Oral Presentation Australian Society for Limnology Conference 2017

How are Australia’s listed dragonflies doing? (#122)

Gunther Theischinger 1
  1. NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Office of Environment and Heritage, Water Science, Lidcombe

The Australian dragonfly fauna is briefly introduced following a recently (2013) by world-wide consensus established and since generally recognised classification. A photo of an adult and when possible an illustration of a larva of at least one member of every larger taxonomic group is presented and the number of genera and species included is given.

Following this the listed Australian dragonfly species are introduced by presenting their conservation status and its original reasoning, and their habitat and distribution. The habitat photos generally include only one particular habitat per species. The specific distribution maps show the available records with those from before the listing and those since the listing pointed out. The records are superimposed on maps showing the species’ potentially suitable range predicted on matching environmental conditions (climate and habitat characteristics) from the recorded locations for the present and for 2080, considering a scenario with average temperature rising by approximately 5°C. Also presented is some information on behaviour, ecology, biodiversity, taxonomy and systematic status and position gathered at least partly by increased attention due to the listing.

It is concluded that, in spite of additional records and sometimes considerable range extensions, the conservation status of the listed species is still appropriate as anthropogenic impact is increasing, in particular from population growth and climate change.