Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T12:20:27.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

AUTECOLOGY OF TWO AESHNA SPECIES (ODONATA) IN WESTERN VIRGINIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Timothy G. Halverson
Timothy G. Halverson
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Aeshna tuberculifera Walker and A. umbrosa Walker were studied in the Shenandoah Mountains, Rockingham County, Virginia for 5 years. Both species had 2-year life cycles. They passed the first winter in an embryonic diapause and the second in a larval diapause. Although A. umbrosa was slightly smaller and developed earlier in the year, growth patterns of the two species were similar. Adults emerged from mid-summer to mid-fall with a slight protandry. Sex ratio at emergence was equal in A. tuberculifera but slightly biased toward males in A. umbrosa. Individuals emerging later in the season tended to be smaller than those emerging earlier, and the decline in size was linear over time. The maturation period lasted 4–6 weeks. Poor recovery of marked teneral and breeding adults indicates either high mortality or high dispersal, but observed movement among ponds by marked breeding adults suggests high dispersal. Breeding males of both species defended entire ponds for short periods. Both males and females were present more frequently in the afternoon than during the morning or at mid-day. Females often oviposited in the late afternoon or early evening when males were usually absent from the ponds. A. tuberculifera used stems of Juncus effusus L. almost exclusively for oviposition, while A. umbrosa used a variety of dead plant or other material and rarely used J. effusus stems.

Résumé

Aeshna tuberculifera Walker et A. umbrosa Walker ont été étudiés pendant 5 ans dans les montagnes Shenandoah, comté de Rockingham, Virginia. Le cycle vital des 2 espèces était de 2 ans. Le premier hiver était passé en diapause embryonnaire et la seconde en diapause larvaire. Bien que A. umbrosa ait été de taille inférieure et se soit développé plus tôt au cours de l'année, les profils de croissance des 2 espèces étaient similaires. Les adultes ont émergé de la mi-été à la mi-automne, avec une protandrie légère. Le rapport numérique mâles-femelles était équilibré chez A. tuberculifera, mais légèrement biaisé vers les mâles chez A. umbrosa. Les individus émergeant tard en saison tendaient à être plus petits que ceux émergeant tôt. La période de maturité a duré de 4 à 6 semaines. Les faibles recaptures d'adultes marqués en période ténérale ou reproductive indiquent soit une mortalité élevée, soit une dispersion prononcée; l'observation de déplacements d'adultes reproducteurs entre étangs laisse croire à une dispersion prononcée. Les mâles en reproduction des 2 espèces ont défendu des étangs entiers pendant de brèves périodes. Les mâles et les femelles étaient présents plus fréquemment durant l'après-midi que le matin ou au milieu du jour. Les femelles ont souvent pondu tard l'après-midi ou tôt en soirée alors que les mâles étaient ordinairement absents des étangs. A. tuberculifera utilise presqu'exclusivement des tiges de Juncus effusus L. pour la ponte, alors que A. umbrosa utilise une variété de plantes mortes ou d'autres matériaux et rarement les tiges de J. effusus.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 116 , Issue 4 , April 1984 , pp. 567 - 578
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Benke, A. C. and Benke, S. S.. 1975. Comparative dynamics and life histories of coexisting dragonfly populations. Ecology 56: 302–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berven, K. A. 1982. The genetic basis of altitudinal variation in the wood frog Rana sylvatica. I. An experimental analysis of life history traits, Evolution 36: 962–983.Google ScholarPubMed
Berven, K. A., Gill, D. E., and Smith-Gill, S. J.. 1979. Countergradient selection in the green frog Rana clamitans. Evolution 33: 609–623.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boole, M. S., Hamrum, S. C., and Anderson, M. A.. 1974. The Minnesota species of Aeshna with notes on their habitats and distribution (Odonata:Aeshnidae). Great Lakes Entomologist 7: 19–22.Google Scholar
Carle, F. L. 1979. Environmental monitoring potential of the Odonata, with a list of rare and endangered Anisoptera of Virginia, United States. Odonatologica 8: 319–323.Google Scholar
Corbet, P. S. 1956. The influence of temperature on diapause development in the dragonfly Lestes sponsa (Hansemann) (Odonata:Lestidae). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 31: 45–48.Google Scholar
Corbet, P. S. 1957. The life history of the emperor dragonfly Anax imperator Leach (Odonata:Aeshnidae). J. Animal Ecol. 26: 1–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corbet, P. S. 1980. Biology of Odonata. A. Rev. Ent. 25: 189–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fraser, D. F. 1976. Coexistence of salamanders in the genus Plethodon: variation of the Santa Rosalia theme. Ecology 57: 238–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gill, D. E. 1978. The metapopulation ecology of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens (Rafinesque). Ecol. Monogr. 48: 145–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gill, D. E., Berven, K. A., and Mock, B. A.. 1983. The environmental component of evolutionary biology. In King, C. E. and Dawson, P. A. (Eds.), Population Biology: Retrospect and Prospect. 41st Annual Biology Colloquium, Oregon State University.Google Scholar
Halverson, T. G. 1983. The evolution of dragonfly life histories in heterogeneous environments. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Maryland, College Park. 134 pp.Google Scholar
Halverson, T. G. Temperature dependent embryogenesis in Aeshna tuberculifera Walker and Plathemis lydia (Drury) under field and laboratory conditions (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae, Libellulidae). Odonatologica (in press).Google Scholar
Jacobs, M. E. 1955. Studies on territorialism and sexual selection in dragonflies. Ecology 36: 566–586.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaiser, H. 1974 a. Die Regelung der Individuendichte bei Libellen mänchen (Aeschna cyanea, Odonata). Oecologia 14: 53–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaiser, H. 1974 b. Die Tägliche dauer der Paarungsbereitschaft in Abhängigkeit von der Libelle Aeschna cyanea (Odonata). Oecologia 14: 375–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaiser, H. 1974 c. Verhaltensgefuge und Temporialverhalten der Libelle Aeschna cyanea (Odonata). Z. Tierpsychol. 34: 398–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kime, J. B. 1974. Ecological relationships among three species of aeshnid dragonfly larvae (Odonata: Aeshnidae). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Washington, Seattle. 141 pp.Google Scholar
Lawton, J. H. 1972. Sex ratios in odonate larvae with particular reference to the Zygoptera. Odonatologica 1: 209–219.Google Scholar
Lincoln, E. 1940. Growth in Aeshna tuberculifera (Odonata). Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 83: 589–605.Google Scholar
Needham, J. C. and Westfall, M. J.. 1955. Dragonflies of North America. University of California Press, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Norling, U. 1971. The life history and seasonal regulation of Aeshna viridis Eversm. in southern Sweden (Odonata). Entomologica scand. 2: 170–190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paulson, D. R. and Jenner, C. E.. 1971. Population structure in overwintering larval Odonata in North Carolina in relation to adult flight season. Ecology 52: 96–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pritchard, G. 1964 a. The prey of dragonfly larvae (Odonata:Anisoptera) in ponds in northern Alberta. Can. J. Zool. 42: 785–800.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pritchard, G. 1964 b. The prey of adult dragonflies in northern Alberta. Can. Ent. 96: 821–825.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sawchyn, W. W. and Church, N. S.. 1973. The effects of temperature and photoperiod on diapause development in the eggs of four species of Lestes (Odonata:Zygoptera). Can. J. Zool. 51: 1257–1265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaller, F. 1968. Action de la température sur la diapause et le développement de l'embryon d'Aeshna mixta Latr. (Odonata). J. Insect Physiol. 14: 1477–1483.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaller, F. 1972. Action de la température sur la diapause embryonnaire et sur le type de développement d'Aeshna mixta Latreille (Anisoptera:Aeshnidae). Odonatologica 1: 143–153.Google Scholar
Smith-Gill, S. J. and Berven, K. A.. 1979. Predicting amphibian metamorphosis. Am. Nat. 113: 563–585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, E. M. 1958. The Odonata of Canada and Alaska, Volume 2. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario.CrossRefGoogle Scholar