and roadside vegetation management practices to improve habitat with monarch safety in mind.
“ Monarchs are an indicator species for broader pollinator health,” Coulson said.“ The lessons we learn here are not just for butterflies, but they help bees and other insects essential for agriculture and native ecosystems.”
Coulson explained how a strong monarch migration is a visible sign of a healthy ecosystem. When their numbers drop, it signals broader challenges for pollinators, which are responsible for producing about one out of every three bites of food we eat. Monarchs pollinate wildflowers and share habitat with bees, flies and beetles supporting Texas agriculture and rangeland productivity. They contribute to the reproduction of native plants that provide forage for livestock and wildlife, as well as many of the crops grown across the state.
Applied research with statewide impact
For Coulson and Tracy, the project exemplifies how applied research can guide conservation and policy in science-backed ways that serve both people and wildlife.
“ This is the epitome of what Texas A & M AgriLife does,” Coulson said.“ We research and create solutions with practical, usable information and share it with people who can act on it.”
The team’ s findings have already influenced how TxDOT and other agencies approach pollinator conservation. Beyond monarchs, their surveys have documented thousands of bees and other butterflies affected by vehicle traffic. The results are helping transportation planners consider pollinator safety when designing and maintaining roadsides.
A migration worth protecting
Each fall, you can find Coulson and Tracy in the field, tracking the monarch migration through Texas, continuing to collect and analyze new data, refining their models and exploring how changing ecosystems and land use may influence future migration routes.
Monarchs connect ecosystems from Canada to Mexico, but their work shows how deeply Texas sits at the epicenter of the migration’ s success. The researchers hope to strengthen that connection through data-driven collaboration with state agencies and communities.
“ The migration is an incredible natural event,” Coulson said.“ There are monarchs around the world, but this large-scale migration is unique to North America. It is something worth seeing and protecting.”
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