Spatial displacement of Odonata in south-west Siberia

Abstract

A brief account is presented of mass dragonfly migrations observed previously in Russia and West Siberia in particular. A mass migration in Libellula quadrimaculata is described in detail. It occurred on 1 July 1981 in the south-western part of the West Siberian Plain in the valley of the Ishym River. From 1968 to 2008 we studied population dynamics, spatial distribution and displacement in dragonflies in the West Siberian forest-steppe. Detailed research was conducted at the biological station of the Russian Academy of Sciences near the Chany Lake. Mass migrations in L. quadrimaculata and some Leucorrhinia spp. followed situations with an extremely high population density and local mass aggregations and occurred with a period of c.10 years, correlated with fluctuation of water level in the region, mainly in the south. It is suggested that dragonfly migration not only optimizes their population size but increases the rate of transport of chemical elements and organic matter to dry land from eutrophic water bodies, which increases the importance of dragonflies to ecosystems at large.

A critical overview of progress in studies of migration of dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera), with emphasis on North America

“…These authors hypothesized that large migratory swarms may result when non-adaptive movements are initiated because individuals that see others in flight are also likely to start flying and potentiated by internal irritation due to high trematode parasite loads. Haritonov and Popova (2011) described irruptive movements of this species in Siberia. Surprisingly, I have no unequivocal records of this species migrating in North America, although Calvert (1893), mentions its occurrence, without specific data.…”

“…In North America, Anax junius, Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags), Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider), P. hymenea (Spot-winged Glider) and Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) are the species in which long-distance migration is best documented. Genera commonly cited as migrants include members of Pantala, Tramea, Sympetrum, Libellula (all Libellulidae), Anax, Aeshna, and Epiaeschna (Aeshnidae); all except the North American endemic, E. heros, include known migrants elsewhere (Dumont and Hinnekint 1973;Dumont 1977;Corbet 1999;Dyatlova and Kalkman 2008;Haritonov and Popova 2011).…”

Community structure of dragonfly (insecta: Odonata) in pond habitat at Sumur Panguripan Cultural Reserve, Surabaya, Indonesia

“…The VES method is carried out by tracing the observation locations that have been determined by recording the diversity of dragonflies' species and counting the number of individuals. Observations with the VES method in this study were modified using the Belt Transect method [20]. The belt transect method is an observation method by following a predetermined circular line.…”

Dragonfly (Odonata) community structure in the Eastern Highlands Biodiversity Hotspot of Zimbabwe: potential threats of land use changes on freshwater invertebrates

“…This could be explained by the fact Anisoptera, particularly the Libellulidae family and Aeshnidae, contains a great number of species, e.g. Pantala flavescens, that are widespread and generalist species known to occur across a wide spectrum of habitats and microhabitats (Haritonov & Popova, 2011;May 2013).…”