The significance of littoral and shoreline habitat integrity to the conservation of lacustrine damselflies (Odonata) |
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Authors: | Ronald G Butler Phillip G deMaynadier |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maine at Farmington, 173 High Street, Farmington, Maine 04938, USA;(2) Wildlife Resource Assessment Section, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 650 State Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, USA |
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Abstract: | Human development of pond and lake shorelines may significantly impact native lacustrine biota including a variety of aquatic
macroinvertebrate groups. In an effort to better understand the habitat associations and sensitivities of lacustrine damselflies
(Odonata: Zygoptera), we sampled adults in littoral macrophyte habitat during two flight periods at 35 randomly selected pond
and lake sites in southern Maine during 2000 and 2001. Data were also collected to help characterize water body, shoreline
disturbance, and aquatic vegetation at each study site. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was used for ordination of damselfly
assemblages, and coordinates from the most stable solution were related to site variables using forward stepwise multiple
regression. Our results suggest that the diversity and composition of damselfly assemblages is related to the abundance and
richness of littoral zone macrophytes, extent of riparian disturbance, benthic substrate granularity, and lake productivity;
all variables subject to anthropogenic degradation on excessively developed waterbodies. Additionally, we developed a Habitat
Tolerance Index useful for distinguishing between relative habitat specialists and generalists from among a diverse assemblage
of 19 lacustrine species. Finally, species-specific damselfly associations with multiple genera of floating and emergent macrophytes
were assessed using both nonparametric correlation and multiplicative regression yielding significant relationships for 17
species, including two damselflies of global conservation concern (Enallagma laterale and E. pictum). We conclude that the protection of littoral and shoreline habitat integrity, with special emphasis on emergent and floating
macrophytes, is critical to the conservation of lacustrine biodiversity. |
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Keywords: | Aquatic conservation Coenagrionidae Enallagma Lakes Littoral Macrophytes Zygoptera |
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