Setting boundaries: Environmental and spatial effects on Odonata larvae distribution (Insecta)

Abstract

Environmental characteristics and spatial distances between sites have been used to explain species distribution in the environment, through Neutral (space) and Niche theory (environment) predictions. We evaluated the effects of spatial and environmental factors on Odonata larvae distribution along the Suiá-Missú River Basin, state of Mato Grosso. We tested the hypotheses that (1) the environment is the main factor structuring the community due to its ecophysiological requirements; and (2) the pattern, if present, is clearer for Zygoptera. Samples were made in 12 sites on the Suiá-Missú River Basin in three seasons (2007/2008), with a total of 1.382 Odonata larvae, comprising 10 families, 51 genera and 100 morphospecies. The Anisoptera were more abundant than Zygoptera, comprising 81% of all specimens. The environment affected Zygoptera (R=0.291; p=0.007) and was the main factor structuring the assembly. Thus, Niche theory was confirmed. The absence of this effect on Anisoptera may be due to the ecophysiological adaptations that enable it to occupy different habitats. Zygoptera larvae are indicators of changes in habitat structure. The effects of environmental variables on larvae ecology emphasize the strong relationship between these organisms and environmental integrity.

Drivers of regional and local diversity of Amazonian stream Odonata

“…more impacted) stretches host higher species richness (Carvalho et al ., ; Mendes et al ., ). In fact, Anisoptera are considered to be major generalists associated to less stable environments (Remsburg & Turner, ; Mendes et al ., ; Miguel et al ., ), such as open, unstable, and, in general, lentic waterbodies (Hof et al ., ; Grewe et al ., ; Jaeschke et al ., ). Therefore, although we studied well‐preserved lotic Amazonian streamlets the small differences in their level of integrity and river attribute, (such as stream width and forest cover) were sufficient to generate different effects in the richness patterns of the two suborders.…”

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, ).…”

“…In addition, Anisoptera and Zygoptera data were analysed separately to ensure that differences in responses between the two groups can be assessed separately. Thus, we could capture a higher variability and have a better view of the supposed relationships between environment and organisms due to their ecophysiological differences (Juen & De Marco, 2012;De Marco et al, 2015;Mendes et al, 2015).…”

“…The effect of space and environment on the distribution of Odonata is related to their dispersal ability and sensitivity to environmental changes (Corbet, 1999;Heiser & Schmitt, 2010;Juen & De Marco, 2012;Mendes et al, 2015). Similar to adults (Carvalho et al, 2018), the diversity of odonate larvae can be affected by the conversion of native forests into oil palm plantations (Luke et al, 2017b).…”

Successional colonization of temporary streams: An experimental approach using aquatic insects

“…Odonata was the main predator at the beginning of the experiment, and its abundance decayed as time advanced. Dragonflies have a high dispersal capacity (Mendes et al, 2015), which may enable quick colonization of new habitats.…”