In the face of escalating global climate change and the rising frequency of wildfires, an alarming threat has emerged against one of the planet’s most ancient and ecologically significant insect groups: dragonflies. A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver reveals that climate warming and increased wildfire disturbance are severely undermining the mating traits of dragonflies, particularly those with the striking, dark melanin spots on their wings. These “ornamented” dragonflies, which rely on these wing patterns to attract mates, are disappearing from increasingly hotter and fire-affected habitats across the United States, raising urgent concerns about their long-term survival and the cascading effects on broader ecosystems.
This research, recently published in Nature Climate Change, presents an intricate view of how climate-driven environmental changes disrupt not only the survival of species but also the intricate dynamics of their reproduction—a crucial but often overlooked bottleneck in conservation biology. Dragonflies, whose lineage traces back hundreds of millions of years, have long been resilient to dramatic natural changes, including asteroid impacts. Yet, modern anthropogenic stressors such as intensified wildfires and rapid warming appear to be reshaping the selective pressures on their distinguishing mating traits with unprecedented speed.
Central to this study is the function and consequence of the dark melanin wings patterns in male dragonflies. These spots serve as ornaments in sexual selection, playing a pivotal role in rival competition and attracting females for successful mating. However, thermal imaging techniques employed in the study demonstrate that these melanin-rich regions absorb solar radiation far more efficiently than the rest of the wing, leading to faster overheating of males. In a warming climate, this thermal burden forces males to expend more time thermoregulating—resting and recovering from thermal stress—thereby reducing their opportunities to engage in reproductive competition.
With this physiological constraint, the mating success of ornamented males declines, diminishing their reproductive fitness despite their survival. This phenomenon significantly diverges from classic models of natural selection focused solely on survival, such as the peppered moth example, where coloration affected camouflage and predation risk without directly influencing mating success. In dragonflies, the sexual selection pressures intertwined with thermoregulation emerge as a critical factor dictating population viability under changing environmental conditions.
The investigation harnessed an extensive dataset spanning four decades, derived entirely from publicly accessible sources, including wildfire burn area records from the U.S. Geological Survey, climate datasets tracking ambient temperature variations, and large-scale citizen science observations cataloging dragonfly populations and traits. By integrating these multifaceted data streams, the researchers mapped the geographic decline of ornamented individuals against fire-affected and warming regions throughout the U.S., establishing a compelling correlation between increasingly extreme environmental factors and reduced prevalence of mating wing ornaments.
This multifactorial approach also emphasizes the pivotal role of citizen science in modern ecological research, enabling large spatial and temporal coverage that would be infeasible through traditional fieldwork alone. The study’s comprehensive data-driven methodology offers a replicable framework for evaluating subtle reproductive challenges in other species facing climatic upheaval.
Beyond reproductive impediments, the study raises profound implications for ecosystem stability. Dragonflies occupy a critical trophic position as voracious predators of mosquitoes and other small insects while serving as prey for birds, fish, and amphibians. Declines in their population could disrupt food webs, potentially exacerbating vector-borne diseases by lessening natural mosquito predation and affecting the survival of various vertebrates dependent on dragonflies as a food source.
Lead author Sarah Nalley, a PhD student in Integrative Biology at the University of Colorado Denver, highlights the urgency of reassessing conservation strategies in light of these findings. “Our work reveals that survival alone doesn’t capture the full picture of extinction risk,” Nalley explains. “If an animal cannot reproduce successfully, its population is doomed to decline, no matter how well individuals can survive changing habitats.”
Co-author Michael Moore, an assistant professor at CU Denver, underscores the novel conceptual shift introduced by the study—moving from a survival-centric view of climate vulnerability toward an integrative perspective that accounts for the reproductive ecology of species, especially in fire-ravaged landscapes. “This changes how we think about vulnerability,” Moore states. “It’s not just about surviving the wildfire—it’s whether animals can reproduce in these modified environments. That’s the key to long-term survival.”
What sets this research apart is not only its profound ecological insights but also its genesis. The project began as an undergraduate class assignment under Professor Moore’s supervision, relying entirely on free, publicly available data sets, with no external funding. This grassroots approach demonstrates how innovative questions and rigorous analysis can emerge from modest origins, harnessing open-access resources and the enthusiasm of budding scientists.
Nalley’s personal journey adds a poignant dimension to the study. Having lost her own home in the devastating 2021 Marshall Fire in Superior, Colorado, she channels her lived experience into scientific inquiry. “After the fire, I was compelled to ask how animals aren’t just surviving wildfires, but also how they manage to reproduce afterward,” she reflects. This fusion of personal motivation and scholarly pursuit epitomizes the growing movement of researchers whose work is deeply intertwined with real-world environmental crises.
The implications extend far beyond dragonflies alone. The study alerts scientists and wildlife managers to the silent yet potent pressures exerted on reproductive traits, urging a recalibration of conservation priorities and habitat management. Climate change adaptation plans must consider behavioral and physiological traits directly linked to reproductive success, as failure to do so risks overlooking pivotal extinction drivers.
By shining light on the thermal consequences of seemingly advantageous mating traits, the research opens new avenues for understanding how complex organismal traits interact with shifting climates. It challenges conservationists to adopt multidisciplinary perspectives, combining thermal biology, behavioral ecology, and climate science to develop holistic strategies that bolster species resilience.
In summary, this pioneering work offers a wake-up call about the nuanced vulnerabilities faced by ancient species now caught in rapid environmental change. As dragonflies fight an uphill battle between sexual selection and thermal stress, their struggles reflect a broader narrative about the adaptive challenges confronting wildlife worldwide. Ensuring their survival demands innovative research, integrated conservation approaches, and a deeper appreciation of the intricate linkages among climate, behavior, and reproduction.
Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Showy dragonflies are being driven extinct by warming and wildfire
News Publication Date: 10-Sep-2025
Web References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02417-8
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02417-8
Image Credits: University of Colorado Denver, Paul Wedlake
Keywords: Climate change effects, Climate change adaptation
