Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptations of dragonflies (Odonata) under desert conditions

  • Published:
Entomological Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Different types of adaptations of dragonflies to climatic conditions of the desert zone are described. The main habitats of the dragonfly nymphs are lotic and semi-lotic artificial reservoirs. The life cycles are synchronous with seasonal climatic changes, reproduction being restricted to periods of the optimal hygrothermal conditions. Some species reveal vertical seasonal migrations. The labile daily activity rhythms allow the dragonflies to avoid the effects of unfavorable conditions. Adults of many species emerge at night.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Belyshev, B.F., Kharitonov, A.Yu., and Borisov, S.N., “Asian Part of the USSR,” in Fauna and Ecology of Dragonflies (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1989), pp. 11–31 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bey-Bienko, G.Ya., “Habitat Changes in Terrestrial Organisms as a Biological Principle,” Zh. Obshch. Biol. 27(1), 5–20 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Borisov, S.M., “Irrigation Systems as Habitats for Dragonfly Nymphs (Insecta, Odonata) in the Valleys of Tajikistan,” Doklady Akad. Nauk TadzhSSR 28(9), 541–543 (1985a).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Borisov, S.M., “The Daily Activity Rhythm of Anax parthenope Selys (Odonata, Aeschnidae)” in the Arid Zone,” Doklady Akad. Nauk TadzhSSR 28(10), 603–606 (1985b).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Borisov, S.M., “Abundance of Some Dragonfly Species in Valleys of Southwestern Tajikistan,” Vestn. Zool., No. 2, 38–42 (1986).

  6. Borisov, S.M., “Ecology of Two Closely Related Dragonfly Species in Tajikistan,” Ekologiya, No. 1, 85–87 (1987).

  7. Borisov, S.M., “The Biotopic Distribution of Dragonfly Nymphs (Insecta, Odonata) in Southwestern Tajikistan,” Doklady Akad. Nauk TadzhSSR 32(3), 206–208 (1989a).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Borisov, S.M., “The Distribution and Ecology of Orthetrum sabina Drury (Odonata, Libellulidae) in Southwestern Tajikistan,” Izv. Akad. Nauk TadzhSSR Biol., No. 2, 17–21 (1989b).

  9. Borisov, S.M., “The Daily Activity Rhythm of Crocothemis servilia Drury (Odonata, Libellulidae) in the Arid Zone of Tajikistan,” Vestn. Zool., No. 1, 42–47 (1990a).

  10. Borisov, S.M., “Dragonflies (Odonata) Attracted by Artificial Light Sources,” Zool. Zh. 69(2), 29–35 (1990b).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Borisov, S.N., “Ethology-Climatic Adaptations of Dragonflies in the Desert,” in Proc. of 15th Intern. Symp. Odonatology. Novosibirsk, July 9–19, 2001 (2001), p. 21.

  12. Chernov, Yu.I., Natural Zonation and Fauna of Land (Mysl, Moscow, 1975) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  13. Chemyshev, V.B., Daily Activity Rhythms in Insects (Mos. State Univ., Moscow, 1984) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dronzikova, M.V., Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Novosibirsk, 2000).

  15. Gorodkov, K.B., “The Three-Dimensional Climatic Model of Potential Distribution Range and Some of Its Properties,” Entomol. Obozr. 65(1), 81–95 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jacquemin, G., “Odonata of the Rif, Northern Morocco,” Odonatologica 23(3), 217–237 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jödicke, R., “Subspecific Division of Sympetrum sinaiticum Dumont, 1977, and the Identity of S. vulgatum decoloratum (Selys, 1884) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae),” Odonatologica 23(3), 239–253 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jödicke, R., “Die Odonatenfauna der Provinz Tarragona (Catalonya, Spanien),” Adv. Odonatol. 1(Suppl.), 77–111 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jödicke, R., “Die Binsenjungfern und Winterlibellen Europas: Lestidae,” in Die Neue Brehm-Bucherei. Vol. 631 (Westarp-Wiss., Magdeburg, 1997), Vol. 631, pp. 1–277.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Jödicke, R., Borisov, S.N., et al., “Additions to the Knowledge of Sympetrum sinaiticum Dumont (Odonata: Libellulidae),” Int. J. Odonatol. 3(2), 131–140 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Jödicke, R. and Mitamura, T., “Contribution towards an Annotated Bibliography on Hibernation in Sympecma Burmeister (Odonata: Lestidae),” Opusc. Zool. Flumin., No. 133, 1–9 (1995).

  22. Ketenchiev, Kh.A. and Kharitonov, A.Yu., Dragonflies of the Mediterranean Basin (El-Fa, Nalchik, 1999) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kharitonov, A.Yu., “Life Cycles of Some Dragonflies in the Eastern Ural Area,” Izv. Sib. Otdel. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Biol., No. 5, 55–59 (1977).

  24. Kharitonov, A.Yu., “Latitudinal Changes in the Phenology of Dragonflies (Insecta, Odonata) of the Transural Area and Kazakhstan,” Ekologiya, No. 2, 93–96 (1980).

  25. Kharitonov, A.Yu., Doctoral Dissertation in Biology (Moscow, 1991).

  26. Kharitonov, A.Yu. and Borisov, S.N., “The Phenology of Dragonflies,” in Fauna and Ecology of Dragonflies in the USSR (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1989a), pp. 67–76 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kharitonov, A.Yu. and Borisov, S.N., “The Daily Activity Rhythms of Dragonflies,” in Fauna and Ecology of Dragonflies in the USSR (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1989b), pp. 77–85 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kumar, A., “The Phenology of Dragonflies in the Dehra Dun Valley, India,” Odonatologica 1(4), 199–207 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kumar, A., “On the Occurrence of Multivoltine Generations in Some Indian Dragonflies,” Sci. Cult. 45(3), 126–127 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Mukhamediev, A.M., Hydrobiology of the Ferghana Valley (FAN, Tashkent, 1967) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  31. Popova, O.N., Candidate’s Dissertation in Biology (Novosibirsk, 1999).

  32. Popova, O.N., “Dependence of the Distribution of Sympetrum Dragonflies on the Properties of Larval Habitats,” Belyshevia 1(1), 14–17 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Samraoui, B., Bouzid, S., et al., “Postponed Reproductive Maturation in Upland Refuges Maintains Life-Cycle Continuity during the Hot, Dry Season in Algerian Dragonflies (Anisoptera),” Int. J. Odonatology 1(2), 118–135 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Solbrig, O.T. and Solbrig, D.J., Introduction to the Population Biology and Evolution (Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1979; Mir, Moscow, 1982) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  35. Stepanova, N.A. and Ledyaeva, A.I., “A Contribution to the Hydrobiology of Rice Fields, Irrigation and Discharge Canals in Andijan Province, Uzbek SSR,” Trudy Inst. Zool. Parazitol. Akad. Nauk UzbekSSR 9, 103–152 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ueda, T., “Sexual Maturation, Body Color Changes and Increase of Body Weight in a Summer Diapause Population of the Damselfly Lestes sponsa (Hansemann) (Zygoptera: Lestidae),” Odonatologica 18(1), 75–87 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 610091, Russia

    S. N. Borisov

Authors
  1. S. N. Borisov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Original Russian Text © S.N. Borisov, 2006, published in Zoologicheskii Zhurnal, 2006, Vol. 85, No. 7, pp. 820–829.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Borisov, S.N. Adaptations of dragonflies (Odonata) under desert conditions. Entmol. Rev. 86, 534–543 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873806050058

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873806050058

Keywords

Search

Navigation