Emma Donahey is an undergraduate research assistant with the Iowa State monarch butterfly research team. Donahey, originally from Des Moines, IA, is a senior majoring in Biology. During the semester, she works in a chemical ecology lab researching the impact of microbes on pollinator feeding behavior.
What did you enjoy most about growing up in Iowa? Summers in Iowa are the best. I spent my time outside with my family, typically gardening or fishing. Growing up and being encouraged to spend as much time as possible in the outdoors fostered my appreciation for nature.
Why did you choose Iowa State for college? ISU was close enough to my home so I could visit my family frequently. I also felt that there was a strong community atmosphere in Ames, which I did not find at the other colleges I visited.
What’s the most useful thing that you've learned as a student? Learning how to advocate for my needs is the most useful thing I've learned. In STEM, there is often a grind mentality, where academics are placed above mental and physical health. I have learned to recognize when I need breaks and when to ask for help. This helps me keep on top of work and school sustainably without getting burnt out.
Why did you choose biology for your major? I knew I loved the biological sciences, but I was unsure exactly what I wanted to do. With biology, there is a lot of freedom in what upper-level classes you take. I was able to tailor it to what I wanted to do as I was figuring out my career plans.
Why are you interested in native plants and monarch butterflies? After my freshman year at Iowa State, I interned at a native grass and wildflower seed company. I fell in love with native plants and prairie ecosystems. Prairies are an important habitat for pollinators, including the monarch. Last summer, I was fortunate to work on monarch butterfly research and a milkweed germination project in Connecticut; I am really happy to continue working in monarch conservation here at ISU.
What research are you conducting this summer? Our big project right now is looking at monarch habitat establishment. We travel to sites across the state and conduct surveys looking at adult monarchs, larvae, eggs, and vegetation presence. This will help us understand how these sites are being used by monarchs and other pollinators.
We are also starting a project this summer that looks at the microbiome of butterfly-associated plants. We will collect floral samples and isolate microbial colonies to characterize different lepidopteran-associated microbes.
What are you excited to learn during this internship? I am excited to look at how these sites have changed over time, both in monarchs and the vegetation that is present. There is a lot to learn about optimizing habitat establishment for monarchs. It will be interesting to see which locations have fared the best since their establishment.
I am also really excited about the microbiome project. Looking at these microbial communities will allow us to start studying how microbes influence lepidopteran behavior and hopefully further our understanding of the differences between remnant and reconstructed prairies.
What skills do you hope to refine during the internship? I want to get better at dealing with unexpected obstacles during fieldwork. Each site we visit is different and comes with its challenges. This is a great opportunity for learning to adapt to the unexpected and to learn from mistakes.
How can Iowans help monarch butterflies? One of the biggest things you can do is plant milkweed. Milkweed populations in the Midwest have significantly declined; without these plants, monarch larvae cannot survive. You can also plant native flowering plants that provide nectar resources for the adults.
