A recent study from the University of Colorado Denver reveals alarming effects of climate change and intensifying wildfires on dragonflies, specifically their mating traits, posing a risk of local extinction for some species.
This research, published in Nature Climate Change, highlights that dragonflies with distinct dark wing spots—traits historically linked to attracting mates—are now increasingly vulnerable due to a warming climate.
Dragonflies play a crucial role in ecosystems as they are major predators of mosquitoes and serve as a vital food source for various birds, fish, and amphibians. The decline of dragonflies could create a ripple effect throughout entire food webs.
Lead author Sarah Nalley, a PhD student in CU Denver’s Integrative Biology program, emphasized, “Dragonflies have survived asteroids, but now climate change and wildfires are threatening them in ways evolution can’t keep up with. Our findings suggest that adaptation alone may not be fast enough to protect species in a rapidly changing climate.”
The study utilized 40 years of publicly available data to examine the disappearance of ornamented dragonflies from habitats that have burned and from regions experiencing increased heat across the United States. Through thermal imaging, researchers discovered that the dark melanin spots on dragonfly wings are prone to absorb heat faster, causing male dragonflies to overheat.
Consequently, these males are spending more time resting and recovering, which limits their time for competing for mates. Unlike the well-documented case of peppered moths during the Industrial Revolution, where wing coloration provided camouflage from predators, this study reveals that for dragonflies, wing color directly impacts reproductive success.
The research sheds light on a critical consideration in conservation biology: traditional metrics have focused on species’ survival in higher temperatures or drier conditions. However, this study suggests that traits essential for reproduction may be even more critical to a species’ long-term viability.
Assistant Professor Michael Moore, a co-author of the study, stated, “This changes how we think about vulnerability. It’s not just about whether animals can survive after wildfire—it’s about whether they can reproduce in those modified environments. That’s the key to long-term survival.”
The inception of this study can be traced back to a class project in Moore’s course, relying solely on publicly available data from sources like the U.S. Geological Survey, citizen science contributions, and extensive federal climate datasets.
Importantly, Nalley’s personal experiences motivated her involvement in this research. She lost her home during the 2021 Marshall Fire in Superior, Colorado, and as a nontraditional student who had taken time off from her studies, she found renewed purpose in wildlife conservation.
“I knew I wanted to study animals—and after the fire, I knew I wanted to study wildfires too,” Nalley shared. “That experience pushed me to ask how animals are affected not just by surviving a fire, but by whether they can still reproduce and carry on the species afterward.”
The implications of this research extend beyond dragonflies, signaling broader risks to biodiversity and conservation. The vulnerability of dragonflies, resilient predators that have existed for hundreds of millions of years, raises concerns about the stability of many species.
This study underscores the need for a reevaluation of wildlife management strategies that take into account not only survival but also mating behaviors and reproductive success—critical factors for the sustainability of species.
Moore expressed that working with Nalley prompted him to rethink his own research approach, noting, “She came in with great questions about wildfires and reproduction that made me reconsider how I approach these big ecological issues.”
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