Abstract
Dragonflies are important bioindicators of aquatic ecosystem health. We
discuss the distribution and richness of the 22 dragon- and damselfly
species known from the Socotra Archipelago UNESCO World Heritage Site
(Yemen) in the western Indian Ocean. We compiled 841 records from
literature, field data and museum collections, covering a surveying
period of 123 years (1896–2019). Distribution of the only endemic, the
Socotra Bluet Azuragrion granti (McLachlan, 1903), an indicator
of pristine lotic waters, is updated. Relatively higher dragonfly
species richness occurs in eastern Socotra where suitable aquatic
habitats are present all year. We observed a significant drop of the
number of taxa over several decades in areas in the Hadiboh Plain where
human development impacts are strongest. We discuss the indigenous
people’s perception of dragonflies to assess the potential of these
invertebrates as local flagships for aquatic biodiversity conservation.
Our knowledge of the Socotran Odonata remains incomplete, yet they are
now among the best studied animal groups in the archipelago. A new
record of an Oriental Anax indicates that the island’s dragonfly
fauna may yet harbour surprises. Our compilation of odonate records is
the first for Socotra and serves as a baseline for future monitoring of
the archipelago’s vital aquatic habitats. We converted all records into a
geodatabase which we uploaded to an online, freely available web
mapping server and mobile application to facilitate research and
conservation of the Socotran dragonflies (www.dragonfliesofsocotra.com).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 571-605 |
Journal | Rendiconti Lincei |
Volume | 31 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Aug 2020 |
Keywords
- Aquatic habitats
- Biodiversity
- Distribution
- Odonata
- Richness
- Socotra Archipelago