Dragonfly Climate Impacts and Wing Hues

In a recent study published in the Journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis have found that male dragonflies are evolving to adapt to local climates, particularly in response to global warming.

The study, led by Michael P. Moore, examined the relationship between ornamentation and climate adaptation in 319 species of dragonflies. The findings suggest that mating-related traits of male, but not female, dragonflies consistently evolve to adapt to local climates.

During the warmest years between 2005 and 2019, male dragonflies exhibited the smallest melanin wing patches. Climate-warming projections suggest that by 2070, male dragonflies will likely evolve even smaller melanic wing patches as global warming increases. This adaptation is thought to be a response to the potential damage that large ornamental patches can cause in warm climates. Such ornamental patches can increase body temperatures by more than 2 °C above ambient temperatures, which may damage wing tissues, reduce fighting abilities, or even be lethal.

On the contrary, in cool climates, the rise in body temperature from these ornamental patches benefits dragonflies. However, in warm climates, this increase can have detrimental effects.

Interestingly, the study found that male dragonflies in the coolest parts of North America have evolved larger and darker melanin wing patches than male dragonflies in the warmest regions of the continent. By 2070, under global warming, male dragonflies in North America are predicted to have larger and darker melanin patches on their wings as an adaptive response to increasing temperatures.

Climate did not significantly affect the wing ornaments of female dragonflies.

Michael P. Moore, from the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis, is the media contact for the study. For media inquiries, you can reach him at [his email address].

The study titled "Sex-specific ornament evolution is a consistent feature of climatic adaptation across space and time in dragonflies" provides valuable insights into how species may adapt to changing climates, particularly in relation to sex-specific traits. Understanding these adaptations can help in predicting and mitigating the effects of climate change on various species.