Roosting site selection in the endangered damselfly, Coenagrion mercuriale, and implications for habitat design |
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Authors: | James R Rouquette David J Thompson |
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Institution: | (1) Population and Evolutionary Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK;(2) 3 Arreton Close, Leicester, LE2 3PP, UK |
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Abstract: | A successful conservation strategy for an insect species should address the habitat requirements of all life stages and all
activities performed by those life stages. In this paper the night-time roosting habitat and behaviour of the endangered damselfly
Coenagrion mercuriale (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) was investigated by marking damselflies with UV fluorescent paint. Night-time observations revealed
that individuals did not roost together and those that were recorded on more than one occasion did not return to the same
spot each night. There was no apparent preference for roosting close to the watercourses. C. mercuriale roosted towards the top of the vegetation and this vegetation was considerably taller than the mean height of the vegetation
in the study area. Adults were strongly associated with two tussock-forming monocots, Juncus inflexus and Deschampsia cespitosa. Differences in the abundance of these plants were shown to result in large differences in the numbers of C. mercuriale roosting in different parts of the site. The importance of providing these structural elements of habitat as part of a wider
conservation strategy for this species is discussed. |
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Keywords: | Coenagrion mercuriale Conservation Habitat Odonata Roosting site |
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