Isotope evidence for latitudinal migrations of the dragonfly Sympetrum fonscolombii (Odonata: Libellulidae) in Middle Asia. (23rd August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borisov, Sergey N.; Iakovlev, Ivan K.; Borisov, Alexey S.; Zuev, Andrey G.; Tiunov, Alexei V.
• Is Part Of: Ecological entomology. Volume 45:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 1445
• Page End: 1456
• Publication Date: 2020-08-23
• Subjects: Carbon‐13 -- deuterium -- isoscape -- migration circuits -- nitrogen‐15 -- oxygen‐18 -- seasonal migration; Insects -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/een.12930
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-6946

Abstract

Abstract : Sympetrum fonscolombii dragonflies are believed to migrate seasonally. In the spring and early summer, the already‐mature dragonflies arrive in Middle Asia for reproduction. In the late summer and autumn, summer‐generation dragonflies migrate to the south. Their wintering places remain unknown. Stable hydrogen (δ 2 H) and oxygen (δ 18 O) isotope analyses were conducted to confirm the migration of S. fonscolombii and determine the wintering area. Stable isotope composition of carbon ( δ 13 C) and nitrogen ( δ 15 N) in wings and legs was used to clarify the habitats in which dragonfly development took place. Three cohorts of dragonflies collected in different regions of Middle Asia were used for analysis: (i) immigrants that arrived in the spring, (ii) residents that developed in Middle Asia, and (iii) transit dragonflies migrating to the south during autumn. The average δ 2 H values in the wings were significantly higher in immigrants (−96‰) than in residents (−134‰) and transit individuals (−124‰). High δ 18 O and δ 15 N values in the tissue of immigrants confirmed their southerly origin. Based on the species range and the global distribution of annual averages of δ 2 H and δ 18 O values in precipitation, the latitudinal migrations of S. fonscolombii were inferred to cover the area from the proposed natal regions of immigrants in South‐West Asia (below ∼36°N) to Southern Ural and the south of Western Siberia in the north (54–55°N) with a maximum migration distance of more than 4000 km. Abstract : We aimed to confirm seasonal latitudinal migrations of Sympetrum fonscolombii dragonflies in Middle Asia. Stable isotope composition (δ 2 H, δ 18 O, δ 13 C, δ 15 N) in wings and legs of resident and migrating specimens, together with precipitation isoscapes, was used to determine the wintering area. The migration circuit of S. fonscolombii spans from South‐West Asia (below ∼36°N) to Southern Ural and Western Siberia with a migration distance of more than 4000 km.