Fliers and perchers among Odonata: dichotomy or multidimensional continuum? A provisional reappraisal

By P. Corbet, M. May. 2008

134 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract We revisit the hypothesis, first advanced in 1962, that, with regard to their means of thermoregulation and overt behaviour, two types of Odonata can be recognised: fliers, when active (during reproductive activity, primarily, or foraging) remain on the wing, whereas perchers, when similarly engaged, spend most of the time on a perch from which they make short flights. First, in light of the available data, we restrict the hypothesis to apply primarily to activity at the rendezvous. Next, we review evidence, including direct measurements of body temperature coupled with activity budgets, to test the proposition that the hypothetical classification constitutes a dichotomy rather than a continuum. We conclude: (1) that there is merit in retaining the dichotomous classification into fliers and perchers, together with the thermoregulatory capabilities assigned to each category; (2) that the distinction between fliers and perchers is sufficiently discrete to be a useful predictor of the suite of thermoregulatory strategies and energy demands characteristic of representatives of each category; and (3) that, within each category a continuum exists such that the capacity to heat the body by irradiation (i.e. ectothermically) or by metabolic heat production (endothermy) increases with body size. Some departures from expectation based on the percher/flier dichotomy reflect the increased flight activity that occurs at the rendezvous under conditions of heightened conspecific or interspecific interference. Other apparent anomalies are identified as topics for potentially fruitful research.

Subfields: Ecological Modeling, Ecology, Genetics

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/06e455385fbc95ff1ed9da22afef4903730ac790

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Citations in the corpus

The dragonfly delusion: why it is essential to sample exuviae to avoid biased surveys (2010, methodology): “separating ‘flier’ and ‘percher’ species of Anisoptera (Table 3) (Corbet and May 2008).”
Unprotecting the rare species: a niche‐based gap analysis for odonates in a core Cerrado area (2011, background): “Temperature and precipitation are basic general variables with conspicuous effects on odonate presence as these variables affect developmental rates (Banks, 1987; Pritchard et al., 1996) and thermoregulatory abilities (De Marco & Resende, 2002; Corbet & May, 2008).”
Aquatic insects indicate terrestrial habitat degradation: changes in taxonomical structure and functional diversity of dragonflies in tropical rainforest of East Kalimantan (2012, background): “Generally, Zygoptera can be described as “perchers” sensu Corbet and May (2008).”
Neotropical dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) as indicators of ecological condition of small streams in the eastern Amazon (2015, background): “Heliothermic odonates have larger body sizes (some Zygoptera and most Anisoptera; dragonflies) and, hence, lower conductance; their activity is determined mainly by sunlight incidence (Corbet & May 2008).”