Dragonfly Migration in North America

Common Green Darner (Anax junius); Dan Jackson

Dragonfly Migration

Geauga Park, OH

Thousands of dragonflies seen

moving south in fall

Observations date back to 19th century

Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL; Eric Espada

Dragonfly Migration

Smith Point HawkWatch, Tony Leukering

Different generations in fall and spring

Return north in spring more diffuse

Migrants in North America

Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens), Dennis Paulson

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum), Celeste Mazzacano

Common Green Darner (Anax junius); John Abbott

Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata), John Abbott

Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea); Dennis Paulson

Regular annual migrants

Migrants in North America

Up to 11 other species may be sporadic, irruptive migrants

Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum), Dennis Paulson

Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata), Celeste Mazzacano

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis), Celeste Mazzacano

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella), Dennis Paulson

Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros), Dennis Paulson

Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata), Dennis Paulson

Migration Models Wandering Glider

Dennis Paulson Dennis Paulson

Common Green Darner

Migration Model: CGD Common Green Darner Common migrant in the east, less so in the West Migrate late July to mid-Oct., peak in Sept. Massive swarm may follow passage of cold front Migration may be facultative

Dennis Paulson

Migration Model: CGD

Residents & migrants can inhabit same wetlands but differ in behavior & physiology:

Residents: nymphs take one year to complete development, spend winter in diapause Migrants: develop from egg to adult in period of weeks during summer

Dennis Paulson

Migration Model: CGD

2 size groups = overwintering nymphs (black) and summer cohort (white) Overwintering nymphs take one year to complete development (spend winter in diapause) Summer cohort develops from egg to adult in weeks

Trottier, 1971

Migration Model: CGD

May & Matthews 2008; after Trottier 1971

Residents & migrants in same habitat, but larval cohorts develop at different rates

Migrants Residents

Tracking CGD Micro-radio transmitters on 14 CGD Used light airplane to track migration

Wikelski et al. 2006

Tracking CGD ~25% of body weight Batteries last 12 days

Wikelski et al. 2006

Tracking CGD Average advance 20 km (12 mi)/day

Movement up to 140 km (87 mi)/day

Short-range omnidirectional vs. long-range directional

Migrating day followed a colder night Re-oriented to avoid ocean

Wikelski et al. 2006

CGD Stable Isotope Analysis

www.waterisotopes.org

Ratio of 2H:1H in precipitation varies naturally across north-south gradient Organisms take in via diet, retain “signature” in inert tissues

CGD Stable Isotope Analysis

~90% moved south prior to collection Mean distance moved 683 km (425 mi) Members of Atlantic swarms originated largely at inland sites

H2:H1 ratios of individuals collected from Ontario to Veracruz in late August to October

Matthews 2007

CGD Stable Isotope Analysis

Hobson K., Soto DX, Paulson DR, Wassenaar LI, and Matthews JH. Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2012); Bowen, Waseenaar, and Hobson. Oecologia (2005).

Strong correlation between hydrologic isoscape and wing isotope ratios Collection year had no effect

A dragonfly wing isoscape for North America

CGD Stable Isotope Analysis

Used data to develop

a wing chitin isoscape map

Hobson et al. 2005

CGD Stable Isotope Analysis

MDP used isoscape map to assess probable

origins of CGD specimens captured

in the southeast

CGD Stable Isotope Analysis Adult wings in Gulf states Adult wings in northern range

Much variation in ratio in each month:

Wide range of locations of origin Adults moving up from south even in late summer

Less variation in ratio in each month:

Spring specimens came from south Summer specimens originated in north

Migration Model: WG Wandering Glider Widespread, from tropics into North Temperate Zone Regular annual migrant Each generation may breed hundreds to thousands of miles from emergence site Dennis Paulson

Migration Model: WG Likely can’t overwinter past 40oN; no winter diapause known for nymphs Breed in temporary pools Develop rapidly to avoid drying Migration may be obligate part of life cycle Dennis Paulson

Migration Model: WG

Netta Smith

Broad hindwings for gliding Fly at high altitudes Can migrate at night, over open water

Migration Model: WG

After Anderson, 2009

Millions appear annually

Migration in southern India

Annual circuit may involve up to 4 generations

Crossing the Indian Ocean

Migration Model: WG

After Anderson, 2009

Millions appear annually

Migration in southern India

Annual migratory circuit may involve up to 4 generations

Adults usually appear later in summer than CGD May move up from northern Mexico and southern U.S.

Elisa Peresbarbosa Rojas

Migration Models Feeding and reproduction can occur along the way

Celeste Mazzacano

Migration start/end points likely widely dispersed

Why study dragonfly migration?

??? Feed over open water?

Adaptive advantage?

Genetic isolation?

Overwintering grounds?

Triggers to move south and north?

Diapause vs. migration?

Regular stops to feed, reproduce?

Southern extent?

Navigation cues? Sporadic vs.

annual migration?

Confounding factors

Residents may emerge early; late migrants may overwinter

Overwintering adults in south

where migrants may be present

Difficult to track

Flights are sporadic and unpredictable

Black Saddlebags; Dan Jackson

Variegated Meadowhawk; Dennis Paulson

Questions?

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis), Celeste Mazzacano