Odonate Species Research Articles

The diversity and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, south-west Nigeria

The presence of dragonflies and damselflies may be taken as an indication of good ecosystem quality. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites that offer a wide variety of microhabitats. A survey of Odonata fauna inhabiting the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos, south-west Nigeria was carried out between July and December 2014, with a view of determining its diversity and distribution. Four study sites used were Distance Learning Institute (DLI), Lagoon, Faculty of Science, and High Rise Area. Data collected were subjected to inferential statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Diversity indices were used to compare the odonate species in the study sites. Seven hundred and fifty (750) individuals representing 39 species in 22 genera and four families (Aeshnidae – 3%, Coenagrionidae – 13%, Libellulidae – 81% and Calopterygidae – 3%) were recorded. Orthetrum (18%) was the most dominant genus, followed by Ceriagrion (10%) while Palpopleura and Trithemis (8%) were the least dominant genera. The site with most diverse Odonata fauna (H’ = 2.70, E = 0.27), was High Rise Area while the least was the Lagoon Area (H’ = 1.97, E = 0.27). Odonata in High Rise Area were significantly lower (p>0.0128) than those in DLI and Science Area which were not significantly different from each other (0.00039 and 0.00368 respectively). The paucity of species with narrow range of adaptation at the university especially at Lagoon Area where they were expected to occur is an indication that the forested part of the campus is under considerable human disturbance. Urgent measures are needed to preserve the natural the natural habitats of these Odonata species.
 Keywords: Diversity indices; Odonata; fauna; diversity; distribution; University of Lagos; Nigeria

Threats from the air: Damselfly predation on diverse prey taxa.

To understand the diversity and strength of predation in natural communities, researchers must quantify the total amount of prey species in the diet of predators. Metabarcoding approaches have allowed widespread characterization of predator diets with high taxonomic resolution. To determine the wider impacts of predators, researchers should combine DNA techniques with estimates of population size of predators using mark-release-recapture (MRR) methods, and with accurate metrics of food consumption by individuals. Herein, we estimate the scale of predation exerted by four damselfly species on diverse prey taxa within a well-defined 12-ha study area, resolving the prey species of individual damselflies, to what extent the diets of predatory species overlap, and which fraction of the main prey populations are consumed. We identify the taxonomic composition of diets using DNA metabarcoding and quantify damselfly population sizes by MRR. We also use predator-specific estimates of consumption rates, and independent data on prey emergence rates to estimate the collective predation pressure summed over all prey taxa and specific to their main prey (non-biting midges or chironomids) of the four damselfly species. The four damselfly species collectively consumed a prey mass equivalent to roughly 870 (95% CL 410-1,800) g, over 2months. Each individual consumed 29%-66% (95% CL 9.4-123) of its body weight during its relatively short life span (2.1-4.7days; 95% CL 0.74-7.9) in the focal population. This predation pressure was widely distributed across the local invertebrate prey community, including 4 classes, 19 orders and c. 140 genera. Different predator species showed extensive overlap in diets, with an average of 30% of prey shared by at least two predator species. Of the available prey individuals in the widely consumed family Chironomidae, only a relatively small proportion (0.76%; 95% CL 0.35%-1.61%) were consumed. Our synthesis of population sizes, per-capita consumption rates and taxonomic distribution of diets identifies damselflies as a comparatively minor predator group of aerial insects. As the next step, we should add estimates of predation by larger odonate species, and experimental removal of odonates, thereby establishing the full impact of odonate predation on prey communities.

Some additional records to the inventory of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in Andalas University’s Limau Manis campus complex, Padang, West Sumatra

Since the publication of inventory list for dragonflies and damselflies within the boundary of Andalas University’s Limau Manis Campus Complex, Padang, on 2018, the survey efforts have been continuously conducted. Hence, in this article we add five odonate species new for Andalas University’s Limau Manis Campus Complex, with one species Drepanosticta cf. bispina may require further investigation and elaboration on its existence in West Sumatra. We also corrected the identification of Heliocypha fenestrata into H. angusta angusta. With this addition, Andalas University’s Limau Manis Campus Complex currently resides for 32 species and 9 families of Odonata, increasing from previously 27 species and 8 families.

Short Communication: Community structure and diversity of Odonata in Suranadi Natural Park, West Lombok Indonesia

Abstract. Ilhamdi ML, Al Idrus A, Santoso D, Hadiprayitno G. 2020. Short Communication: Community structure and diversity of Odonata in Suranadi Natural Park, West Lombok Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 718-723. Odonata is an order of insects. The life cycle of this order is dependent on freshwater habitat. Sensitivity to environmental changes causes odonates to be important bioindicators of ecosystem change. The importance of the ecological role of odonates is not followed by adequate scientific information on Odonata communities, especially in the Suranadi Natural Park (SNP). The study aimed to monitor the existence and community structure of Odonata in the SNP area every six months in period. The data collection technique was using a survey method by following the transect line, namely the waterway transect line (WTL), plantation border transect (PT) and settlement border transect (ST). Data collection was done 4 times from April to May 2019, once every 2 weeks. The sampling was done twice in the morning from 08.00 to 11.00 AM and in the afternoon from 03.00 to 05.00 PM. Data were analyzed using the relative frequency equation and Diversity Index. The results showed that there were 16 species of odonates consisting of the family Libellulidae (11 species), Platycnemididae (1 species), Chlorocyphidae (1 species), and Coegrinidae (3 species). Orthetrum sabina, Neurothemis ramburii, Diplacodes trivialis, Gynacantha subinterrupta, Copera marginipes, and Pantala flavescens, are species that are present in all of each observation sites. The waterway transect has the highest diversity index (2.027), followed by settlement transect (1.367), and the lowest is plantation transect (1.131).

Differences in land use modify Odonata assemblages in the Cerrado-Caatinga ecotone

Abstract: Aim The present study tested the hypothesis that the composition of the odonate assemblages in environments with greater habitat integrity is significantly different from that of areas with reduced habitat integrity. Methods The samples were collected between April 2017 and November 2017 in eight streams in Caxias, in the Brazilian state of Maranhão. The habitat integrity index was used to quantify habitat integrity. The odonate specimens were collected by the fixed area scanning method. Results The habitat integrity index ranged from 0.265 to 0.915 at the different localities. A total of 229 specimens were collected, representing 19 odonate species. Species composition varied among streams that presented different degrees of conservation, with some species being typical of specific habitats. However, this variation had no effect on the number of taxa or the abundance of odonates, which may reflect the local substitution of extinct specialist species by generalists. Conclusions Evidence indicates that the reduction of habitat integrity is an important predictor of changes in the biodiversity of aquatic insects in streams such as those of the Cerrado-Caatinga ecotone.

Body mass and territorial defence strategy affect the territory size of odonate species.

The territory is a distinct mating place that a male defends against intruding conspecific males. The size of a territory varies between species and most of the variation between species has been found to scale allometrically with body mass. The variation that could not be explained by body mass has been explained with several variables such as habitat productivity, trophic level, locomotion strategy and thermoregulation. All previous interspecific comparative studies have been done on vertebrate species such as birds, mammals, reptiles and fishes, meaning that studies using invertebrate species are missing. Here, we studied the relationship of a species's territory size with its fresh body mass (FBM) in addition to other ecologically relevant traits using 86 damselfly and dragonfly (Odonata) species. We found that territory size is strongly affected by species FBM, following an allometric relationship similar to vertebrates. We also found that the territory size of a species was affected by its territorial defence strategy, constantly flying species having larger territories than species that mostly perch. Breeding habitat or the presence of sexual characters did not affect territory sizes, but lotic species and species without wing spots had steeper allometric slopes. It seems that an increase in a species's body mass increases its territory size and may force the species to shift its territory defence strategy from a percher to a flier.

The odonate phenotypic database, a new open data resource for comparative studies of an old insect order

We present The Odonate Phenotypic Database (OPD): an online data resource of dragonfly and damselfly phenotypes (Insecta: Odonata). Odonata is a relatively small insect order that currently consists of about 6400 species belonging to 32 families. The database consists of multiple morphological, life-history and behavioral traits, and biogeographical information collected from literature sources. We see taxon-specific phenotypic databases from Odonata and other organismal groups as becoming an increasing valuable resource in comparative studies. Our database has phenotypic records for 1011 of all 6400 known odonate species. The database is accessible at http://www.odonatephenotypicdatabase.org/, and a static version with an information file about the variables in the database is archived at Dryad.

Heterogenic aquatic vegetation promotes abundance and species richness of Odonata (Insecta) in constructed agricultural wetlands

ABSTRACT Natural wetlands are among the most threatened habitat types worldwide. They contain a high diversity of macroinvertebrates, including dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata). In agricultural landscapes, new wetlands have been constructed to filter nutrients and solid matter from agricultural runoff. These types of wetlands may also benefit Odonata as new breeding habitats. However, it is not yet clear what environmental characteristics of constructed wetlands are important for Odonata. We studied 20 constructed agricultural wetlands in Central Finland and asked whether Odonata are able to use these wetlands as breeding habitats, and which environmental characteristics (aquatic vegetation, water area, shoreline length, bottom type diversity, water transparency, and pH) of the wetlands affect odonate abundance and species richness. The constructed wetlands hosted altogether 17 odonate species. Odonate abundance was positively associated with the number of aquatic vegetation growth forms of the wetland. Odonate species richness was associated positively with abundance, floating‐leaved vegetation, and water transparency. Constructed agricultural wetlands support local diversity of common odonate species. Although protecting the remaining natural wetlands is of primary importance, constructed wetlands can add suitable wetland habitats in the agricultural landscape. From the perspective of Odonata, heterogenic aquatic vegetation and water quality are features worth promoting when constructing and managing agricultural wetlands.

Catch them if you can! Do traits of individual European dragonfly species affect their detectability?

Abstract Odonates are an ancient group of freshwater invertebrates that have complex life cycles and highly variable phenotypes and behaviours. These traits make odonates a very attractive model group to study various aspects and phenomena in the fields of ecology, behaviour, and evolutionary biology. Such variability in appearance and behaviour can influence the detectability of individual species under natural conditions; and this variability in detection rates, if not statistically treated, may lead to significant distortions of results and misleading conclusions. In the present study, we used detectability models to predict the time to detection (TTD) of individual odonate species and generalised linear mixed models to analyse the effects of morphological and behavioural traits on the TTD of the first individual of a species. We found that only abundance had a significant effect on the TTD of both Anisoptera and Zygoptera, while the larger Anisoptera were generally detected earlier. No such patterns were observed in Zygoptera; however, dispersal ability was found to have had some influence. Surprisingly, coloration and activity were not found to influence the TTD of odonates. Therefore, although there are considerable differences between species, with the exception of abundance and size, we did not detect any easily measurable traits that would unequivocally explain the differences in the detection rates of individual species.

Can dragonfly and damselfly communities be used as bioindicators of land use intensification?

Abstract There is a growing need to identify efficient biological indicators for assessing accelerated land use intensification, as well for understanding the effects of past environmental changes on species distributions. To address this, we used an extensive opportunistic survey dataset of 254 adult odonate (suborder Anisoptera or dragonflies; suborder Zygoptera or damselflies) species collected in nine Mexican hydrological regions during two time windows (1980–1993 and 1994–2010). We evaluated species richness, body size and individual species’ response to land use intensification over time at a national scale using Phylogenetic Bayesian Regression Mixed Models. We found that dragonfly species serve as good indicators of current land use, whereas damselfly species show time-lagged effects of land use intensification. Large species could thus be used as a proxy of recent reduction of original vegetation, whereas small species provide information on historic habitat modification. Odonate body size seems to be a better variable for measuring the integrity of original vegetation than the more commonly used species richness. Finally, the use of individual species as bioindicators at broad spatial and temporal scales is not encouraged, as it does not reflect the degree of ecological integrity, and only the occurrence of some species combinations can indicate environmental degradation.

Annotated checklist of odonates (Insecta: Odonata) in Sungai Bantang Recreational Forest, Bekok, Johor, Malaysia

A total of 34 species of odonates, including 17 species of dragonflies (Anisoptera) belonging to 2 families, and 15 species of damselflies (Zygoptera) belonging to 8 families were collected and recorded from Hutan Lipur Sungai Bantang in January, May and July 2017. From the suborder Anisoptera, Libellulidae is the most dominant family with 15 species and from the suborder Zygoptera, the richest family were Chlorocyphidae, Euphaeidae and Platycnemididae, each with three species respectively. A detailed list of odonates recorded from Hutan Lipur Sungai Bantang is presented. The result forms a baseline data of odonate fauna in this forest reserve useful in the monitoring of water quality of rivers found in the forest reserves in the future.

Predation risk and habitat complexity modify intermediate predator feeding rates and energetic efficiencies in a tri‐trophic system

Abstract To understand the effects of environmental changes on ecosystems, it is important to determine the factors and mechanisms influencing the strength of species interactions in food webs. However, joint effects of predation risk and additional environmental factors on species interaction strengths in multitrophic systems remain largely unexplored, leaving a substantial gap in our understanding of the links between local environmental characteristics and food web properties. To fill this gap, we investigated the effects of habitat complexity and predation risk by top predatory dragonfly larvae (Aeshna cyanea) on feeding rates and energetic efficiency (i.e. the ratio of acquired and expended energy) of the larvae of three intermediate predatory odonate species (Libellula quadrimaculata, Sympetrum sanguineum, and Ischnura elegans) preying on cladocerans. We hypothesised that predation risk would decrease the feeding rate, especially in the structurally simple habitat, and increase the metabolic rate of all intermediate predators. We also expected higher feeding rates of intermediate predators using aquatic vegetation as a perching site (i.e. Sympetrum and Ischnura) in the structurally complex habitat. Finally, we expected to observe habitat‐ and predation risk‐dependent energetic efficiencies of the intermediate predators driven by changes in feeding and metabolic rates. The effect of predation risk on feeding rates was species specific and differed between the structurally simple and complex habitat. Habitat complexity increased feeding rates but only in the absence of predation risk. Moreover, predation risk signalled by chemical cues significantly increased Sympetrum vulgatum feeding rates but did not influence the feeding rates of the two other intermediate predators. Metabolic rates varied among the three intermediate predators but were not affected by predation risk. Estimated energetic efficiency decreased with intermediate predator body mass and depended, to a lesser extent, on the interactive effect of habitat complexity and predation risk. Our results imply that the effects of habitat complexity and predation risk on trophic interactions are likely to be determined by traits related to foraging and defence of the intermediate predators and their habitat domains, and that energetic efficiency is mainly determined by predator mass. Given that habitat complexity and predation risk can vary substantially across habitats, we conclude that it is important to consider habitat complexity and predation risk to better understand and predict the effects of environmentally driven variations on trophic interaction strength and metabolic rates that underlie the energetic efficiency of individual consumers. This has important implications for population and community dynamics as well as ecosystem functioning.

A novel approach involving the use of Odonata as indicators of tropical forest degradation: When family matters

• Odonata can be effective and cost-efficient indicators of habitat status. • Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae as indicator groups. • Odonata adult-based bioassessment method is reliable. • The method may be easily applied in any tropical forest habitat worldwide. Odonata have proven to be good indicators of freshwater as well as terrestrial habitat conditions. Several studies have shown changes in odonate species richness and/or community composition in response to deforestation, suggesting their potential as bioassessment tools in the tropics. However, former approaches using Odonata as an indicator group required comparative samples from differently disturbed sites and/or knowledge of the focal species environmental specificity. Here, we tested a robust, adult-based bioassessment method assuming that the level of tropical forest degradation reflects the proportional representation of the taxa above species. Based on Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases, we used data from previously published studies linking odonate assemblages to human-mediated disturbances in tropical forests. We hypothesized that along a disturbance gradient (from primary forest to non-forest), (i) the proportion of the suborder Zygoptera (mostly habitat specialists sensitive to deforestation) will decrease in favor of the suborder Anisoptera (high proportion of generalists); and (ii) the proportions of largely generalist families Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae will increase at the expense of other Zygoptera and Anisoptera, respectively. Our results revealed that a ratio of Zygoptera/Anisoptera is a poor indicator of tropical forest conditions, probably because of ecological diversity within these groups. However, the proportions of Coenagrionidae/other Zygoptera and Libellulidae/other Anisoptera significantly increased along a disturbance gradient, suggesting their potential to be a good indicator of well-preserved, altered, and heavily degraded forest habitats. Therefore, our results are in line with studies presenting the usefulness of adult Odonata as versatile indicators for assessing human-mediated changes in tropical forest environments, supporting the practical use of this group in biological monitoring.

The importance of riparian subtropical lucidophyllous forest to odonate conservation

Abstract Glossy, broad‐leaved, evergreen (lucidophyllous) forests are found mainly in humid subtropical regions of East Asia and are recognized as a biodiverse biome harbouring numerous endemic species. To date, however, few studies have considered the conservation importance of rivers draining these unique environments. In this study, lotic Odonata were used as indicators to examine factors affecting riparian forest–stream linkages in a lucidophyllous forest in south‐western Japan. Lotic odonates of 10 species, including seven endemic species, and their habitats were studied along 30 stream reaches with varying environmental characteristics. Odonate species richness was greatest in shadier reaches as well as in heterogeneous locations in larger streams. In contrast, larger streams modified by channel enlargement for flood control had few or no odonate species. Protecting larger streams with less human impact and streams in dense riparian forest are the best options for conserving lotic odonates and their habitats in this globally unique forest type.

Appropriate management practices help enhance odonate species richness of small ponds in peri-urban landscapes

Adult odonate biodiversity was investigated to understand their relationship with pond management practices and environmental conditions in a rapidly urbanized landscape. Twenty-four farm ponds in Taoyuan City were selected and classified into five pond groups based on pond management practices. In total, 21 species, 17 genera, and 6 families of odonates were recorded for a total of 5701 individuals between June 2014 and July 2015. The abundance of Odonata was unrelated to pond size or distance to the nearest pond; however, odonate species richness was negatively and significantly correlated with pond size. Pond management practices considerably affected pond aquatic macrophytes and dike construction materials. Ecology park ponds under intense human management and undisturbed ponds without any human management had higher species richness than did the ponds in the other three fish farming groups. Species richness was highest in small and human-modified ponds. By contrast, species richness was lowest in two fish farming pond groups. These results suggest that pond management practices can increase or reduce odonate species richness depending on the alteration of pond microhabitat features. Our observations suggest that the enhanced habitat quality of small ponds provides an opportunity to protect freshwater biodiversity for local governmental civil servants in urbanized landscapes.

Positive effect of environmentally friendly farming on paddy field odonate assemblages at a small landscape scale

Odonata species can be used to indicate the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on agrobiodiversity. In Japan, populations of some odonate species inhabiting rice paddy fields have decreased strongly owing to their high susceptibility to insecticides, and they therefore need to be conserved. To identify effective conservation strategies, we investigated how agricultural practices (conventional vs. environmentally friendly: EF) and surrounding landscape (area of forest at three spatial scales, namely 50, 100 and 200 m from the edge of the paddy field) influenced the abundance of odonates in rice paddies in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Generalized linear mixed-effect models revealed that EF farming increased the abundance of odonate adults and the number of nymphal exuviae, suggesting a strong negative effect of insecticides. The influence of forest area at the local scale on the numbers of odonate adults and nymphal exuviae was small, with the exception of a strong negative influence on adult Sympetrum infuscatum: the presence of a large area of forest within 200 m of the edge of the paddy field reduced their abundance, probably reflecting this dragonfly’s oviposition site preference. Our results suggest that EF farming could generally support the conservation and recovery of local populations of odonates, but its effectiveness potentially varies depending on the ecological aspects of each species.

Odonate assemblages of urban stormwater ponds: the conservation value depends on pond type

Urbanisation is among the most severe drivers of the recent biodiversity crisis. It has been shown that stormwater ponds have a high value for the conservation of dragon- and damselflies in urban areas. However, information on the relevance of different types of stormwater ponds is lacking so far. The aim of this study was to compare the Odonata assemblages of three types of urban stormwater ponds (n per type = 10): (i) ponds only containing temporary water bodies (TEMP), (ii) ponds with temporary and small perennial water bodies (TEMP/PERE) and (iii) ponds with one large perennial water body (PERE). We observed distinct differences in environmental conditions and Odonata assemblages among the three types of stormwater ponds. In particular, vegetation structure and the partly interrelated microclimate differed considerably between TEMP on the one hand, and TEMP/PERE and PERE on the other hand. Odonate species richness and exuviae density of threatened species differed, too. Due to their early successional stages with low cover of riparian woodland and shallow water bodies, TEMP were characterised by a warmer microclimate than TEMP/PERE and PERE. Odonate species richness and exuviae density of threatened species were highest in TEMP and lowest in PERE. Moreover, indicator species were only identified for TEMP. Our study showed that stormwater ponds with a temporary hydroperiod play an important role for the conservation of odonates in urban areas. This is especially the case for specialised threatened species, such as Libellula depressa and Ischnura pumilio.

Diversity of Odonata (Insecta) in Seasonal Deciduous Forest fragments in southern Brazil (state of Rio Grande do Sul), with a new record for the state and comments on the seasonal distribution of the species

Abstract: We present an Odonata (Insecta) check list of species occurring in a fragment of the Seasonal Deciduous Forest (Atlantic Forest biome) from the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil, along with a list of the odonate species recorded in this phytoecological region for the state. In addition, we provide comments on the seasonal distribution of the species occurring in the study area. Two streams and seven farm ponds located in the middle course of the Jacuí River basin were surveyed between December 2007 and February 2009. Overall, we recorded 49 species from 21 genera and six families. Argia serva Hagen in Selys, 1865 (Coenagrionidade) had its first occurrence record mentioned for the state, elevating to 183 the total number of Odonata species occurring in Rio Grande do Sul. The number of species recorded in the study area corresponds to ~26% of the known Odonata diversity in RS. Libellulidae was the most species-rich family (22 species, ~45% of the total), followed by Coenagrionidae (18 species, 37% of the total). The checklist for the Seasonal Deciduous Forest in RS indicated the occurrence of 83 species of Odonata in this phytoecological region (~45% of the known odonate species in the state). This elevated diversity could be related to the density of the vegetation structure. In the study area, 20 species were found in streams, and 45 in farm ponds. Species occurrence showed marked seasonal patterns in the study area, with 88% of the species recorded from summer to autumn, and no species detected in streams in the winter. Moreover, 70% of the species were recorded in either one or two seasons in farm ponds, while 65% occurred solely in one season in streams. This result indicates that the life cycle of Odonata in southern Brazil is strongly influenced by seasonal patterns in temperature.

Dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) from a Cerrado area at Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract: Odonata is considered, among the aquatic insect orders, the second largest group in number of species. Its global richness is estimated in about 6,000 described species. The Brazilian richness represents around 14% of the world's odonatofauna, however, the knowledge on Brazilian dragonflies distribution is still poor. This study purpose an inventory of the dragonflies species present in aquatic habitats from a Preserved Area according to the Brazilian Forest Code, located in the Cerrado biome at Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais. In the dry season, from April to June of 2017, we collected 680 specimens belonging to 36 species and six families. Among the collected species, Elasmothemis williamsoni was observed by the first time in Minas Gerais State, and we also found a new species of Tigriagrion (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) which is being described by taxonomists. Considering the fast agricultural advance over natural Cerrado systems, species lists can be important to define priority conservation areas for odonate species.

Odonata (Insecta) diversity of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjoining areas, Odisha, eastern India

A study was carried out to assess the Odonata fauna of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, eastern India from November 2012 to October 2013. During the study a total of 54 species of odonates including 37 species of dragonflies (Anisoptera) and 17 species of damselflies (Zygoptera) were recorded. Among the dragonflies, the family Libellulidae was well represented with 30 species whereas among the damselflies, Coenagrionidae was well represented with seven species. Overall, the odonate fauna of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary accounted for 49.09% of the odonate species known from Odisha and 10.73% of India. Therefore, further long-term studies on these lesser-known insect fauna in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary will be useful in understanding their status over time.