How Does Environmental Variation Affect the Distribution of Dragonfly Larvae (Odonata) in the Amazon-Cerrado Transition Zone in Central Brazil?

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of environmental variation on assemblages of dragonfly larvae (Odonata). We hypothesize that there is a significant correlation between species richness, species composition, and abundance of Odonata individuals, and habitat integrity and abiotic variables. To test this hypothesis, we sampled odonate larvae at 12 streams in the Suiá-Miçú River basin in Mato Grosso, Brazil, during three different periods of the year. Local physical and chemical variables (temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), and oxidation reduction potential (ORP)) were measured at each site using a multi-parameter probe, and integrity was assessed using the Habitat Integrity Index (HII). The variation in richness, abundance, and composition of Odonata species was related to the environmental variables analyzed, primarily by the abiotic factors pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and oxidation reduction potential. Our hypothesis was corroborated for the suborder Anisoptera, which showed a significant relationship with these variables, whereas Zygoptera was only related to pH. Our results show the importance of physical and chemical conditions in ecological studies using Odonata larvae as tools for the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems.

To what extent can oil palm plantations in the Amazon support assemblages of Odonata larvae?

“…The results of this study are in agreement with other studies that show turnover as the main pattern for aquatic insect assemblages, as they are highly influenced by spatial processes that can restrain their dispersal (Lujan et al ., ; Rouquette et al ., ). The different turnover patterns observed can be related to Anisoptera and Zygoptera dispersals and their relation to environmental heterogeneity and variations in the hydrological system (Mendes et al ., , ; Juen et al ., ). Generally, Anisoptera have a high dispersal ability in a short period of time (Corbet, ), which allows them to occupy a greater proportion of suitable niches at local and regional scales (De Marco & Latini, ).…”

“…Moreover, other similar studies used genus-level taxonomic resolution (e.g. Assis et al, 2004;Mendes et al, 2018).…”

Drivers of regional and local diversity of Amazonian stream Odonata

“…Habitat integrity summarises coverage of riparian forest, the land use adjacent to the riparian zone and some characteristics of the stream channel, such as bank structure of rivers (Hannaford et al, 1997;Roy et al, 2003;Nessimian et al, 2008), and can be interpreted as forest cover (Nessimian et al, 2008). Indeed, this variable is an important predictor of Zygoptera species richness and composition in Amazonia (Monteiro J unior et al, 2015;Oliveira-Junior et al, 2015;Brasil et al, 2017) and other Brazilian biomes Mendes et al, 2018). With increasing forest cover, the dominance of damselfly species increases, while the dominance of dragonflies decreases .…”

“…5) indicate that more open (i.e. more impacted) stretches host higher species richness (Carvalho et al, 2013;Mendes et al, 2018). In fact, Anisoptera are considered to be major generalists associated to less stable environments (Remsburg & Turner, 2009;Mendes et al, 2015;Miguel et al, 2017), such as open, unstable, and, in general, lentic waterbodies (Hof et al, 2012;Grewe et al, 2013;Jaeschke et al, 2013).…”

Ecological Factors and the Distribution of Adult Odonata in Puerto Rico

“…Also, we did not explore the relationship between water-body type (lotic vs. lentic) and Odonata assemblages, even though preferences for each type of habitat affect both the abundance and species diversity of the insects (Fulan and Henry 2013, Balzan 2014, Seidu et al 2019. Similarly, variables such as water temperature, flow rate, dissolved oxygen, and riparian vegetation are known to affect Odonata (McPeek 2008, Silva, et al 2010, Mendes et al 2017, Oliveira-Junior et al 2017, but their study was beyond the scope of the project. Studying and understanding how Odonata interact with their environment is critical for their conservation, especially on islands such as Puerto Rico.…”