Seasonal variation in dragonfly assemblage colouration suggests a link between thermal melanism and phenology

Roberto Novella-Fernandez (), Roland Brandl, Stefan Pinkert, Dirk Zeuss and Christian Hof
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Roberto Novella-Fernandez: Technical University of Munich, Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department for Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences
Roland Brandl: Philipps‐University Marburg
Stefan Pinkert: Philipps-Universität Marburg
Dirk Zeuss: Philipps-Universität Marburg
Christian Hof: Technical University of Munich, Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department for Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Phenology, the seasonal timing of life events, is an essential component of diversity patterns. However, the mechanisms involved are complex and understudied. Body colour may be an important factor, because dark-bodied species absorb more solar radiation, which is predicted by the Thermal Melanism Hypothesis to enable them to thermoregulate successfully in cooler temperatures. Here we show that colour lightness of dragonfly assemblages varies in response to seasonal changes in solar radiation, with darker early- and late-season assemblages and lighter mid-season assemblages. This finding suggests a link between colour-based thermoregulation and insect phenology. We also show that the phenological pattern of dragonfly colour lightness advanced over the last decades. We suggest that changing seasonal temperature patterns due to global warming together with the static nature of solar radiation may drive dragonfly flight periods to suboptimal seasonal conditions. Our findings open a research avenue for a more mechanistic understanding of phenology and spatio-phenological impacts of climate warming on insects.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44106-0

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