Main drivers of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta; Odonata) metacommunities in streams inside protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon.

The evaluation of environmental and spatial influence in freshwater systems is crucial for the conservation of aquatic diversity. So, we evaluated communities of Odonata in streams inside and outside sustainable use areas in the Brazilian western Amazon. We predicted that these streams would differ regarding habitat integrity and species α and ß diversity. We also predict that environmental and spatial variables will be important for both suborders, but with more substantial effects on Zygoptera species, considering their nature of forest-specialist. The study was conducted in 35 streams, 19 inside and 16 outside sustainable use areas. The streams outside presented high species richness, abundance, and number of exclusive forest-specialist species from Zygoptera and higher scores of habitat integrity. In contrast, one sustainable use area presented the lowest values of these metrics. Besides, we found that environmental and spatial variables were significantly associated to Zygoptera species composition, but not with Anisoptera, which can be explained by their cosmopolitan nature. Our results indicated that an interplay between environmental and spatial processes determines the structure of the metacommunities of Zygoptera. The less effective dispersal rates and narrow ecological tolerance of Zygoptera species make them more influenced by local conditions and dispersal limitation, and more sensible to habitat modifications. We highlight the importance of improving the local management of the sustainable use areas by environmental agencies, mainly on areas that are losing their capacity to maintain the aquatic fauna, and implementation of social policies toward traditional people.

Amazonian Odonata Trait Bank.

Discussion regarding the gaps of knowledge on Odonata is common in the literature. Such gaps are even greater when dealing with basic biological data for biodiverse environments like the Amazon Rainforest. Therefore, studies that address, classify, and standardize functional traits allow the elaboration of a wide range of ecological and evolutionary hypotheses. Moreover, such endeavors aid conservation and management planning by providing a better understanding of which functional traits are filtered or favored under environmental changes. Here, our main goal was to produce a database with 68 functional traits of 218 Odonata species that occur in the Brazilian Amazon. We extracted data on behavior, habit/habitat (larvae and adults), thermoregulation, and geographic distribution from 419 literature sources classified into different research areas. Moreover, we measured 22 morphological traits of approximately 2500 adults and categorized species distributions based on approximately 40,000 geographic records for the Americas. As a result, we provided a functional matrix and identified different functional patterns for the Odonata suborders, as well as a strong relationship between the different trait categories. For this reason, we recommend the selection of key traits that represent a set of functional variables, reducing the sampling effort. In conclusion, we detect and discuss gaps in the literature and suggest research to be developed with the present Amazonian Odonata Trait Bank (AMO-TB).

Checklist of Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonata) from Acre state, and the first record of Drepanoneura loutoni von Ellenrieder & Garrison, 2008 for Brazil / Checklist das Libélulas (Odonata) do estado do Acre, e o primeiro registro de Drepanoneura loutoni von Ellenrieder & Garrison, 2008 para o Brasil

Abstract: Here we present the first Odonata (Insecta) species list for the state of Acre, Northern Brazil, adding ecological aspects and notes on its taxonomy and conservation status. Regarding Odonata samplings, Acre is one of the least explored states in the northern region of Brazil and an area of geographic importance, as it is a transition between the Andean and Amazon regions. Collections were carried out in 35 streams, distributed in nine municipalities. We also supplemented our database from the review of secondary literature and data from biological collections. We recorded 140 species, distributed in 55 genera, of which 16 species are new records for the state, making Acre state the second in the number of recorded species in northern Brazil. Of the recorded species, 113 are classified within some threat category of the IUCN red list and 110 in the ICMBio national list. Analyzing the taxonomic information on each recorded species, knowledge of females and larvae is still very limited and, most of the time, only available to adult males. For the first time, the occurrence of Drepanoneura loutonivon Ellenrieder & Garrison (2008) is reported for Brazil, and we also present photos of its main morphological characters, with comments on its biology. Our study shows the importance of conducting biodiversity research in poorly studied areas; such as the state of Acre, and serves as a basis for future expeditions in the region.

Resumo: Apresentamos a primeira lista de espécies de Odonata (Insecta) para o estado do Acre no Brasil, adicionando aspectos ecológicos e notas sobre o seu estado de conservação. O Acre é um dos estados com o menor esforço de coleta da região Norte do Brasil e uma área de importância geográfica, pois é uma transição entre os Andes e a Amazônia. Foram realizadas coletas em 35 riachos, distribuídos em nove municípios e também complementados com informações de dados secundários de revisão na literatura e bases de dados de coleções biológicas. Registramos 140 espécies, distribuídas em 55 gêneros, das quais 16 espécies são novos registros para o estado, tornando-o o segundo em número de espécies na região Norte do Brasil. Das espécies registradas, 113 estão classificadas dentro de alguma categoria de ameaça da lista vermelha da IUCN e 110 na lista nacional do ICMBio. Analisando as informações do conhecimento das espécies, o conhecimento das fêmeas e larvas ainda muito limitado e na maioria das vezes disponíveis apenas para os machos adultos. Pela primeira vez é registrada a ocorrência da Drepanoneura loutoni von Ellenrieder & Garrison (2008) no Brasil, também apresentamos fotos das principais estruturas, com comentários sobre sua biologia. Nosso trabalho mostra a importância da realização de estudos de biodiversidade em áreas ainda pouco estudadas como a do estado do Acre e serve como base para futuras expedições na região.

Sampling efficiency of a protocol to measure Odonata diversity in tropical streams.

Odonata can be sampled following different types of protocols. In Brazil, the most used protocol is the scanning in fixed areas method, where a 100-meter transect is delimited in one of the stream margins, subdivided into 20 segments measuring 5 meters. Despite being universally used, the methodological efficiency or limitations of this protocol for Odonata has never been tested. In this scenario, our objective was to assess the efficiency of the sampling protocol to measure the richness and composition of Odonata in three fundamental aspects: the time of sampling and sampling effort over time and space. We show that the best sampling efficiency was achieved in collections performed at noon, in transects measuring 100 meters, requiring at least two samplings in the same location, supporting the procedures traditionally adopted by many studies with the group. While comparing species composition, we did not see any implication between the different treatments on the capture of the local species pool. However, we highlight and discuss some possible methodological flaws when using this protocol to sample specific Odonata groups. We believe the results obtained are fundamental in the inventory of species and to conduct future studies, as well as to aid conservative measures that use the order Odonata as a tool for environmental monitoring.

Erythrodiplax nataliae sp. nov., a new species for the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Erythrodiplax nataliae sp. nov. (5 males), collected in Vereda wetlands (a unique Neotropical savanna environment) in Mato Grosso, Brazil is described and illustrated. The new species fits in Borror's Juliana Group, and can be distinguished from other species by the combination of the following traits: blue pruinosity on thorax (more dense dorsally); sides of the pterothorax yellowish, darkening dorsally; face ivory, dorsally black with a metallic blue reflection; wings hyaline with a small basal brown spot; vesica spermalis with long lateral lobes, enclosing the median process and median process elongated with a pair of conspicuous rectangular and elongated lateral lobes, with a middle dorso-ventral furrow.