Tracking dragons: stable isotopes reveal the annual cycle of a long-distance migratory insect

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dc.contributor.authorHallworth, Michael T.
dc.contributor.authorMarra, Peter P.
dc.contributor.authorMcFarland, Kent P.
dc.contributor.authorZahendra, Sara
dc.contributor.authorStudds, Colin E.
dc.date.accessioned2019-03-11T14:21:50Z
dc.date.available2019-03-11T14:21:50Z
dc.date.issued2018-12-19
dc.description.abstractInsect migration is globally ubiquitous and can involve continental-scale movements and complex life histories. Apart from select species of migratory moths and butterflies, little is known about the structure of the annual cycle for migratory insects. Using stable-hydrogen isotope analysis of 852 wing samples from eight countries spanning 140 years, combined with 21 years of citizen science data, we determined the full annual cycle of a large migratory dragonfly, the common green darner (Anax junius). We demonstrate that darners undertake complex long-distance annual migrations governed largely by temperature that involve at least three generations. In spring, the first generation makes a long-distance northbound movement (further than 650 km) from southern to northern range limits, lays eggs and dies. A second generation emerges and returns south (further than 680 km), where they lay eggs and die. Finally, a third resident generation emerges, reproducing locally and giving rise to the cohort that migrates north the following spring. Since migration timing and nymph development are highly dependent on temperature, continued climate change could lead to fundamental changes in the biology for this and similar migratory insects.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipMajor funding was provided by the U.S. Forest Service International Programs and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0741en_US
dc.format.extent5 pagesen_US
dc.genrejournal articlesen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m251xt-jdns
dc.identifier.citationHallworth MT, Marra PP, McFarland KP, Zahendra S, Studds CE. 2018 Tracking dragons: stable isotopes reveal the annual cycle of a long-distance migratory insect. Biol. Lett. 14: 20180741. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0741en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4320911
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/13004
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherThe Royal Societyen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Geography and Environmental Systems Department
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
dc.rightsThis work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.*
dc.rightsPublic Domain Mark 1.0
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/*
dc.subjectAnaxen_US
dc.subjectcommon green darneren_US
dc.subjectstable-hydrogen isotopesen_US
dc.subjectmigration phenologyen_US
dc.titleTracking dragons: stable isotopes reveal the annual cycle of a long-distance migratory insecten_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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