Artificial habitat – a chance for survival of a rare montane dragonfly (Odonata): case study on an alpine emerald (Somatochlora alpestris)

Abstract

The mountain ecosystems of Central Europe are an important natural phenomenon. The character of small isolated islands also predetermines their vulnerability. Typical inhabitant of subalpine and alpine peat bogs, tiny montane habitats, is the endangered dragonfly Alpine Emerald (Somatochlora alpestris) a glacial relict surviving in restricted area of several mountain ranges within Central Europe. Species is threatened mainly by habitat loss and its transformation due to climate change, the expansion of tourist activities and plant succession. In our study from three mountain ranges in the Czech Republic, we bring the first ever evidence of successful development of S. alpestris in artificial habitats. Successful development of the species was recorded in peat pools created by the movement of heavy machinery on now almost abandoned forest roads. Some of the pools have been colonized in great numbers - up to tens of larvae of different instars, exuviae and imagoes have been found. Successful colonisation of the species was mainly due to: (i) proximity to source sites, (ii) suitable environmental parameters of the secondary habitat and (iii) the gradual abandonment of the paths´ use, leading to a reduction in the frequency of disturbance.

New insights on habitat use by larval Northern Emerald dragonflies (Somatochlora arctica)

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can, therefore, be used as bioindicators of habitat quality and restoration efforts (Catling 2005;Seidu et al 2018). For example, the rare and threatened Alpine emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora alpestris Selys, 1840) is associated with specific ecological requirements in upland pools and peatlands within the subalpine region, therefore, changes in the presence and distribution of the species are an indicator of wider changes in subalpine quality, relating to climate change (Kašák et al 2023). Odonates are also impacted by anthropogenic activities e.g.

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