Distribution Of Odonates Research Articles

Diversity of Odonata in Hokersar Wetland- A Ramsar Site of Kashmir Himalaya, India

The present study was carried out from 2021 to 2023 to assess the diversity and seasonal distribution of odonates in the Hokersar wetland. A total of 18 species under 11 genera and four families were observed of which a high diversity of dragonflies were seen compared to damselflies. Libellulidae was found to be the most species-rich family followed by Aeshnidae. The most abundant species were Pantala flavescens (F) (11.98%), Crocothemis servilia (Drury) (11.35%) and Ischnura inarmata Calvert (11.09%). A change in diversity and abundance across seasons was observed with the highest being in summer followed by autumn, while absence during spring and autumn was seen, except for Sympecma paedisca (Brauer) found throughout the year.

A Checklist of Odonata (Insecta) of Dibrugarh District of Assam, India

Dibrugarh district of Assam is situated to proximity to the junction of Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspots. Climatic conditions of the district support a very rich biodiversity, where Odonatdes (Dragonflies and Damselflies) are an important component. The present study was carried out in Dibrugarh district to document the status and distribution of odonates from April, 2019 to May, 2022. A total number of 81 species of odonates representing 54 genera and 11 families have been recorded in this study. Conservation status of the recorded species indicates that 69 species were under the category of Least Concern (LC), 7 species were Data Deficient (DD) and 1 species was Not Evaluated (NE). However, habitat destruction due to lack of awareness among the local people is the potential threat to the conservation of odonates in the district.

Diversity and distribution of odonates in Rani Reserve Forest, Assam, India

Odonata are the bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health and is recognised as an excellent ‘flagship’ group among insects. Baseline knowledge on the diversity and distribution of odonates over spatiotemporal scale is the key to biodiversity conservation. Rani Reserve Forest of Assam is a mosaic of all the habitat types suitable for odonates. The present work aims at studying the diversity and distribution of Odonates in Rani Reserve Forest. The study was carried out from December 2014 to November 2017 by categorising the study area into three major habitat types: 1. lentic system, 2. lotic system and 3. terrestrial woodland. A total of 67 species belonging to 44 genera, representing 11 families were recorded. First published records of three species, Onychothemis testacea (Libellulidae), Philoganga montana (Philogangidae) and Indocnemis orang (Platycnemididae) from the state are also provided herewith. Species richness was the highest in lentic system whereas recorded the lowest in running waters of larger forested streams. Shannon diversity index also indicated that the lentic system is relatively diverse (2.95) and smaller streams of the lotic system showed the highest species evenness (0.87). Libellulidae (43%) was found to be the most dominant family belonging to suborder Anisoptera followed by Coenagrionidae (22%) of suborder Zygoptera. Philogangidae (1%) recorded the lowest number of species. Taxonomically related species showed distinct ecological segregation within these different habitat types occupying different microhabitats therein.

Abundance and Distribution of Odonates (Dragonflies and Damselflies) In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Introduction: Odonates are used as bio-indicators for monitoring habitat degradation both on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem because of their sensitivity to anthropogenic activities. They serve an important role in the ecological food chain by consuming aquatic larvae and being in turn consumed by birds and various amphibians. This study is part of the ongoing research on the diversity of Odonate species of Nigeria. The objective is to determine the abundance and distribution of odonates in Akwa Ibom State and to compare the species diversity across the various sites in Akwa Ibom State. Methodology: Akwa Ibom state was divided into six areas namely Ikot Akpaden, Obio Akpa, Ikot Okoro, Ikot Udofia, Urua Udofia and Obio Ndot using biotypes and a study site was randomly selected in each area. Adult members were captured using a sweep net and were preserved for identification using morphological features. Results: A total of 767 odonates were collected at the six study sites representing 24 species, 16 genera and four families namely Libellulidae (77%), Coenagrionidae (21%), Calopterygidae (>1%) and Chlorocyphidae (>1%). Most of the species collected were members of family Libellullidae (77%) with Palpopleura lucia having the highest occurrence (41%) and found in all the sites. Family Calopterygidae and Chlorocyphidae had less than 1% population of the total individuals collected. Ikot Okoro had the highest number of individuals (238) and the least evenness (e^H/S=0.3292) while Ikot Akpaden, which had the least effect of anthropogenic intrusion had the largest diversity of Odonata species (H’=2.387). Obio Ndot had the most evenly distributed Odonata species (e^H/S=0.8028). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of dragonflies across all study sites (p= 0.238). Conclusion: The high occurrence of family Libellulidae which are anthropogenic tolerant, and the absence of more highly localized species indicate that most of the study sites have been degraded and may not be fit for species with narrow niches. It is therefore vital to conserve the Odonata community by implementing proper forest management techniques.

Diversity and Species Composition of Odonates (Insecta: Odonata) of Hutan Lipur Soga Perdana, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia: A Green Lung

In Malaysia, Odonates have been used widely in the assessment of water quality. This study is part of an effort to prepare a baseline data for the state of Johor, where development is happening at a fast rate which in turn could affect the water quality. Hutan Lipur Bukit Soga Perdana is a green lung for Batu Pahat which is considered as the second largest industrial town in Malaysia. Opportunistic sampling using sweep nets along 1 km line transect was conducted for a total of six days. Twenty-two species of Odonata belonging to 17 genera and seven families were recorded. Among the seven families, the most species-rich were Libellulidae (12 species) followed by Coenagrionidae and Platycnemididae (three species) while Gomphidae, Platystictidae, Devadattidae and Euphaeidae represented by single species. Drepanosticta fontinalis, a damselfly endemic to Peninsular Malaysia was collected. The abundance of the endemic Drepanosticta fontinalis was 10.3% from a total of 126 individuals. Tyriobapta torrida (15.9%) was found to be the most abundant species found followed by Prodasineura notostigma (12.7%) and Neurothemis fluctuans (11.9%). The data were further analysed by using Shannon-Wiener Species Diversity Index giving a value of 2.63 indicating a moderate diversity. Simpson’s Evenness is 0.91 indicating a high evenness in the distribution of Odonates. Since the forest gains high public interest in Batu Pahat and Odonates are visible and useful insects, more studies could be done, and the data could be transferred to the public as a model for biodiversity and conservation.

Modeling the distribution of odonates: a review

AbstractSpecies distribution models (SDMs) can be used to answer a variety of questions about Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) distributions because locality data for species are readily available. We provide an overview of SDMs and review 30 studies that have used SDMs to examine factors governing odonate distributions in current and projected future scenarios. These studies had objectives that included predicting the potential geographical distribution of a species based on scattered records, quantifying hotspots for biodiversity and identifying reserve gaps, assessing species’ environmental requirements and limitations, quantifying dispersal abilities of species with different life histories, studying niche conservatism among sympatric species, modeling the effect of forecasted climate change on species distributions, and examining the efficacy of different modeling approaches. We point out limitations in the use of SDMs for these purposes, including effects of limited taxonomic coverage and limit...

New records of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

Odonates were surveyed across 10 localities from Western Ghats of Maharashtra State, India during 2011-2013. We recorded 64 species belonging to 40 genera and 12 families. Seven species are new records for the region, and four out of them are new records for Maharashtra State. In this paper, we discuss these species records and their micro-habitats, and update previous knowledge on distribution of odonates.

Recent range shifts of European dragonflies provide support for an inverse relationship between habitat predictability and dispersal

AbstractAimWe compared the effects of recent shifts of northern range boundaries of odonates adapted to either lentic (standing water) or lotic (running water) habitats in Europe. Lentic species are thought to have a higher dispersal propensity than lotic species because of the lower spatial and temporal persistence of lentic habitats on average. Hence, we expected shifts in the range boundaries particularly of lentic species.LocationEurope.MethodsOur analyses are based on odonate distribution maps from two field guides that present the European ranges of dragonflies and damselflies in 1988 and 2006. We categorized species according to their preference for lentic or lotic habitats, and then assigned each species to a southern or a northern group according to the centre of its distribution. Shifts in northern range boundaries were calculated as the average distance between the 10 northernmost grid cells in 1988 and 2006. Range boundary shifts were also analysed with regard to prevalence, phenology, body size and wing size.ResultsLentic species of the southern group expanded their range boundaries on average 115 km northwards per decade, whereas lotic species of the southern group on average did not change their range boundaries. Northern lentic and lotic species showed no consistent trends in their changes in range boundaries. These results did not qualitatively change when we considered the effects of phylogeny, phenology, body size and wing size.Main conclusionsOur results support the hypothesis that species adapted to lentic habitats, which are assumed to be less persistent in time and space, disperse better than lotic species.

Dragonfly and Damselfly (Insecta, Odonata) Distributions in Ontario, Canada: Investigating the Influence of Climate Change

We analysed temperature data and odonate distribution data collected in the province of Ontario, Canada, over approximately sixty years. Analysis of temperature data from 31 weather stations collected in the years 1945–2000 showed an overall signifi cant increase in the minimum, maximum and mean monthly temperatures; these trends were not adjusted for changes in urbanisation. Comparison of county level presence/absence data for odonates from the 1950 s and 2002 found a slight decrease in the northernmost distributions of some species, although no signifi cant patterns were evident. Lower sampling coverage in the larger, more northerly counties in Ontario, as well as the assessment of distributions based on county records may limit the sensitivity of our approach in detecting changes in odonate species distributions over time. Future work should focus on increasing the coverage, uniformity and geographic detail of available datasets, as well as evaluating range change through testing predictions based on the ecology and biogeography of odonate species.

How to enter a desert—patterns of Odonata colonisation of arid Namibia

Abstract With a total of 75 species the odonate diversity in the Namibian desert is surprisingly high. Based on their distribution characteristics, invasion patterns, and breeding success, there are six well-defined categories of Odonata: widespread species - (1) permanently living in the desert, and desert biased, (2) permanently living in the desert, but not desert-biased; (3) entering the desert seasonally; (4) entering from neighbouring tropical or temperate regions, whose populations may breed in the desert sometimes or locally. Category (5) consists of species with highly localised breeding populations in the desert, which are widely isolated from potential source populations. The last category (6) consists of species restricted to allochthonous perennial rivers. We discuss these patterns from a geographical and a temporal perspective. On the one hand, there have been different spatial directions from where species have entered deserts. On the other hand, Odonate distribution patterns in the deserts...

Distribution différentielle des Odonates et des Salmonidés indigènes et exogènes dans la réserve d’Orlu (Ariège, France)

Differential distribution of Odonates and indigenous and exogenous salmonids in Orlu Protected Area (Ariège, France). — Species introduction may constitute an important threat to indigenous biodiversity. The naturalization of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis in the Orlu Protected Area (Ariège, France) may affect local communities, especially Odonates. We surveyed the wetlands of this protected area in order to compare the distributions of Odonates and salmonids. Our results showed that the Brook Trout was absent in nearly all reproduction sites of Odonates. Brown Trout Salmo trutta fario was present in some of these sites. The sites where salmonids were present generally hosted few or no Odonates. Other sites were characterized by a relatively important typological and odonatological diversity, with specific assemblages that often showed an ecological and/or a heritage value. The spatial segregation was more conspicuous between Brook Trout and Odonates than between these latter and Brown Trout. Then, an eventual impact of Brook Trout on Odonates is plausible, but remains unconfirmed in our study in the absence of local data on the microhabitats occupied by both taxa.

Notes on Dragonflies in the Vicinity of New Smyrna Beach, Florida

The purpose of this paper is to report on the unusual dragonfly population near New Smyrna Beach, Fla., during the summer of 1943, and especially on the tremendous swarms of one species during July and August of that year. Observations on abundance and distribution of odonates made in this area during June and early July of 1942 are included in an attempt to picture the population present during normal years. New Smyrna Beach is located in about the middle of the Florida Atlantic Coast some 16 miles south of Daytona Beach. These observations covered the area from the Tomoka River marshes just a few miles north of Daytona Beach to the Oak Hill marshes about 15 miles south of New Smyrna Beach. This region contains large areas of salt marsh, both on the mainland and on the numerous islands formed by Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River (land-locked salt-water lagoons), that are excellent breeding grounds for the salt-marsh mosquitoes (Aedes sollicitans (Walk.) and A. taeniorhynchus (Wied.). The mainland, just west of the coastal marshes, contains numerous permanent and' semipermanent fresh-water habitats capable of breeding dragonflies. DRAGONFLY POPULATION DURING 1942.-The following is a list of dragonfly species and their relative abundance noted in the coastal areas during June and July, 1942. No species was observed in sufficient numbers to be listed as abundant. VERY COMMON: Erythrodiplax berenice (Drury) and Tramea carolina (Linnaeus). COMMON: Anax junius (Drury), Coryphaeschna ingens (Rambur), Libellula auripennis Burmeister, Erythemis simplicicollis (Say), and Erythrodiplax connada minuscula (Rambur). OCCASIONAL: Celithemis eponina (Drury), Libellula vibrans Fabricius, Pachydiplax longipennis (Burmeister), Cannacria gravida (Calvert), Enxallagma civile (Hagen), and Ischnura ramburii Selys. RARE: Celithemis ornata (Rambur), Nehalennia integricollis