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Monitoring Dragonfly Migration in North America Protocols for Citizen Scientists

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Monitoring Dragonfly Migration in North America Protocols for Citizen Scientists Monitoring Dragonfly Migration in North America Protocols for Citizen Scientists Migratory Dragonfly Partnership Blank on purpose Monitoring Dragonfly Migration in North America Protocols for Citizen Scientists Migratory Dragonfly Partnership Canada • United States • Mexico www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org © 2014 by The Migratory Dragonfly Partnership The Migratory Dragonfly Partnership uses research, citizen science, education, and outreach to under- stand North American dragonfly migration and promote conservation. MDP steering committee members represent a range of organizations, including: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; Pronatura Veracruz; Rutgers University; Slater Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; St. Edward's University; U. S. Forest Service International Programs; U. S. Geological Survey; Vermont Center for Ecostudies; and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Migratory Dragonfly Partnership Project Coordinator, Celeste Mazzacano [email protected] 628 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232 Tel (855) 232-6639 Fax (503) 233-6794 www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org Acknowledgements Funding for the Migratory Dragonfly Partnership's work is provided by the U.S. Forest Service Inter- national Programs. We thank the photographers who generously allowed use of their images. Copyright of all photographs remains with the photographers. Front and Back Cover Photographs Common Green Darner (Anax junius) male. Photograph © John C. Abbott/Abbott Nature Photography. CONTENTS Summary Page 1 1. Introduction Page 3 1.1 Objectives and Goals Page 3 Box 1: Citizen Science Projects, page 4. 2. Citizen Science Projects Page 5 2.1 Migration Monitoring Page 5 2.1.1 Fall Migration Observations Page 5 - Objectives, page 5. Box 2: MDP Monitoring Projects, page 6. - Migration Monitoring Guidelines, page 7. Box 3: Sample Migration Observation, Page 8. - Volunteer Requirements and Training, Page 9. - Field Equipment, page 9. 2.1.2 Spring Migration Observations Page 10 - Objectives, page 10. - Monitoring Guidelines, page 10. 2.2 Pond Watch Page 11 - Objectives, page 11. - Monitoring Guidelines, page 11. - Volunteer Requirements and Training, Page 13. - Field Equipment, page 13. 2.3 Additional Projects Page 14 3. Collection & Preservation Procedures Page 15 3.1 Collecting & Preserving Dragonfly Specimens Page 15 - Capturing Adults, page 15. - Preservation of Specimens, page 15. - Adult Specimens, page 15. Box 4: Responsible Collecting Practices for Odonata,page 16. - Exuviae and Nymph Specimens, page 17. Resources Page 18 References Page 19 Media Gallery - Behaviors Page 19 Training and Education Page 20 Glossary Page 21 Appendix 1: Dragonfly Pond Watch Data Sheet Pages 22 & 23 Blank on purpose SUMMARY Dragonfly migration is one of the most fascinating yet Migrations are seen annually in late summer and ear- least well-known events in the insect world. Dragon- ly fall, when thousands to millions of insects stream fly migration has been seen on every continent except southward from Canada down to Mexico and the West Antarctica, but most people are completely unaware of Indies, passing along both coasts of the United States this phenomenon. The aptly-named Wandering Glider and through the Midwest. Some patterns have been (Pantala flavescens), though less famed a migrant than detected in existing reports of massive dragonfly migra- the Monarch butterfly, easily dethrones the Monarch tions in North America: (1) large migrations to the south as a champion long-distance traveler. In North America, occur between late July and mid-October, with a peak in this widely distributed species is a regular migrant along September observations; (2) flights tend to follow geo- the East Coast, but its annual flights across the Indian graphic leading lines, such as ridges, cliffs, coastlines and Ocean are truly remarkable. Riding the monsoon winds, lake shores; and (3) many documented reports indicate the Wandering Glider island-hops from India to east and large migratory flights after a large-scale cold front has southern Africa; subsequent generations return by fol- passed through an area. Movement of migrants back lowing the continental coastline back to India. This is a north is less obvious, but we know the return trip occurs round trip of more than 11,000 miles (almost 18,000 ki- because mature adult dragonflies appear early in spring lometers)—nearly twice the maximum distance of the at places where residents that overwintered as nymphs Monarch’s migration. have not yet emerged. Only about 16 of our 326 dragonfly species in The Migratory Dragonfly Partnership, a collabora- North America are regular migrants; some make an- tion among scientists, non-governmental organizations, nual seasonal flights while others are more sporadic. academic institutions, and federal agencies from across The major migratory dragonfly species in North America North America, is asking participants throughout the are Common Green Darner (Anax junius), Wandering continent to work with us. The protocols in this manual Glider (Pantala flavescens), Spot-Winged Glider (Pan- will enable citizen-scientists to collect data that will help tala hymenaea), Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata), us unravel some of the many mysteries of dragonfly mi- and Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum). gration. The aptly-named Wandering Glider Pantala( flavescens), a long-distance migration champion, makes annual flights across the Indian Ocean. (Photograph © John C. Abbott/Abbott Nature Photography.) Migratory Dragonfly Partnership 1 2 Monitoring Dragonfly Migration 1 INTRODUCTION To help answer the many questions surrounding dragon- the timing of adult emergence and egg-laying. fly migration in North America, the collaborative Migra- Migrants moving north from their overwintering tory Dragonfly Partnership (MDP) was formed in 2011 grounds arrive at breeding ponds in March–April. There, among dragonfly experts, nongovernmental programs, they lay eggs that hatch into nymphs that grow rapidly academic institutions, and federal agencies from the as the water warms and develop into adults by mid- United States, Mexico, and Canada. The MDP combines summer. Most of these adults leave their emergence site research, citizen science, and education and outreach while still sexually immature and migrate south to spend to better understand North America’s migrating drag- the winter in warmer climes, presumably mating and onflies, and to promote conservation of the vulnerable laying eggs along the way, although this is not known wetland habitats on which they rely. with certainty. Residents that overwintered at the same The Partnership is building a network of volunteers site as nymphs emerge as adults in late June to mid-July; across North America to monitor, collect, and submit they mate, lay eggs, and die by mid-August, and their data on the movements of five of the most common offspring grow to middle instar nymphs that enter a dia- migratory dragonflies in North America: Common Green pause stage which allows them to overwinter at the site Darner (Anax junius), Wandering Glider (Pantala flave- and emerge as adults in late spring of the following year. scens), Spot-Winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea), Black The Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens), which Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata), and Variegated Meadow- is widespread in the Tropics, Asia, and North America, hawk (Sympetrum corruptum). is another common migrant. Migration may be an obli- The best-known and most regular migrant in gate part of the life cycle in this species, as they rely on North America is the Common Green Darner (Anax ju- temporary rain-fed pools for habitat, but the details of nius), especially in the east and Midwest. Each year in its migration have been best worked out in the western mid-August through October reports of large southward Indian Ocean region. flights and aggregations appear in newsletters, articles, Even less is known about the biology of migration and listserves. Migration in this species is not obligatory, in additional species that migrate regularly, such as the however, and Common Green Darner populations in Spot-Winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea), Black Saddle- areas ranging from Ontario, Indiana, and Maryland are bags (Tramea lacerata), and Variegated Meadowhawk known to contain both resident and migratory individu- (Sympetrum corruptum), or in dragonflies that migrate als. These populations overlap in space, but reproduc- only sporadically such as various species of Saddlebags tion between them may be limited due to differences in (Tramea spp.) or Dragonlets (Erythrodiplax spp.). 1.1 Objectives and Goals North America's best-known migrant, the Common Green Darner (Anax junius). (Photograph © Walter Chadwick.) Although it spans three countries and has been docu- mented since the mid-nineteenth century, North Ameri- can dragonfly migration is poorly understood. We lack much basic information such as the environmental cues that trigger migratory behavior and the locations of dragonfly over-wintering grounds. More information is needed about the details of migration flights—do indi- viduals that take wing in Canada fly all the way to Mexi- co, or do dragonflies routinely join and leave a migratory flight? How do they navigate along the flight path? Do migrants mate and lay eggs at suitable habitats along their routes—and if so, do their offspring become mi- grants in their turn? A better understanding
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