Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Australian monsoon tropics as a barrier for exchange of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) between New Guinea and Australia

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent studies show a remarkable scarcity of faunal exchange events between Australia and New Guinea in the Pleistocene despite the presence of a broad land connection for long periods. This is attributed to unfavourable conditions in the connecting area associated with the long established northern Australian Monsoon Climate. This would be expected to have impacted strongly on freshwater faunas with the following results: (1) limited overlap in species, (2) most higher taxonomic groups present in both areas sharing no species or even genera and (3) shared species dominated by lentic species with high dispersal capacity. Testing these predictions for dragonflies showed the turnover in the family, genus and species composition between Australia and New Guinea to be higher than anywhere in the world with only 50% of families and subfamilies, 33% of the genera and 8% of the species being shared. Only one of the 53 shared species favors lotic waters compared with 64% of the 652 combined Australian–New Guinean species. These results agree with our predictions and indicate that the dragonfly fauna of Australia and New Guinea have effectively been separated during the Pleistocene probably due to the prolonged unfavourable climatic conditions in the intervening areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Figs. 3–24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, G. R. & D. F. Hoese, 1980. A collection of fishes from Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 63: 53–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, N., M. de Bruyn & P. B. Mather, 2008. Patterns of molecular diversity in wild stocks of the redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea: impacts of Plio-Pleistocene landscape evolution. Freshwater Biology 53: 1592–1605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balke, M., J. Pons, I. Ribera, K. Sagata & A. P. Vogler, 2007. Infrequent and unidirectional colonization of hyperdiverse Papuadytes diving beetles in New Caledonia and New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 505–516.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowe, M., N. Stronach & R. Bartolo, 2007. Grassland and savanna ecosystems of the Trans-Fly, Southern Papua. In Marshall, A. J. & B. Beehler (eds), The Ecology of Papua. The Ecology of Indonesia Series, Vol. VI. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong: 207–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, D. M. J. S., G. K. Brown, M. F. Braby, J. R. Brown, L. G. Cook, M. D. Crisp, F. Ford, S. Haberle, J. Hughes, Y. Isagi, L. Joseph, J. McBride, G. Nelson & P. Y. Ladiges, 2010. Biogeography of the Australian monsoon tropics. Journal of Biogeography 37: 201–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bybee, S. M., T. H. Ogden, M. A. Branham & M. F. Whiting, 2008. Molecules, morphology and fossils: a comprehensive approach to odonate phylogeny and the evolution of the odonate wing. Cladistics 24: 477–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carle, F. L., 1995. Evolution, taxonomy, and biogeography of ancient Gondwanian libelluloides, with comments on anisopteroid evolution and phylogenetic systematic (Anisoptera: Libelluloidea). Odonatologica 24: 383–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carle, F. L., K. M. Kjer & M. L. May, 2008. Evolution of Odonata with special reference to Coenagrionoidea (Zygoptera). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 66: 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, B. D. & J. M. Hughes, 2010. Historical population connectivity and fragmentation in a tropical freshwater fish with a disjunct distribution (pennyfish, Denariusa bandata). Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29: 1119–1131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies D. A. L. & P. Tobin, 1985. The Dragonflies of the World: A Systematic List of the Extant Species of Odonata. Vol. 2. Anisoptera. Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, Utrecht.

  • De Bruyn, M. & P. B. Mather, 2007. Molecular signatures of Pleistocene sea-level changes that affected connectivity among freshwater shrimp in Indo-Australian waters. Molecular Ecology 16: 4295–4307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruyn, M., J. C. Wilson & P. B. Mather, 2004. Reconciling geography and genealogy: phylogeography of giant freshwater prawns from Lake Carpentaria region. Molecular Ecology 13: 3515–3526.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dumont, H. J., J. R. Vanfleteren, J. F. De Jonckheere & P. H. H. Weekers, 2005. Phylogenetic relationships, divergence time estimation, and global biogeographic patterns of Calopterygoid damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences. Systematic Biology 54: 347–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dumont, H. J., A. Vierstraete & J. R. Vanvleteren, 2010. A molecular phylogeny of the Odonata (Insecta). Systematic Entomology 35: 6–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleck, G., B. Ulrich, M. Brenk, C. Wallnisch, M. Orland, S. Bleidissel & B. Misof, 2008. A phylogeny of anisopterous dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) using mtRNA genes and mixed nucleotide/doublet models. Journal of Zoology, Systematics and Evolution Research 46: 310–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garrison, R. W., N. Von Ellenrieder & M. F. O’Brien, 2003. An annotated list of the name-bearing types of the species-group names in Odonata preserved in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Occasional papers of the Museum of Zoology University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 736: 1–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrison, R. W., N. Von Ellenrieder & J. A. Louton, 2006. Dragonfly Genera of the New World. An Illustrated and Annotated Key to the Anisoptera. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gassmann, D., 2005. The phylogeny of Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific Calicnemiinea (Odonata, Platycnemididae). Bonner Zoologische Beiträge 53(2004): 37–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimaldi, D. & M. S. Engel, 2005. Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hope, G. S., 2007. Paleoecology and paleoenvironments of Papua. The ecology of Papua, The ecology of Indonesia series, Vol. VI. In Marshall, A. J. & B. Beehler (eds), The Ecology of Papua. The Ecology of Indonesia Series VI. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong: 255–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalkman, V. J., V. Clausnitzer, K.-D. B. Dijkstra, A. G. Orr, D. R. Paulson & J. van Tol, 2008. Global diversity of dragonflies (Odonata) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595: 351–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalkman, V. J., C. Y. Choong, A. G. Orr & K. Schütte, 2010. Remarks on the taxonomy of Megapodagrionidae with emphasis on the larval gills (Odonata). International Journal of Odonatology 13: 119–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieftinck, M. A., 1949. The dragonflies (Odonata) of New Guinea and neighbouring islands. Part VII. Results of the Third Archbold expedition 1938–1939 and of the Le Roux Expedition 1939 to Netherlands New Guinea (II. Zygoptera). Nova Guinea (N.S.) 5: 1–271.

  • Macqueen, P., J. M. Seddon, J. J. Austin, S. Hamilton & A. W. Goldizen, 2010. Phylogenetics of the pademelons (Macropodidae: Thylogale) and historical biogeography of the Australo-Papuan region. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57: 1134–1148.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGuigan, K., D. Zhu, G. R. Allen & C. Moritz, 2000. Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of melanotaeniid fishes in Australia and New Guinea. Marine and Freshwater Research 51: 713–723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orr, A. G. & M. Hämäläinen, 2007. The Metalwing Demoiselles (Neurobasis and Matronoides) of the Eastern Tropics: Their Identification and Biology. Natural History Publications, Borneo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pessacq, P., 2008. Phylogeny of Neotropical Protoneuridae (Odonata: Zygoptera) and a preliminary study of their relationship with related families. Systematic Entomology 33: 511–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, G. & G. Theischinger, 2007. Die gondwanischen Aeshniden Australiens (Odonata: Telephlebiidae und Brachytronidae). Denisia 20, zugleich Katalog der oberösterreichischen Landesmuseen, N.S. 66: 517–574.

  • Polhemus, D. A., 2007. Tectonic geology of Papua. In Marshall, A. J. & B. M. Beehler (eds), The Ecology of Papua. The Ecology of Indonesia Series VI. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong: 137–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polhemus, D. A. & G. R. Allen, 2007. Freshwater biogeography of Papua. In Marshall, A. J. & B. M. Beehler (eds), The Ecology of Papua. The Ecology of Indonesia Series, Vol. VI. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong: 207–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, J. M., A. R. Chivas, A. Garcia & P. de Dekker, 2007. Palaeoenvironmental change in the Gulf of Carpentaria (Australia) since the last interglacial based on Ostracoda. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 246: 163–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Theischinger, G. & I. Endersby, 2009. Identification Guide to the Australian Odonata. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theischinger, G. & J. Hawking, 2006. The Complete Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theischinger, G. & J. A. L. Watson, 1984. Larvae of Australian Gomphomacromiinae, and their bearing on the status of the Synthemis group of genera (Odonata: Corduliidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 32: 67–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unmack, P. J., 2001. Biogeography of Australian freshwater fishes. Journal of Biogeography 28: 1053–1089.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tol, J. & D. Gassmann, 2007. Zoogeography of freshwater invertebrates of Southeast Asia, with special reference to Odonata. In Renema, W. (ed.), Biogeography, Time, and Place: Distributions, Barriers, and Islands. Springer, Dordrecht: 45–91.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tol, J., B. T. Reijnen & H. A. Thomassen, 2009. Phylogeny and biogeography of the Platystictidae (Odonata). Ph.D. thesis, University of Leiden, Leiden.

  • Von Ellenrieder, N., 2002. A phylogenetic analysis of the extant Aeshnidae (Odonata: Anisoptera). Systematic Entomology (London) 27: 1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Ellenrieder, N., 2005. Taxonomy of the South American genus Phyllopetalia (Odonata: Austropetaliidae). International Journal of Odonatology 8: 311–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Von Ellenrieder, N. & R. W. Garrison, 2004. A synopsis of the South American genus Gomphomacromia (Odonata: Gomphomacromiinae). International Journal of Odonatology 8: 81–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voris, H. K., 2000. Maps of Pleistocene sea levels in Southeast Asia: shorelines, river systems and time durations. Journal of Biogeography 27: 1153–1167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ware, J., M. May & K. Kjer, 2007. Phylogeny of the higher Libelluloidae (Anisoptera: Odonata): An exploration of the most speciose superfamily of dragofnlies. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 45: 289–310.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ware, J. L., J. P. Simaika & M. J. Samways, 2009. Biogeography and divergence time estimation of the relict Cape dragonfly genus Syncordulia: global significance and implications for conservation. Zootaxa 2216: 22–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. A. L., 1981. Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). In Keast, A. (ed.), Ecological Biogeography of Australia. Junk, The Hague: 1141–1167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. A. L., 1991. The Australian Gomphidae (Odonata). Invertebrate Taxonomy 5: 289–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. A. L. & A. L. Dyce, 1978. The larval habitat of Podopteryx selysi (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 17: 361–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. A. L. & A. F. O’Farrell, 1985. The affinities of the Australian Gomphidae (Odonata). Australian Journal of Zoology 33: 499–508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. A. L., G. Theischinger & H. M. Abbey, 1991. The Australian Dragonflies. CSIRO, Canberra.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Ian Endersby and Günther Theischinger for allowing us the use of their database of Australian dragonflies without which this work would not have been possible. We thank Steve Richards, Peter van Welzen, Gunther Theischinger and Jan van Tol for comments that substantially improved this work. This study was made possible due to a grant of the Schure-Beijerinck-Popping Fonds of the KNAW.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NCB Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    V. J. Kalkman

  2. Griffith School of the Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Q4111, Australia

    A. G. Orr

Authors
  1. V. J. Kalkman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. G. Orr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. J. Kalkman.

Additional information

Handling editor: David Dudgeon

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kalkman, V.J., Orr, A.G. The Australian monsoon tropics as a barrier for exchange of dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) between New Guinea and Australia. Hydrobiologia 693, 55–70 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1086-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1086-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation