Wind selection and drift compensation optimize migratory pathways in a high-flying moth
Wind selection and drift compensation optimize migratory pathways in a high-flying moth
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DOI：
10.1016/j.cub.2008.02.080
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发表时间：
2008-04-08
期刊：
影响因子：
9.2
通讯作者：
Woiwod, Ian P.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Chapman, Jason W.;Reynolds, Don R.;Woiwod, Ian P.
许多昆虫物种进行定期的季节性迁徙，以利用临时的繁殖栖息地[1]。这些迁徙通常是通过夜间的高海拔风载运动实现的[2-6]，促进了快速的长途运输，但似乎是以经常在非常不利的方向上流离失所为代价的(所谓的“花笛子”现象[7])。这导致了迁徙昆虫用来控制它们迁徙方向的机制的不确定性[8，9]。在这里，我们展示了，夜间活动的飞蛾不仅不受风的摆布，而且有着出人意料的复杂的行为机制，这些机制引导它们沿着季节性有利的方向迁徙。利用昆虫学雷达，我们证明了迁徙夜蛾Autograph Gamma的自由飞行个体主动选择快速、高海拔的气流向对它们秋季迁徙非常有利的方向移动。它们还在顺风方向附近表现出共同的取向，从而使直线距离最大化。最出人意料的是，我们发现，当风与蛾的首选方向(朝向SSW)不太一致时，它们会补偿侧风漂移，从而增加到达越冬范围的可能性。我们得出结论，夜间迁徙的飞蛾使用指南针和遗传的优先方向来优化它们的迁徙轨迹。
Numerous insect species undertake regular seasonal migrations in order to exploit temporary breeding habitats [1]. These migrations are often achieved by high-altitude wind-borne movement at night [2-6], facilitating rapid long-distance transport, but seemingly at the cost of frequent displacement in highly disadvantageous directions (the so-called "pied piper" phenomenon [7]). This has lead to uncertainty about the mechanisms migrant insects use to control their migratory directions [8, 9]. Here we show that, far from being at the mercy of the wind, nocturnal moths have unexpectedly complex behavioral mechanisms that guide their migratory flight paths in seasonally-favorable directions. Using entomological radar, we demonstrate that free-flying individuals of the migratory noctuid moth Autographa gamma actively select fast, high-altitude airstreams moving in a direction that is highly beneficial for their autumn migration. They also exhibit common orientation close to the downwind direction, thus maximizing the rectilinear distance traveled. Most unexpectedly, we find that when winds are not closely aligned with the moth's preferred heading (toward the SSW), they compensate for cross-wind drift, thus increasing the probability of reaching their overwintering range. We conclude that nocturnally migrating moths use a compass and an inherited preferred direction to optimize their migratory track.