Evidence for widespread gene flow and migration in the Globe Skimmer dragonfly Pantala flavescens

Jessica Warea , Manpreet Kaur Kohlia , Ciara Mae Mendozab, Daniel Troastc, Hiroshi Jingujid , Keith A. Hobsone , Göran Sahlénf , R. Charles Andersong, Frank Suhlingh

  1. Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, USA
  2. The Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
  3. Stem Cell Initiative Flow Cytometry Core, Columbia University, USA
  4. Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Japan
  5. Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, Canada
  6. Rydberg Laboratory for Applied Sciences, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
  7. Manta Marine, PO Box 2074, Malé, Maldives
  8. Institute of Geoecology, Working Group Landscape Ecology & Environmental Systems Analysis, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 25, Pages 43-55, 2022
https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2022.1917166
Published: 11 March 2022 (Received: 29 July 2021, Accepted: 3 March 2022)

Abstract

The global population structure and dispersal patterns of Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) are evaluated using a geographically extensive mitochondrial DNA dataset, a more limited samples of nuclear markers, wing isotopic (δ²H) data and a literature review. No spatial or temporal haplotype structure was recovered between the samples. Isotope data suggest that most samples were immigrants at the collection locations. A literature review of migration events for the species confirms regular inter-and intra-continental migrations occur (the majority reported from Asia, Africa and Australasia), with individuals and swarms dispersing thousands of kilometers over land and oceans. Migrations coincide with prevailing winds and seasonal rains, which points to a mechanism we name the “pantropical Pantala conveyor belt”, suggesting widespread gene flow is possible for an aquatic insect with excellent flying ability linked to rapid larval development.

Keywords:Odonata, deuterium, haplotype, isoscape, FST, ΦPT

Issue section: Original Article

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