Six acres of land on the UTSA Main Campus will be dedicated to monarch research and preservation

(April 27, 2016) -- On Friday, UTSA President Ricardo Romo will demonstrate the university’s enduring commitment to sustainability by dedicating 6.8 acres of the UTSA Main Campus to the research and preservation of Texas’ monarch butterfly.

In June, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced funding for a $300,000 research proposal that is allowing UTSA to study the monarch butterfly and its main food source, milkweed.

Since that time, UTSA faculty members and students have been conducting roadside surveys throughout the state to determine the prevalence of monarch larvae and eggs in Texas. Their results will help preservationists determine whether the monarch should be placed on the federal endangered species list.

“The journey has been very exciting,” said Janis Bush, UTSA professor of environmental sciences, who has been leading the monarch research team. “As our state insect, the monarch needs our protection. Our laboratory has been honored to lead the research for the state on the status of the monarch.”

The event will take place adjacent to the Brackenridge parking lots off UTSA Blvd. that UTSA will dedicate to help preserve the monarch butterfly. Students have already begun to plant milkweed on the acreage and are hoping monarch butterflies will be there on the day.

Benjamin Tuggle, Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will honor Mayor Ivy Taylor for making the City of Antonio a Monarch Champion City by signing the Monarch Pledge in December.

Cheryl Jefferson, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives Director of the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Research Station, and Grace Barnett, Monarch Outreach Specialist with the National Wildlife Federation, will also give remarks honoring UTSA’s efforts to protect the monarch butterfly.

By Joanna Carver
Public Affairs Specialist

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Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 a.m.

Denim Day

Join the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.

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Wednesday, April 24, 5:00 p.m.

Simplifying Citations With Zotero

Learn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.

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McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

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Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

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Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

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Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

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Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

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Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

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