Isotope evidence for latitudinal migrations of the dragonfly Sympetrum fonscolombii (Odonata: Libellulidae) in Middle Asia |
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Authors: | Sergey N. Borisov Ivan K. Iakovlev Alexey S. Borisov Andrey G. Zuev Alexei V. Tiunov |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia;2. A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia |
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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 (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope analyses were conducted to confirm the migration of S. fonscolombii and determine the wintering area. Stable isotope composition of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) 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 δ2H values in the wings were significantly higher in immigrants (−96‰) than in residents (−134‰) and transit individuals (−124‰). High δ18O and δ15N values in the tissue of immigrants confirmed their southerly origin.
- Based on the species range and the global distribution of annual averages of δ2H and δ18O 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.
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Keywords: | Carbon-13 deuterium isoscape migration circuits nitrogen-15 oxygen-18 seasonal migration |
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