Effects of land use on larval Odonata assemblages in cloud forest streams in central Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of stream water quality and its relationship with habitat characteristics on larval Odonata assemblages in streams found in tropical montane cloud forests, pastures, and coffee plantations in the upper La Antigua River watershed. The main factors that influenced larval Odonata assemblages in forest streams were low temperatures and high oxygen levels in water, coupled with a high diversity of the substrate and riparian vegetation; in pasture streams and coffee plantation streams, sedimentation strongly affected the composition of larval Odonata assemblages. In all the streams, species richness (0D) was higher during the dry season. The highest Shannon α diversity (1D) values were found in forest streams during the rainy season; however, in pasture and coffee plantation streams, 1D values were higher during the dry season. The low species turnover in forest streams suggests that these streams provide highly stable conditions for Odonata assemblages; however, in pasture and coffee plantation streams, the higher turnover was related to the more variable water and habitat conditions. Thus, the persistence of Odonata assemblages in the upper La Antigua River watershed is closely related to the conservation status of the tropical montane cloud forests.