Editorial

6 pages, 504 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

A Special Issue on the Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata)

by M. Olalla Lorenzo-Carballa and Ricardo Koroiva

Diversity 2024, 16(2), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16020117 - 12 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1087

The Odonata is an order of insects commonly known as dragonflies and damselflies, with a worldwide distribution except in Antarctica [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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22 pages, 2505 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Climate Change Is Driving Shifts in Dragonfly Species Richness across Europe via Differential Dynamics of Taxonomic and Biogeographic Groups

by Kent Olsen, Jens-Christian Svenning and Henrik Balslev

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121066 - 03 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2621

Abstract

Understanding how changes in species richness pattern correlate with range changes in different taxonomic and biogeographic groups is important for conservation because it allows for generalizations about which species are at greatest risk. Here, we assessed whether changes in species richness patterns result [...] Read more.

Understanding how changes in species richness pattern correlate with range changes in different taxonomic and biogeographic groups is important for conservation because it allows for generalizations about which species are at greatest risk. Here, we assessed whether changes in species richness patterns result from generalized range shifts across taxonomic and biogeographic groups or from changes in specific subsets of species. Using data from 1988 and from 2010, we studied changes in distributional range of European dragonfly species, using outline distribution maps for all dragonflies combined and separately for taxonomic suborders (Zygoptera and Anisoptera) and biogeographic groups (Boreo-alpine, Eurasian, Mediterranean, and Tropical). The results demonstrated differing range dynamics for Zygoptera and Anisoptera, with Anisoptera driving local turnover in species richness to a greater extent than Zygoptera. The distributional range of Tropical and Mediterranean species had expanded to a much greater extent than that of Eurasian and Boreo-alpine species. Large-scale changes in species richness arose from several divergent, group-specific processes. Overall, local diversity especially declined in parts of southern and south-eastern Europe, reflecting local losses in multiple species rather than major range contractions among Mediterranean or Eurasian species. In fact, among the biogeographic groups, overall range declines were most prominent among Boreo-alpine species, highlighting the particular threat from climate change to this group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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19 pages, 2084 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Quality of Sequence Data Affects Biodiversity and Conservation Perspectives in the Neotropical Damselfly Megaloprepus caerulatus

by Wiebke Feindt and Heike Hadrys

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121056 - 01 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1286

Abstract

Ideally, the footprint of the evolutionary history of a species is drawn from integrative studies including quantitative and qualitative taxonomy, biogeography, ecology, and molecular genetics. In today’s research, species delimitations and identification of conservation units is often accompanied by a set of—at minimum—two [...] Read more.

Ideally, the footprint of the evolutionary history of a species is drawn from integrative studies including quantitative and qualitative taxonomy, biogeography, ecology, and molecular genetics. In today’s research, species delimitations and identification of conservation units is often accompanied by a set of—at minimum—two sequence markers appropriate for the systematic level under investigation. Two such studies re-evaluated the species status in the world’s largest Odonata, the Neotropical damselfly Megaloprepus caerulatus. The species status of the genus Megaloprepus has long been debated. Despite applying a highly similar set of sequence markers, the two studies reached different conclusions concerning species status and population genetic relationships. In this study, we took the unique opportunity to compare the two datasets and analyzed the reasons for those incongruences. The two DNA sequence markers used (16S rDNA and CO1) were re-aligned using a strict conservative approach and the analyses used in both studies were repeated. Going step by step back to the first line of data handling, we show that a high number of unresolved characters in the sequence alignments as well as internal gaps are responsible for the different outcomes in terms of species delimitations and population genetic relationships. Overall, this study shows that high quality raw sequence data are an indispensable requirement, not only in odonate research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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15 pages, 4432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of Palaearctic Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)

by Vincent J. Kalkman, Jean-Pierre Boudot, Ryo Futahashi, John C. Abbott, Cornelio A. Bota-Sierra, Robert Guralnick, Seth M. Bybee, Jessica Ware and Michael W. Belitz

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110966 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2404

Abstract

More than 1.2 million distribution records were used to create species distribution models for 402 Palaearctic species of dragonflies and damselflies. On the basis of these diversity maps of total, lentic and lotic diversity for the whole of the Palaearctic (excluding China and [...] Read more.

More than 1.2 million distribution records were used to create species distribution models for 402 Palaearctic species of dragonflies and damselflies. On the basis of these diversity maps of total, lentic and lotic diversity for the whole of the Palaearctic (excluding China and the Himalayan region) are presented. These maps show a clear pattern of decreasing diversity longitudinally, with species numbers dropping in the eastern half of Europe and remaining low throughout a large part of Russia, then increasing again towards Russia’s Far East and Korea. There are clear differences in diversity patterns of lentic and lotic species, with lentic species being dominant in colder and more arid areas. Areas with a high diversity of species assessed as threatened on the IUCN red list are largely restricted to the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, and Japan, with clear hotspots found in the Levant and the southern half of Japan. The diversity at species, generic, and family level is higher in the south of Japan than in areas at a similar latitude in the western Mediterranean. This is likely to be the result of the more humid climate of Japan resulting in a higher diversity of freshwater habitats and the stronger impact of the glacial periods in the Western Palaearctic in combination with the Sahara, preventing tropical African lineages dispersing northwards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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18 pages, 2062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dragonflies (Odonata) in Cocoa Growing Areas in the Atlantic Forest: Taxonomic Diversity and Relationships with Environmental and Spatial Variables

by Laís R. Santos and Marciel E. Rodrigues

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110919 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1359

Abstract

In the south of Bahia state, a large part of the native Atlantic Forest areas has been modified for the cultivation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao). These crops are cultivated under the shade of the canopy of native trees, a system locally [...] Read more.

In the south of Bahia state, a large part of the native Atlantic Forest areas has been modified for the cultivation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao). These crops are cultivated under the shade of the canopy of native trees, a system locally known as the “cabruca” agroforestry system. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of Odonata assemblages (adults and larvae) in cocoa farming areas and to identify the relationships of these species with local and spatial environmental variables of the monitored sites. Altogether, adult and larvae were sampled at 22 sites. Physical and physicochemical water variables were recorded for each site. A total of 1336 dragonflies were collected, of which 20 were Zygoptera species and 30 were adult Anisoptera representatives. The different life stages were related to environmental variables such as conductivity, watercourse channel width, and dissolved oxygen. The space predictors were also associated with the assemblages, mainly for adults. The present study identified that cabruca areas maintain a great diversity of dragonflies, including species that are considered to be forest specialists and more sensitive to landscape changes. The characteristics of this cropping system are considered to be favorable for the conservation of the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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17 pages, 1304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Meiotic Analysis of Gomphidae Species Sheds Light on the Large X Chromosome of the Family (Anisoptera, Odonata)

by Liliana M. Mola, Pablo J. Rebagliati, María F. Fourastié and Silvia S. Agopian

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100874 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1229

Abstract

In most Anisoptera families, the modal diploid number is 25 in males (24 autosomes + X), and the X chromosome is one of the smallest elements of the complement. The family Gomphidae is an exception, as it has a modal diploid number of [...] Read more.

In most Anisoptera families, the modal diploid number is 25 in males (24 autosomes + X), and the X chromosome is one of the smallest elements of the complement. The family Gomphidae is an exception, as it has a modal diploid number of 23 (22 + X), and the X chromosome is the largest of the complement and of medium-to-large size in many species. We studied the meiosis of three gomphid species from Argentina: Aphylla cf. distinguenda (Campion, 1920), Phyllocycla propinqua Belle, 1972 and Phyllocycla sp. Chromosome number is 2n = 23, n = 11 + X, except for Phyllocycla propinqua, showing n = 10 + X. The X chromosome of these species is medium-sized and presents heteropyknotic blocks of different sizes. Despite the small number of gomphid species analysed, there is a clear trend of increasing size of the X chromosome with the increasing amount of heterochromatin. Our results, together with those from the literature, suggest that its large size might have been due to a progressive accumulation of repetitive DNA and heterochromatinisation and not to fusion, as previously suggested. This led us to propose that the ancestral number coincided with the modal number of Gomphidae. A revision of the derived sex-determining systems in Odonata is also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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16 pages, 6219 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Population Density and Abundance of the Northernmost Population of Cordulegaster heros (Anisoptera: Cordulegastridae) in Europe (Czech Republic) with Notes on Its Biogeographical Range

by Otakar Holuša and Kateřina Holušová

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100854 - 09 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1318

Abstract

Cordulegaster heros is a Balkan species with a disjunctive area extending into Central Europe. The population in the Chřiby Mts. in the southeastern Czech Republic is the northernmost population, and this population was intensively studied from 2010 to 2021 to establish basic data [...] Read more.

Cordulegaster heros is a Balkan species with a disjunctive area extending into Central Europe. The population in the Chřiby Mts. in the southeastern Czech Republic is the northernmost population, and this population was intensively studied from 2010 to 2021 to establish basic data on its abundance. In the territory, the geomorphological characteristics of streams, characteristics of sediment in streams, habitat, emergence time, and period of flight were recorded, and population viability was evaluated. Larvae were recorded in 10 small forest streams (altitude of 235–426 m a.s.l.), with an average minimum width of 51.9 cm, an average maximum width of 177.7 cm, an average minimum depth of 6.5 cm, an average maximum depth (in pools) of 21 cm, and an average stream gradient of 1.9 grades. The sediments in each stream exhibited a grain size distribution with an average fraction less than 0.05 mm represented by 6.3%, a fraction of 0.05–0.1 mm represented by 21.1%, a fraction of 0.1–2 mm represented by 52.1%, a fraction of 2–5 mm represented by 12.1%, a fraction of 5–20 mm represented by 8%, and a fraction of 20+ mm represented by 0.3%. The larval abundance was 0.1–6.7 larvae per 1 m² of suitable sediment. The emergence period was recorded from 28 May to 1 July. The emergence site was categorized as larvae-dominated plant leave (57% of cases), plant stalks (21%), and tree trunks (17%). Exuviae occurred at an average of 154 cm at horizontal distance from the shore and an average vertical height of 77 cm above the ground. The average total distance of larval movement was 205 cm. The flight period in 2021 was recorded from 15 June to 11 August with peak flight activity noted in the third week of June. The northernmost population of C. heros was evaluated as viable and stable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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15 pages, 4325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Odonata from Iberá Wetland System (Corrientes, Argentina) Are Regional Biogeographic Schemes Useful to Assess Odonata Biodiversity and Its Conservation?

by Alejandro del Palacio, Federico Lozano, Lia S. Ramos, María de las Mercedes Navarro and Javier Muzón

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100842 - 06 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1336

Abstract

Regionalization schemes reflect different macroscale distribution patterns and show large areas characterized by a common natural history, resulting in similar associations of biotic and abiotic features. Freshwater biota and terrestrial biota do not respond in the same way to environmental variables. The Iberá [...] Read more.

Regionalization schemes reflect different macroscale distribution patterns and show large areas characterized by a common natural history, resulting in similar associations of biotic and abiotic features. Freshwater biota and terrestrial biota do not respond in the same way to environmental variables. The Iberá Depression, one of the largest wetlands in South America, is recognized in many schemes either as a functional unit or as an area with an ecotonal character. We used the distributional data of 128 species of Odonata, from a total of 103 collection sites from Corrientes and Misiones provinces, to test if Iberá functions as an ecological and functional unit, based on the Odonata distribution patterns. In addition, we tested if their distribution patterns fit into the most widespread regionalization schemes (hydrological basins, biogeographical provinces and ecoregions) used in Argentina. The Iberá Depression was not recovered as a functional unit; its sub-basins are more related to external basins than to each other. Neither the ecoregion nor the biogeographical schemes are suitable to explain the distribution patterns of the Odonata. The Odonata seem to respond to the availability of particular wetlands (e.g., ponds, streams, rivers, swamps, etc.), or to specific physical characteristics, such as the type of sediment, the availability of oxygen, etc., instead of to biogeographical or ecoregional schemes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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19 pages, 3395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Testing the Effect of Sampling Effort on Inferring Phylogeographic History in Psolodesmus mandarinus (Calopterygidae, Odonata)

by Liang-Jong Wang, Yen-Wei Chou and Jen-Pan Huang

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100809 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1253

Abstract

Phylogeographic studies have revealed spatial genetic structure and inferred geographical processes that may have generated genetic diversity and divergence. These study results have implications not only on the processes that generate intraspecific and interspecific diversity but also on the essential integrals for defining [...] Read more.

Phylogeographic studies have revealed spatial genetic structure and inferred geographical processes that may have generated genetic diversity and divergence. These study results have implications not only on the processes that generate intraspecific and interspecific diversity but also on the essential integrals for defining evolutionary entities (e.g., species). However, the resulting phylogeographic inferences might be impacted by the sampling design, i.e., the number of individuals per population and the number of geographic populations studied. The effect of sampling bias on phylogeographic inferences remains poorly explored. With a comprehensive sampling design (including 186 samples from 56 localities), we studied the phylogeographic history of a Taiwanese endemic damselfly, Psolodesmus mandarinus, with a specific focus on testing the impact of the sampling design on phylogeographic inference. We found a significant difference in the genetic structure of eastern and western populations separated by the Central Mountain Range (CMR) of Taiwan. However, isolation by the CMR did not lead to reciprocally monophyletic geographic populations. We further showed that, when only a subset of individuals was randomly included in the study, monophyletic geographic populations were obtained. Furthermore, historical demographic expansion could become undetectable when only a subset of samples was used in the analyses. Our results demonstrate the impact of sampling design on phylogeographic inferences. Future studies need to be cautious when inferring the effect of isolation by a physical barrier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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16 pages, 2499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution and Biogeographic History of Rubyspot Damselflies (Hetaerininae: Calopterygidae: Odonata)

by Samantha Standring, Melissa Sánchez-Herrera, Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira, Jessica L. Ware, Yesenia Margarita Vega-Sánchez, Rebecca Clement, Jonathan P. Drury, Gregory F. Grether, Antonio González-Rodríguez, Luis Mendoza-Cuenca, Cornelio A. Bota-Sierra and Seth Bybee

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090757 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2995

Abstract

The damselflies Hetaerininae, a subfamily of Calopterygidae, comprise four genera distributed from North to South America: Hetaerina, Mnesarete, Ormenophlebia and Bryoplathanon. While several studies have focused on the intriguing behavioral and morphological modifications within Hetaerina, little of the evolutionary [...] Read more.

The damselflies Hetaerininae, a subfamily of Calopterygidae, comprise four genera distributed from North to South America: Hetaerina, Mnesarete, Ormenophlebia and Bryoplathanon. While several studies have focused on the intriguing behavioral and morphological modifications within Hetaerina, little of the evolutionary history of the group is well understood. Understanding the biogeographical history of Hetaerininae is further complicated by uncertainty in important geological events, such as the closure of the Central American Seaway (CAS). We generated a phylogenetic hypothesis to test the relationships and divergence times within Hetaerininae using IQtree and BEAST2 and found that Mnesarete and Ormenophlebia render Hetaerina paraphyletic. Reclassification of the genera within Hetaerininae is necessary based on our results. We also tested the fit to our dataset of two different hypotheses for the closure of CAS. Our results supported a gradual closure, starting in the Oligocene and ending in the Pliocene. Using Ancestral Character State Reconstruction, we found that the rubyspot, which is associated with higher fecundity in several species, was ancestral for Hetaerininae and subsequently lost four times. Estimates of diversification in association with the rubyspot are needed to understand the plasticity of this important character. Forest habitat was the ancestral state for Hetaerininae, with transitions to generalist species of Hetaerina found primarily in the Mesoamerican region. These results add to our understanding of the relationship between morphology, biogeography and habitat in a charismatic group of damselflies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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17 pages, 4181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection and Monitoring of Riverine Dragonfly of Community Interest (Insecta: Odonata): Proposal for a Standardised Protocol Based on Exuviae Collection

by Loan Arguel, Alice S. Denis, Samuel Danflous, Nicolas Gouix, Frédéric Santoul, Laëtitia Buisson and Laurent Pelozuelo

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 728; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090728 - 02 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2055

Abstract

Collecting quantitative data on insect species occurrence and abundance is a major concern to document population trends. This is especially the case to assess the conservation status of species listed in the European Habitats Directive and to assess the efficiency of mitigation measures [...] Read more.

Collecting quantitative data on insect species occurrence and abundance is a major concern to document population trends. This is especially the case to assess the conservation status of species listed in the European Habitats Directive and to assess the efficiency of mitigation measures with a view to achieve the “no net loss of biodiversity” goal for protected species. However, at present, populations of riverine dragonflies listed in the Habitats Directive and protected under French national law are poorly quantified and monitored. Exuviae collection could be used for such monitoring but a standardised protocol is lacking. We here proposed and tested such a protocol to monitor riverine dragonfly populations through exhaustive exuviae collection along river bank transects. To define the optimal transect size and number of visits, ninety-eight 100 m-long transects divided into 10 m-long plots were monitored on three rivers in southern France. Each transect was visited three times over the emergence period. In the course of each visit, all the exuviae along transects were collected and identified. From our results, we recommend collecting exuviae along 100 m of river bank in the course of two visits in order to both maximise the species detection and minimise the monitoring cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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14 pages, 1245 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Niche Breadth Predicts Geographical Range Size and Northern Range Shift in European Dragonfly Species (Odonata)

by Kent Olsen, Jens-Christian Svenning and Henrik Balslev

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090719 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

We studied how range sizes and shifts in species ranges depend on niche breadth in European dragonflies. We measured range sizes and shifts over a 22-year period (1988–2010) and grouped species into those reproducing in permanent running (perennial lotic) water, permanent standing (perennial [...] Read more.

We studied how range sizes and shifts in species ranges depend on niche breadth in European dragonflies. We measured range sizes and shifts over a 22-year period (1988–2010) and grouped species into those reproducing in permanent running (perennial lotic) water, permanent standing (perennial lentic) water, and temporary (running or standing) water. Running water species are more specialized and have narrower niches with a more fixed niche position than standing water species. Temporary water species are more generalist and have broader niches without a fixed niche position as clear as permanent water species because they may utilize both temporary and permanent habitats. Running water species have smaller ranges, and some of them have contracted their ranges more than species reproducing in standing or temporary waters; that is, they are especially at risk of habitat loss and climate change because of the joint effects of their narrow niches and small range sizes. Temporary water species track climate changes better than permanent water species. This suggests that ecological specialization may cause contemporary range shifts to lag behind changes in climate and resources. Furthermore, it indicates that recent changes in climate and human land use cause biotic homogenization, where specialists are outperformed and replaced by generalists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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14 pages, 927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Uses for Pasture and Cacao Cultivation Modify the Odonata Assemblages in Atlantic Forest Areas

by Laís R. Santos and Marciel E. Rodrigues

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080672 - 18 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1256

Abstract

Tropical forests such as the Atlantic Forest are under constant threats from the impact of human activities, mostly being caused by the loss of native forest areas for other land uses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of changes in land use [...] Read more.

Tropical forests such as the Atlantic Forest are under constant threats from the impact of human activities, mostly being caused by the loss of native forest areas for other land uses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of changes in land use for pasture and cacao cultivation on the richness and composition of Odonata assemblages in comparison to native forest areas. We also evaluated the species as possible indicators of these different land uses. In total, 64 streams were sampled in southern Bahia, Brazil. A total of 84 species were recorded. The results indicated that changes in land use modify the richness and composition of Odonata assemblages. Regarding composition, our results indicated a difference among the assemblages in the three land use areas and that the native areas maintain more stable assemblages. According to the indicator species analysis, 13 species were recorded as possible bioindicators for different land uses. Changes in aquatic ecosystems and their surroundings caused by different land uses a select group of different species groups, modifying Odonata diversity among these areas. Notably, land uses that maintain a certain integrity of the environment, as in the case of cacao cultivation, are the best alternatives for conserving Odonata biodiversity in comparison with pasture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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30 pages, 13101 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular and Morphological Analyses Support Different Taxonomic Units for Asian and Australo-Pacific Forms of Ischnura aurora (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

by M. Olalla Lorenzo-Carballa, Iago Sanmartín-Villar and Adolfo Cordero-Rivera

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080606 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2312

Abstract

Despite the great technological progress that has aided taxonomical identification, taxonomical issues remain for certain species found in remote and/or understudied geographical areas. The damselfly species Ischnura aurora has been the subject of a long-standing taxonomical debate, focused mainly on the existence of [...] Read more.

Despite the great technological progress that has aided taxonomical identification, taxonomical issues remain for certain species found in remote and/or understudied geographical areas. The damselfly species Ischnura aurora has been the subject of a long-standing taxonomical debate, focused mainly on the existence of morphological and behavioural differences between Asian and Australo-Pacific forms of this species that could justify their placement into two different species. Here, we carried out a comparative morphological analysis of specimens currently identified as I. rubilio from India and I. aurora from Asia and Oceania, combined with the analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data, both developed by us and available in public repositories. Our results split the Asian and Australo-Pacific forms of I. aurora into two well-differentiated taxonomic units and, hence, different (albeit closely related) species, and support the specific status of I. rubilio. The results of our genetic analyses suggest the existence of a third (and even fourth) taxonomic unit, stressing the need to revise all available material belonging to the different I. aurora subspecies that have been described. Finally, we have identified several questionable DNA sequences currently available in public repositories, upon which previous conclusions about the phylogenetic position of I. rubilio are based. Our study stresses the importance of being able to link available DNA sequence data with voucher specimens as well as to carry out a careful examination of DNA sequence data prior to their inclusion in taxonomical studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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18 pages, 4090 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Diversity of Nearctic Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)

by John C. Abbott, Cornelio A. Bota-Sierra, Robert Guralnick, Vincent Kalkman, Enrique González-Soriano, Rodolfo Novelo-Gutiérrez, Seth Bybee, Jessica Ware and Michael W. Belitz

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070575 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3709

Abstract

Rarely have studies assessed Odonata diversity for the entire Nearctic realm by including Canada, the United States, and Mexico. For the first time, we explored Odonata diversity in this region according to a definition of natural community assemblages and generated species distribution models [...] Read more.

Rarely have studies assessed Odonata diversity for the entire Nearctic realm by including Canada, the United States, and Mexico. For the first time, we explored Odonata diversity in this region according to a definition of natural community assemblages and generated species distribution models (SDMs). Species occurrence data were assembled by reviewing databases of specimens held by significant Odonata repositories and through an extensive search of literature references. Species were categorized as forest-dependent or non-forest-dependent, as lentic or lotic-dependent, and according to conservation status. Predicted distributions were stacked for all species across their entire ranges, including areas outside of the Nearctic. Species richness and corrected weighted endemism (CWE) were then calculated for each grid cell. We found a pattern of greater species richness in the eastern portion of the Nearctic, which can be explained by the higher aquatic habitat diversity at micro and macroscales east of the Rocky Mountains, promoting niche partitioning and specialization. In the Nearctic region, the southeastern US has the highest number of endemic species of dragonflies and damselflies; this degree of endemism is likely due to glacial refuges providing a foundation for the evolution of a rich and unique biota. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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10 pages, 1747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

First Record of Microsporidia Infection in the Damselfly Ischnura elegans Larvae: Temperature and Predator Cue Effects on the Host’s Life History

by Andrzej Antoł, Anna Maria Labecka, J. I. Ronny Larsson and Szymon Sniegula

Diversity 2022, 14(6), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14060428 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2111

Abstract

Here, we report, for the first time, a microsporidian infection in laboratory-reared larvae of the damselfly Ischnura elegans. Infected larvae originated from field-collected adult females, which were caught in southern Poland in August 2020 (the second half of the flight season). Higher [...] Read more.

Here, we report, for the first time, a microsporidian infection in laboratory-reared larvae of the damselfly Ischnura elegans. Infected larvae originated from field-collected adult females, which were caught in southern Poland in August 2020 (the second half of the flight season). Higher rearing temperatures and the presence of predator cues from the invasive alien signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) increased the number of infected larvae. Infected larvae had distorted wing development, and all individuals died before emergence. Hence, microsporidian infection in I. elegans larvae impacted damselfly morphology and life history. We propose that warming temperature and stress caused by non-consumptive effects triggered by invasive alien predators are possible factors that produce negative fitness consequences following microsporidian infection in a key amphibious ectotherm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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12 pages, 926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Rabah Zebsa, Hayat Mahdjoub and Rassim Khelifa

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040302 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1685

Abstract

Recent range expansion of many species northward and upward in elevation suggests that the expanding species are able to cope with new biotic interactions in the leading edge. To test this hypothesis, we used a common garden experiment expanding the elevation range of [...] Read more.

Recent range expansion of many species northward and upward in elevation suggests that the expanding species are able to cope with new biotic interactions in the leading edge. To test this hypothesis, we used a common garden experiment expanding the elevation range of an obligatorily univoltine dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) to investigate whether the growth, behavioral (food intake), and morphological (8th and 9th abdominal lateral spine) responses differed when confronted with dragonfly predators that dominate low-elevation (Aeshna cyanea) and high-elevation (A. juncea) lentic freshwater systems under two temperature treatments (20 °C and 24 °C). Growth rate and growth efficiency increased at higher temperature. Overall, low- and high-elevation predators induced a similar increase in growth rate and growth efficiency but a decrease in food intake at 24 °C. Lateral abdominal spines were longer only in low-elevation dragonflies at 18 °C. Our study suggests that range-expanding species may have been successful in colonizing new areas at higher elevations because they respond to dominant high-elevation predators in a similar way to the more familiar low-elevation predators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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14 pages, 2568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DNA Barcoding and New Records of Odonates (Insecta: Odonata) from Paraíba State, Brazil

by Ricardo Koroiva, Vanessa Gabrielle Nóbrega Gomes and Diogo Silva Vilela

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030203 - 10 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3186

Abstract

Odonates (Insecta: Odonata) are important insects in the food chains of freshwater environments around the world, being used as a model species for areas of behavior and analysis of environmental quality. In Brazil, especially in the Northeastern region, both knowledge about the distribution [...] Read more.

Odonates (Insecta: Odonata) are important insects in the food chains of freshwater environments around the world, being used as a model species for areas of behavior and analysis of environmental quality. In Brazil, especially in the Northeastern region, both knowledge about the distribution and molecular information of odonate species found in the two main biomes of the region is still limited. Aiming to improve these issues, here, we carried out an Odonata survey in two locations and built a DNA barcode database for species from the state of Paraíba. In total, 15 first records were reported for this Brazilian state and 142 specimens from 27 genera and 45 species had their ‘Folmer’ cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment evaluated. The database we generated includes data for 70% of the Odonata species found in Paraíba state. For 16 species, this is the first DNA barcode available in public sequence repositories. Our results demonstrate that using the COI in the regional scale can help identify and delimit those evaluated. Eight species (17%) showed a low percentage of differentiation (<2%) compared to other species currently deposited in the GenBank or BOLD System; nevertheless, we present morphological traits that reaffirm our identifications. Barcode data provide new insights into Neotropical diversity and deliver basic information for taxonomic analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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16 pages, 1778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Potential Distribution and Niche Divergence among Populations of the World’s Largest Living Damselfly, Megaloprepus caerulatus (Drury, 1782)

by Alondra Encarnación-Luévano, Jaime Antonio Escoto-Moreno and Giovanna Villalobos-Jiménez

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020084 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2571

Abstract

Megaloprepus caerulatus is a Neotropical species with a highly specialised niche, found from Mexico to Bolivia, primarily in mature tropical forests lower than 1500 masl. It is also the damselfly with the largest wingspan in the world. Recent studies found strong genetic isolation [...] Read more.

Megaloprepus caerulatus is a Neotropical species with a highly specialised niche, found from Mexico to Bolivia, primarily in mature tropical forests lower than 1500 masl. It is also the damselfly with the largest wingspan in the world. Recent studies found strong genetic isolation among populations of M. caerulatus. Further studies found genetic and morphological divergence, but ecological divergence was not tested. Here, we test for ecological divergence by evaluating niche differences among populations of M. caerulatus in Los Tuxtlas (Mexico), Corcovado (Costa Rica), Barro Colorado (Panama), and La Selva (Costa Rica). We used Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) to compare potential distribution ranges, and we estimated the breadth and overlap of the ecological niche using equivalence and similarity tests. The potential distributions estimated with ENM were heavily fragmented and we found no geographic overlap of potential distributions among populations. However, we found geographic correspondence between populations with a close phylogenetic relationship. Even though all similarity tests were non-significant, the results of the equivalence tests suggest niche divergence between Corcovado and the other three populations, but also between Barro Colorado (Panama) and La Selva. These results show evidence of strong ecological divergence in Corcovado and Barro Colorado populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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17 pages, 1319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity and Structure of Anax imperator Leach, 1815 Populations (Odonata: Aeshnidae) in Ponds at Regional and European Scales

by Marceau Minot and Aurélie Husté

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020068 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities cause loss and fragmentation of natural habitats and have strong effects on population maintenance by increasing their isolation. Pond ecosystems are scattered waterbodies that can interact as a network connected by dispersal events of freshwater organisms. Identifying local genetic differentiations and [...] Read more.

Anthropogenic activities cause loss and fragmentation of natural habitats and have strong effects on population maintenance by increasing their isolation. Pond ecosystems are scattered waterbodies that can interact as a network connected by dispersal events of freshwater organisms. Identifying local genetic differentiations and understanding how gene flow occurs across these networks is essential to prevent risks associated with environmental perturbations. This study aimed to investigate genetic diversity and structure of Anax imperator Leach, 1815 populations at both regional and European scales using seven microsatellites markers. Seven populations of A. imperator were sampled in northwestern France and four populations were sampled in Italy (Sicily), Czech Republic, Switzerland and United Kingdom (U.K.). French populations presented a low genetic differentiation indicating a high gene flow and confirming dispersal events of this species between ponds at regional scale. No pattern of isolation by distance was found at the European scale. The populations presented a low genetic differentiation and no pattern of isolation by distance, suggesting historical or current movements of individuals. Only the U.K. population presented a significant genetic differentiation from other European populations, suggesting that the English Channel might act as a barrier to gene flow for A. imperator. However, Bayesian analysis showed that some dispersal events could occur between the U.K. and France (Normandy), probably facilitated by prevailing winds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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50 pages, 18714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Taxonomic Revision of Eastern Part of Western Palaearctic Cordulegaster Using Molecular Phylogeny and Morphology, with the Description of Two New Species (Odonata: Anisoptera: Cordulegastridae)

by Thomas Schneider, Andy Vierstraete, Ole Müller, Gert Jan van Pelt, Max Caspers, Dietmar Ikemeyer, Nataly Snegovaya and Henri J. Dumont

Diversity 2021, 13(12), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120667 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4411

Abstract

Taxonomy of the genus Cordulegaster Leach in Brewster, 1815 in the Eastern part of the Western Palaearctic is poorly resolved. A two-step approach was applied: sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA fragments were used to sort specimens; poorly known or new taxa with [...] Read more.

Taxonomy of the genus Cordulegaster Leach in Brewster, 1815 in the Eastern part of the Western Palaearctic is poorly resolved. A two-step approach was applied: sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA fragments were used to sort specimens; poorly known or new taxa with their phenotypic variation were described. The existence of two traditional groups (boltonii- and bidentata-group) was confirmed. Cordulegaster coronata Morton, 1916, however, belongs to a different group. Molecular-analysis supported three known and one new species (C. heros Theischinger, 1979, C. picta Selys, 1854, C. vanbrinkae Lohmann, 1993, and C. kalkmani sp. nov.) in the boltonii-group. In the bidentata-group, all specimens from West-Turkey belonged to C. insignis Schneider, 1845, all specimens further east to a complex of four closely related species, which we name charpentieri-complex (C. amasina Morton, 1916, stat. rev., C. mzymtae Bartenev, 1929 C. charpentieri (Kolenati, 1846), stat. rev. and C. cilicia sp. nov.). The following taxa: C. insignis nobilis Morton, 1916, syn. nov., C. nachitschevanica Skvortsov and Snegovaya, 2015, syn. nov. C. plagionyx Skvortsov and Snegovaya, 2015, syn. nov. and the Caucasian subspecies C. insignis lagodechica Bartenev, 1930, syn. nov., were synonymized with C. charpentieri. Finally, we provide a key for all Western Palaearctic Cordulegaster. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

16 pages, 4450 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Global Research in Odonata: Trends and Gaps

by José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior, Tainã Silva Rocha, Suellen Furtado Vinagre, Jair Costa Miranda-Filho, Cristian Camilo Mendoza-Penagos, Karina Dias-Silva, Leandro Juen and Lenize Batista Calvão

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121074 - 05 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

Insects of the order Odonata have been used as indicators of environmental quality in different aquatic systems around the world. In this context, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to understand the general patterns of research on Odonata published in the past decade (2012–2021). [...] Read more.

Insects of the order Odonata have been used as indicators of environmental quality in different aquatic systems around the world. In this context, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to understand the general patterns of research on Odonata published in the past decade (2012–2021). We extracted literature from the Web of Science (WoS) in the advanced search option and used search terms related to Odonata plus search strings for each term. A total of 2764 Odonata publications were identified. The journals with the most published articles on Odonata were Zootaxa, International Journal of Odonatology and Odonatologica. The countries with the most Odonata publications were the USA, Brazil and China. Most studies were conducted on streams, ponds and rivers. Ecology, taxonomy and behavior were the main study topics. Of the total articles on Odonata, 982 involved Zygoptera and 946 Anisoptera. Another 756 studies were focused on both suborders. The increase in ecological and taxonomic studies of Odonata reflects the dynamic characteristics of this order, and its relatively well-defined systematics, especially in the case of adults. Despite the recent increase in the number of publications, there are still many gaps related to topics such as biogeography, parasitism, competition within and between species, evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships, as well as studies of the eggs (e.g., their development) and larval exuviae (e.g., their morphological features). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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