Trans-Saharan migratory patterns in Vanessa cardui and evidence for a southward leapfrog migration
Some insects, such as the painted lady butterfly <i>Vanessa cardui</i>, exhibit complex annual migratory cycles spanning multiple generations. Traversing extensive seas or deserts is often a required segment of these migratory journeys. We develop a bioavailable strontium isoscape for Europe and Africa and then use isotope geolocation combining hydrogen and strontium isotopes to estimate the natal origins of painted ladies captured north and south of the Sahara during spring and autumn, respectively. Our findings reveal moderate migratory connectivity across the Sahara characterized by a broad-front, parallel migration. We also report evidence of a leapfrog migration, wherein early autumn migrants from higher latitudes cover greater distances southward than their late autumn counterparts. This work represents a major advancement in understanding insect migratory patterns and connectivity, particularly across extensive barriers, which is essential for understanding population dynamics and predicting the impacts of global change on insect-mediated ecosystem services.
Authors
- Roger Vila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2447-4388)
- Dubi Benyamini
- Lihai Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2044-0524)
- Daria Shipilina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1145-9226)
- Gerard Talavera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1112-1345)
- Ivy Ng’iru (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4766-6251)
- Dino J. Martins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1581-1642)
- Megan S. Reich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0597-4854)
- Clément P. Bataille (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8625-4658)
- Samantha Zabudsky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1484-0831)
- Sana Ghouri
- Steve C. Collins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8018-5997)
- Matthieu Le Corre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1194-351X)
Institutions
- Uppsala University (SE)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- ORT Israel (IL)
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (GB)
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (ES)
- McGuire Institute (US)
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (FR)
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (ES)
- Mpala Research Center and Wildlife Foundation (KE)
- Stony Brook University (US)
- Cardiff University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- iScience
- Published
- 2024-11-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111342
- Citations
- 14
- Primary Topic
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.97
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- National Sleep Foundation
- National Geographic Society
- Université du Québec à Montréal
- Ecological Society of America
- Government of Canada
- British Ecological Society
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- China Shipbuilding Industry
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación