Adapting to a Warmer World: Damselflies and Climate Change

In the center of a rapidly changing world, within the serenity of a sun-kissed wetland, lives one creature that unknowingly became the perfect symbol of the profound complexity we face in the age of climate change. Damselflies, often mistaken for dragonflies due to their similar appearance, play essential roles as both predators and prey in wetland ecosystems. They have more slender bodies than dragonflies, eyes that are separated by a gap, and narrow wings. 

A male (left) and female (right) Calopteryx virgo, or beautiful demoiselle. Image by Richard Bartz.

Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) delved into the lives of damselflies and explored how these delicate insects cope with increasingly warm and prolonged summers. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, provided a glimpse into the intricate dance between climate change and ecosystem dynamics, highlighting the importance of understanding how organisms respond to shifting environmental conditions.

This study was profound in the way that they conducted their research utilizing deep interdisciplinary collaboration. Biologists teamed up with a theoretical ecologist and a mathematician armed with advanced modeling skills. The blend of field observations, experimental work, and mathematical modeling provided a holistic perspective on the damselfly's adaptation journey. The research emphasizes the importance of incorporating real-world data into ecological models. By factoring in seasonal temperature variations and their effects on consumer lifecycles, the researchers crafted a more realistic predator-prey simulation model.

One striking revelation from this research is the incredible rate of climate change. "We are seeing the pace of climate change is much more rapid than organisms have endured in their evolutionary experience," notes co-author Phoebe Zarnetske, an associate professor at MSU. This rapid pace is exacerbated by the surge in extreme events like heat waves, making it a critical issue to address.

In addition, the study's findings challenged previous models that predicted doom for predators in a warming world. Contrary to these dire predictions, Michigan damselflies displayed remarkable resilience by adapting their lifecycles, mirroring those of their southern relatives. Instead of the usual one-year lifecycle, they opted for a strategy that allowed them to squeeze two lifecycles into a season.

A male Calopteryx splendens, or banded demoiselle. Image by Böhringer Friedrich.

Laura Twardochleb, the study's first author, initially observed damselflies during her time as a Ph.D. student at MSU. Their year-long lifecycle, which involves emerging as adults in spring, mating, and growing in ponds by consuming zooplankton, made them ideal subjects for study. Twardochleb's interdisciplinary journey led her to a class taught by Chris Klausmeier, a plant biology and integrative biology professor. It was the fusion of Twardochleb's observations and Klausmeier's theoretical insights that ignited this groundbreaking research.

The study's implications extend beyond damselflies, offering critical groundwork for understanding how other species will respond to a warming world. In particular, it sheds light on species like mosquitoes, which are not only nuisances but also potential disease carriers.

However, the challenges of climate change adaptation extend beyond individual species. Unpredictable weather extremes, such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, pose formidable obstacles to ecosystems and species alike. As Zarnetske aptly puts it, "Unpredictability is hard."

A female Ischnura elegans, or blue-tailed damselfly. Image by Charles J. Sharp.

As we navigate the evolving narrative of our planet's climate, the humble damselfly teaches us an invaluable lesson. It reminds us that in the face of multifaceted challenges, such as climate change, collaboration is not merely a choice—it is a necessity. To decipher the intricate threads of this global issue, we must weave together the knowledge of scientists, the wisdom of ecologists, the insight of mathematicians, and the experiences of countless others. Only by harmonizing our efforts can we hope to find solutions that will allow both the damselfly, but all the creatures we value and rely on and humanity to thrive in our ever-changing world.