A new study led by University of Colorado Denver has uncovered how climate change and intensifying wildfires are disrupting dragonfly mating traits—threatening to push some species toward local extinction.
The research, published in Nature Climate Change , shows that dragonflies with dark wing spots—traits long linked to attracting mates—are now more vulnerable in a warming world. Dragonflies play an essential role in ecosystems: they are major predators of mosquitoes and serve as food for birds, fish, and amphibians. Their decline will ripple through entire food webs.
"Dragonflies have survived asteroids, but now climate change and wildfires are threatening them in ways evolution can't keep up with," said lead author Sarah Nalley , a PhD student in CU Denver's Integrative Biology program. "Our findings suggest that adaptation alone may not be fast enough to protect species in a rapidly changing climate."
Data and Citizen Science
Using 40 years of publicly available data, the study found that these "ornamented" dragonflies are disappearing from burned habitats and hotter regions across the U.S. Thermal imaging reveals that the dark melanin spots on their wings absorb heat faster, causing males to overheat. As a result, they spend more time resting and recovering and less time competing for mates. Unlike the classic case of peppered moths during the Industrial Revolution, where wing color affected survival by helping moths avoid predators, in dragonflies, wing coloration affects reproductive success—showing that survival alone isn't the full story and that changes in mating dynamics can push populations toward extinction.
The study highlights an underexplored piece of conservation biology: while scientists often measure whether species can grow and survive in hotter, drier environments, this research shows that traits linked to reproduction may be even more critical. If dragonflies cannot successfully attract mates, entire populations may vanish.
"This changes how we think about vulnerability," said CU Denver Assistant Professor Michael Moore , a co-author. "It's not just about whether animals can survive after wildfire—it's about whether they can reproduce in those modified environments. That's the key to long-term survival."
Class Project and Tragedy Turned Breakthrough
The study began as an assignment in one of Moore's classes and relied entirely on publicly available data from sources such as the U.S. Geological Survey (wildfire burn areas), citizen science observations, and federal climate datasets. No outside funding supported the work.
But for Nalley, the research also carried personal meaning. She lost her home in Superior, Colorado, during the 2021 Marshall Fire and, as a nontraditional student who took time away from school, that experience helped her realize she could channel her passion for wildlife into becoming a conservation biologist.
"I knew I wanted to study animals—and after the fire, I knew I wanted to study wildfires too," said Nalley. "That experience pushed me to ask how animals are affected not just by surviving a fire, but by whether they can still reproduce and carry on the species afterward."
Why Dragonflies Matter
Beyond dragonflies, the findings carry broad implications for biodiversity and conservation. If dragonflies—resilient predators that have been on Earth for hundreds of millions of years—are vulnerable, that signals deeper risks for many species.
The research underscores the urgency of rethinking wildlife management strategies to account not just for survival, but also for mating behaviors and reproductive success.
"Working with Sarah pushed me to think about my own research in a new way," said Moore. "She came in with great questions about wildfires and reproduction that made me reconsider how I approach these big ecological issues."
