Flight orientation behaviors promote optimal migration trajectories in high-flying insects

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Chapman, J. W., Nesbit, R. L., Burgin, L. E., Reynolds, D. R., Smith, A. D., Middleton, D. R. and Hill, J. K. 2010. Flight orientation behaviors promote optimal migration trajectories in high-flying insects. Science - AAAS. 327 (5966), pp. 682-685. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182990

AuthorsChapman, J. W., Nesbit, R. L., Burgin, L. E., Reynolds, D. R., Smith, A. D., Middleton, D. R. and Hill, J. K.
Abstract

Many insects undertake long-range seasonal migrations to exploit temporary breeding sites hundreds or thousands of kilometers apart, but the behavioral adaptations that facilitate these movements remain largely unknown. Using entomological radar, we showed that the ability to select seasonally favorable, high-altitude winds is widespread in large day- and night-flying migrants and that insects adopt optimal flight headings that partially correct for crosswind drift, thus maximizing distances traveled. Trajectory analyses show that these behaviors increase migration distances by 40% and decrease the degree of drift from seasonally optimal directions. These flight behaviors match the sophistication of those seen in migrant birds and help explain how high-flying insects migrate successfully between seasonal habitats. 

KeywordsRRES175; 175_Entomology
Year of Publication2010
JournalScience - AAAS
Journal citation327 (5966), pp. 682-685
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182990
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Funder project or codeSEF
Project: 4780
Population and community ecology: conservation and dynamics
Project: 2007
PublisherAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Washington DC

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