grown in the UAH greenhouse and transplanted into outdoor habitats for pollinators. The department's initiative serves as an opportunity to help UAH students engage and learn to propagate plants. Lauren Womack, graduating in May 2024 with her bachelor's in Biological Sciences, has been actively involved in these conservation efforts; she works in the greenhouse, helping propagate, start seeds, and water plants. She expresses her concerns about pollinators and passion for plants, which is why she has advocated and supported these departmental initiatives. "The fact that monarchs are so lowly populated indicates the health of other pollinating species like bees." The department is committed to helping reverse this issue by promoting monarch recovery, one milkweed at a time. By actively engaging in initiatives to protect monarch butterflies and their habitats, they are setting a precedent and giving an example to our students for sustainable practices and community involvement in wildlife conservation.
