The relationships between species assemblages and pond characteristics were investigated in a well preserved Mediterranean coastal woodland. Data on adult abundance were collected fortnightly. Pond area and depth, shade, riparian vegetation, presence of four classes of aquatic plants, presence of fish and both the distances from pond to pond and from pond to sea were considered as pond features. Results showed the presence of 23 Odonata species on 23 ponds. A Mantel test showed that the matrices of pond to pond topographic distances and that of pond to pond faunistic similarity were independent, which supports the hypothesis that the adult Odonata actively choose their breeding site. A stepwise multiple regression showed that only pond size, minimum water level and riparian vegetation had significant effects (all positive) on the total number of Odonata species in each pond. On the other hand, a canonical correspondence analysis showed that the composition of Odonata species assemblages was sensitive to almost all variables. From the point of view of Odonata conservation, both the moderate effect of Gambusia holbrooki and the positive effect of the riparian vegetation on the number of Odonata species appear particularly interesting for restoring or creating Odonata habitats.
Abstract. Mating success is linked to reproductive success in males, but parameters influencing it are poorly known. The relationships between lifetime mating success (LMS), fluctuating asymmetry (FA), body size (SIZE), reproductive period (RP) and emergence date (MD) of males of Cercion lindeni were investigated. Males were marked and photographed in their pre-reproductive period, and their matings monitored. RP was assumed to be the period between the MD and the last sighting of each individual. Three different FA measures and the size of each individual were determined. The results showed that the individuals not present at the pond during the reproductive period had a higher FA (but not for meristic characters) than those present. For those individuals actually involved in reproductive activity, LMS was only positively correlated with RP, which was negatively related with MD, and this with SIZE.
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