Unraveling the World’s Longest Non-stop Migration: The Indian Ocean Crossing of the Globe Skimmer Dragonfly
dc.contributor.author | Hedlund, JSU | |
dc.contributor.author | Lv, H | |
dc.contributor.author | Lehmann, P | |
dc.contributor.author | Hu, G | |
dc.contributor.author | Anderson, RC | |
dc.contributor.author | Chapman, JW | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2022-01-24T15:52:06Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-08-19 | |
dc.date.updated | 2022-01-24T15:45:12Z | |
dc.description.abstract | Insect migration redistributes enormous quantities of biomass, nutrients and species globally. A subset of insect migrants perform extreme long-distance journeys, requiring specialized morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations. The migratory globe skimmer dragonfly (Pantala flavescens) is hypothesized to migrate from India across the Indian Ocean to East Africa in the autumn, with a subsequent generation thought to return to India from East Africa the following spring. Using an energetic flight model and wind trajectory analysis, we evaluate the dynamics of this proposed transoceanic migration, which is considered to be the longest regular non-stop migratory flight when accounting for body size. The energetic flight model suggests that a mixed strategy of gliding and active flapping would allow a globe skimmer to stay airborne for up to 230–286 h, assuming that the metabolic rate of gliding flight is close to that of resting. If engaged in continuous active flapping flight only, the flight time is severely reduced to ∼4 h. Relying only on self-powered flight (combining active flapping and gliding), a globe skimmer could cross the Indian Ocean, but the migration would have to occur where the ocean crossing is shortest, at an exceptionally fast gliding speed and with little headwind. Consequently, we deem this scenario unlikely and suggest that wind assistance is essential for the crossing. The wind trajectory analysis reveals intra- and inter-seasonal differences in availability of favorable tailwinds, with only 15.2% of simulated migration trajectories successfully reaching land in autumn but 40.9% in spring, taking on average 127 and 55 h respectively. Thus, there is a pronounced requirement on dragonflies to be able to select favorable winds, especially in autumn. In conclusion, a multi-generational, migratory circuit of the Indian Ocean by the globe skimmer is shown to be achievable, provided that advanced adaptations in physiological endurance, behavior and wind selection ability are present. Given that migration over the Indian Ocean would be heavily dependent on the assistance of favorable winds, occurring during a relatively narrow time window, the proposed flyway is potentially susceptible to disruption, if wind system patterns were to be affected by climatic change. | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | National Natural Science Foundation of China | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | Formas | en_GB |
dc.format.extent | 698128- | |
dc.identifier.citation | Vol. 9, article 698128 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.698128 | |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | 31822043 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/128538 | |
dc.identifier | ORCID: 0000-0002-7475-4441 (Chapman, Jason W) | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Frontiers Media | en_GB |
dc.rights | © 2021 Hedlund, Lv, Lehmann, Hu, Anderson and Chapman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. | en_GB |
dc.subject | insect migration | en_GB |
dc.subject | migratory physiology | en_GB |
dc.subject | wind trajectory analysis | en_GB |
dc.subject | dragonfly migration | en_GB |
dc.subject | Pantala flavescens | en_GB |
dc.title | Unraveling the World’s Longest Non-stop Migration: The Indian Ocean Crossing of the Globe Skimmer Dragonfly | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2022-01-24T15:52:06Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2296-701X | |
exeter.article-number | ARTN 698128 | |
dc.description | This is the final version. Available on open access from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this record | en_GB |
dc.description | Data Availability Statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.eissn | 2296-701X | |
dc.identifier.journal | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution | en_GB |
dc.relation.ispartof | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9 | |
dc.rights.uri | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | en_GB |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2021-07-19 | |
rioxxterms.version | VoR | en_GB |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2021-08-19 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review | en_GB |
refterms.dateFCD | 2022-01-24T15:50:30Z | |
refterms.versionFCD | VoR | |
refterms.dateFOA | 2022-01-24T15:52:12Z | |
refterms.panel | A | en_GB |
refterms.dateFirstOnline | 2021-08-19 |
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's licence is described as © 2021 Hedlund, Lv, Lehmann, Hu, Anderson and Chapman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.