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Biodiversity citizen science data are being collected at unprecedented scales, and are key for informing conservation and research. Species-level data typically provide the most valuable information, but recognition of specimens to species level from photographs varies among taxa. We examined a large dataset of Australian photographic observations of terrestrial invertebrates uploaded to iNaturalist to quantify recognition to species across different taxa. We also quantified the proportion of Australian species that have been uploaded to iNaturalist. Across 1,013,171 observations covering 14,663 species (17.8% completeness), 617,045 (60.9%) were recognized to species. Dragonflies/damselflies and butterflies were the best-recognized and most complete taxa, and therefore represent the best groups for researchers and managers intending to use existing iNaturalist data at large spatial and temporal scales. The recruitment of additional experts to identify records, and enhanced support for accessible resources for hard-to-identify taxa, will likely increase recognition for other taxa.

More than 1.2 million distribution records were used to create species distribution models for 402 Palaearctic species of dragonflies and damselflies. On the basis of these diversity maps of total, lentic and lotic diversity for the whole of the Palaearctic (excluding China and the Himalayan region) are presented. These maps show a clear pattern of decreasing diversity longitudinally, with species numbers dropping in the eastern half of Europe and remaining low throughout a large part of Russia, then increasing again towards Russia’s Far East and Korea. There are clear differences in diversity patterns of lentic and lotic species, with lentic species being dominant in colder and more arid areas. Areas with a high diversity of species assessed as threatened on the IUCN red list are largely restricted to the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, and Japan, with clear hotspots found in the Levant and the southern half of Japan. The diversity at species, generic, and family level is higher in the south of Japan than in areas at a similar latitude in the western Mediterranean. This is likely to be the result of the more humid climate of Japan resulting in a higher diversity of freshwater habitats and the stronger impact of the glacial periods in the Western Palaearctic in combination with the Sahara, preventing tropical African lineages dispersing northwards.

AIM: Here we assess the effects of habitat degradation on individuals of the two suborders of Odonata community of Borecaia river sub-basin. More specifically, we tested the hypothesis that Anisoptera richness would be positively affected by removal of vegetation; on the other hand, Zygoptera richness would be adversely affected by virtue of their ecophysiological requirements; METHODS: We selected 10 streams of similar orders, six preserved and four degraded. Streams characterized as preserved had values of Index of Habitat Integrity (HII) above 0.70 (0.77 ± 0.07, mean ± SD) and continuous forest on both sides with a minimum width of 70 meters. Each site was sampled three times on different days. The effect of vegetation removal on richness was assessed using richness estimated by first order Jackknife; RESULTS: Decreased physical integrity (measured with IIH) of streams had no significant effect on the estimated richness to Odonata in general. However, the estimated richness of Anisoptera showed an inverse relationship with the integrity (r² = 0.485, P = 0.025), i.e., there was a reduction in their species richness with increasing integrity; DISCUSSION: As a general pattern, Anisoptera presents higher richness in an altered site; on the other hand, Zygoptera presents higher richness in a preserved one. This pattern suggests that Odonata needs to be considered at the sub-order level to access the effects of habitat degradation on these insects. Because of its restrictions ecophysiological Odonata varied widely in their composition and species richness between the two types of environments, it reinforces the potential of the order of studies and environmental monitoring also shows that Zygoptera be more affected by changes in habitat. However, further studies including more samples and different streams are need to confirm this pattern, being an interesting line of research for future works. OBJETIVOS: Com o intuito de avaliar os efeitos de mudanças na integridade ambiental sobre os indivíduos da comunidade de Odonata da sub-bacia do rio Borecaia, testamos a hipótese de que a riqueza de Anisoptera seria afetada positivamente pela remoção da vegetação; por outro lado, a riqueza Zygoptera seria prejudicada em virtude de suas necessidades ecofisiológicas; MÉTODOS: Selecionamos 10 riachos de ordens similares, seis classificados como preservados e quatro como alterados. Riachos classificados como preservados apresentaram valores do Índice valores de Integridade Habitat (HII) acima de 0.70 e mata continua nas duas margens com uma largura mínima de 70 metros. Cada ponto foi amostrado três vezes em dias diferentes. O efeito de remoção de vegetação sobre a riqueza foi avaliada utilizando Jackknife de primeira ordem; RESULTADOS: A diminuição da integridade física (mensurada com o IIH) dos córregos não exerceu efeito significativo sobre a riqueza estimada para a Ordem Odonata. Porém, a riqueza estimada de Anisoptera apresentou uma relação inversa com a integridade (r² = 0.485; p = 0.025), mostrando que com o aumento da integridade houve uma redução na sua riqueza de espécies; DISCUSSÃO: Como um padrão geral, Anisoptera apresenta maiores valores de riqueza em locais alterados; por outro lado, Zygoptera apresenta maiores valores em preservados. Devido suas restrições ecofisiologicas Odonata apresentou uma grande variação na sua composição e riqueza de espécie entre os dois tipos de ambientes, isso reforça o potencial da ordem em estudos de monitoramento ambiental e também mostra que Zygoptera será mais afetada pelas transformações de habitat. No entanto, futuros estudos incluindo mais amostras e diferentes córregos são necessários para confirmar este padrão sendo uma linha de pesquisa interessante para trabalhos futuros.

Our understanding of how biotic interactions influence animal community assembly is largely restricted to local systems due to the difficulty of obtaining ecologically meaningful assemblage data across large spatial extents. Here, we used thousands of spatio‐phenologically high‐resolution assemblages across three distinct European regions together with a functional diversity approach to understand community assembly of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), an insect group characterized by a pronounced competitive reproductive biology. We found that adult dragonfly, but not damselfly, assemblages were consistently composed of species morphologically more different than expected by chance based on the traits that enhance their interspecific reproductive encounters. These results provide consistent evidence for the role of competition in the assembly of animal communities, which we interpret is most likely caused by the territorial reproductive biology of dragonflies. Support for competition varied both spatially and seasonally following theoretical expectations, as it was strongest in locations and seasonal moments with low thermal stress (i.e. warm conditions) and high niche packing. Our study illustrates how spatio‐temporal diversity patterns arise from variation in assembly processes.

During a field expedition in the municipality of Araquari, state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, adults of the damselfly Cyanallagma demoiselle Denck, Ehlert & Pinto 2023 (Odonata, Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae) were collected. This species was recently described and reported to date for the southeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Here, we recorded this species as well as its respective genus for the first time for the state of Santa Catarina, increasing its distribution range of the species to southwards and raising the number of Odonata species recorded for this state to 151.

Abstract The present study provides a preliminary Odonata inventory for the Serra do Japi Biological Reserve, an important Atlantic Forest conservation unit in São Paulo State, Brazil. We recorded 22 species, representing 7.5% of the Odonata fauna previously known for the state. Among them, three are new records for São Paulo, highlighting the potential for further discoveries in unexplored Atlantic Forest remnants. Libellulidae and Coenagrionidae were the most diverse and abundant families, a pattern similar to that observed in other studies of Atlantic Forest odonate assemblages. Species richness was similar between the lentic and lotic habitats, with some taxa exhibiting clear habitat preferences. The recorded species composition reflects the environmental heterogeneity of the SJBR and the availability of suitable microhabitats for odonates. Additionally, the presence of Brechmorhoga goncalvensis Vilela, Stefani-Santos & Ávila Júnior, 2021, and Heteragrion tiradentense Machado & Bedê, 2006, both listed as near threatened, underscores the role of the SJBR as an essential refuge for range-restricted and sensitive species. These findings reinforce the importance of Atlantic Forest reserves in maintaining regional Odonata diversity and contribute to a broader understanding of species distribution patterns. Resumo O presente estudo fornece um inventário preliminar de Odonata para a Reserva Biológica da Serra do Japi, uma importante unidade de conservação da Mata Atlântica no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Registramos 22 espécies, representando 7,5% da fauna de odonatos previamente conhecida para o estado. Entre elas, três correspondem a novos registros para São Paulo, destacando o potencial para novas descobertas em remanescentes pouco explorados da Mata Atlântica. Libellulidae e Coenagrionidae foram as famílias mais diversas e abundantes, um padrão semelhante ao observado em outros estudos sobre assembleias de odonatos da Mata Atlântica. A riqueza de espécies foi semelhante entre os habitats lênticos e lóticos, com alguns táxons apresentando claras preferências de habitat. A composição de espécies registrada reflete a heterogeneidade ambiental da SJBR e a disponibilidade de micro-habitats adequados para os odonatos. Além disso, a presença de Brechmorhoga goncalvensis Vilela, Stefani-Santos & Ávila Júnior, 2021, e Heteragrion tiradentense Machado & Bedê, 2006, ambas listadas como quase ameaçadas, ressalta o papel da SJBR como um refúgio essencial para espécies sensíveis e de distribuição restrita. Esses resultados reforçam a importância das reservas da Mata Atlântica na manutenção da diversidade regional de odonatos e contribuem para uma compreensão mais ampla dos padrões de distribuição das espécies.

Insects are key laboratory models for research on the fitness effects, genetics and plasticity of senescence. It was long believed that insects almost never survive long enough to senesce in the wild, but it is now clear that senescence occurs and can exact substantial fitness costs in natural insect populations. Yet, given the practical challenges of obtaining longitudinal field data on small, motile animals, we still know remarkably little about the evolution, expression and fitness consequences of senescence in wild insects. We argue that the study of senescence in wild insects is important because many insights and hypotheses based on laboratory experiments must be tested in natural populations. Examples of research areas where conclusions from laboratory studies could be misleading include the roles of candidate senescence genes, the effects of nutrition and dietary restriction on life span and senescence patterns, and the roles of viability selection and sexual selection in shaping senescence through trade‐offs and antagonistic pleiotropy. Several emerging model species (such as antler flies, crickets, damselflies, dragonflies and butterflies) offer opportunities for field research on senescence using a range of observational and experimental techniques, as well as new genomic approaches. Insects provide valuable and increasingly tractable models for research on senescence in natural populations. We believe that such work will shed light on many important questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Aim Recent studies suggest insect declines in parts of Europe; however, the generality of these trends across different taxa and regions remains unclear. Standardized data are not available to assess large‐scale, long‐term changes for most insect groups but opportunistic citizen science data are widespread for some. Here, we took advantage of citizen science data to investigate distributional changes of Odonata. Location Germany. Methods We compiled over 1 million occurrence records from different regional databases. We used occupancy‐detection models to account for imperfect detection and estimate annual distributions for each species during 1980–2016 within 5 × 5 km quadrants. We also compiled data on species attributes that were hypothesized to affect species’ sensitivity to different drivers and related them to the changes in species’ distributions. We further developed a novel approach to cluster groups of species with similar patterns of distributional change to represent multispecies indicators. Results More species increased (45%) than decreased (29%) or remained stable (26%) in their distribution (i.e. number of occupied quadrants). Species showing increases were generally warm‐adapted species and/or running water species, while species showing decreases were cold‐adapted species using standing water habitats such as bogs. Time series clustering defined five main patterns of change—each associated with a specific combination of species attributes, and confirming the key roles of species’ temperature and habitat preferences. Overall, our analysis predicted that mean quadrant‐level species richness has increased over most of the time period. Main conclusions Trends in Odonata provide mixed news—improved water quality, coupled with positive impacts of climate change, could explain the positive trends of many species. At the same time, declining species point to conservation challenges associated with habitat loss and degradation. Our study demonstrates the great value of citizen science and the work of natural history societies for assessing large‐scale distributional change.

Environmental architecture and body temperature drive the distribution of ectothermic species, especially those with specific ecophysiological requirements or narrow ecological niches. In this study, we evaluated the connection between thorax temperature and niche specialization concerning the abundance and species contribution to the beta diversity of adult Odonata in Amazonian streams, employing the Species Contribution to Beta Diversity (SCBD). Our hypotheses were (i) Odonata species’ thorax temperature is positively correlated with both morphology (thorax width) and air temperature and differ between suborders. (ii) The thorax temperature of the Odonata assemblage serves as a more influential predictor than niche specialization in determining species abundance and SCBD. We sampled 46 streams in an anthropized landscape in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions of Pará state, Brazil. Notably, niche breadth emerged as the variable influencing the abundance and SCBD of the Odonata assemblage. Niche position is negatively related with abundance only for Zygoptera. Anisoptera exhibited a negative relationship between abundance and thoracic temperature. On the other hand, Zygoptera had positive relationship between abundance and thoracic temperature. In summary, our results underscore the necessity of considering both niche and ecophysiological predictors to comprehensively assess the Odonata assemblage in Amazonian streams. This holistic approach has implications for conservation efforts and bioassessment practices, offering valuable insights into the collective response of Odonata as a group.

Abstract The Amazon is home to most of the Earth's biodiversity, but comprehensive data on actual diversity, including species checklists, are still incomplete for most taxonomic groups. The order Odonata is composed of predatory aquatic insects which, due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, are used as bioindicators of environmental quality. In Brazil, 862 Odonata species have been recorded, distributed in 146 genera and 15 families, despite only 30% of the Brazilian territory has been studied for this group. The aim of this study is to fill some information gaps on the biodiversity of Odonata species in the state of Pará, in the Amazon biome. Occurrence records were obtained through primary data, including specimens deposited in the invertebrate collections of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará (MPEG), as well as literature records and online databases. Information was collected on the distribution of 282 species, covering 11 families in 75 genera, including six new records for the state: L. aculeatum Santos, 1965 for the suborder Zygoptera and G. gracilis; A. trameiformis Kirby; M. atra; M. tibialis and T. cophysa for the suborder Anisoptera. The Pará state biodiversity still has Linnean and Wallacean gaps, mainly in places difficult to access or remote areas far from universities or research institutions. These areas still require additional sampling, as the current efforts have not been sufficient to accurately capture the true local biodiversity. As a result, many species are at risk of becoming extinct before they have even been described or their conservation status assessed. At the same time, the state continues to show high rates of transformation and loss of natural habitats, indicating the urgency of investing in research and teaching activities, as well as conservation actions to enable the preservation of the diversity of Odonata in the state of Pará. Resumo O bioma amazônico contempla a maior parte da biodiversidade do planeta, mas para a maioria dos grupos taxonômicos as informações da real biodiversidade ainda está subamostrada ou faltam compilações das espécies existentes. A ordem Odonata é composta por insetos aquáticos predadores, que em virtude de sua sensibilidade às alterações ambientais, é utilizada como bioindicador da qualidade ambiental. No Brasil existe o registro de 862 espécies, distribuídas em 146 gêneros e em 15 famílias, mas apenas 30% do território brasileiro existem estudos e registros de distribuição para esse grupo. O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para preencher as lacunas de informações sobre a biodiversidade das espécies de Odonata no estado do Pará, no bioma Amazônico. Os registros de ocorrência foram oriundos de dados primários, incluindo espécimes depositados nas coleções de invertebrados da Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) e do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG), bem como registros de literatura e bases de dados online. Foram coligidas informações de distribuição de 282 espécies, abrangendo 11 famílias distribuídas em 75 gêneros, incluindo seis novos registros para o estado pertencentes a subordem Zygoptera: Leptagrion aculeatum Santos, 1965 e para subordem Anisoptera: Gynacantha gracilis Burmeister, 1839; Antidythemis trameiformis Kirby, 1889; Micrathyria atra Martin, 1897; Micrathyria tibialis Kirby, 1887; Tramea cophysa Hagen, 1867. A biodiversidade do estado do Pará ainda possui lacunas Lineanas e Walaceanas, principalmente em locais de difícil acesso ou em áreas muito distantes de Universidades ou instituições de pesquisa, que ainda não foram amostrados ou o esforço de amostragem ainda não foi suficiente para conseguir capturar a real biodiversidade existente, com isso muitas espécies correm riscos de serem extintas antes mesmo de serem descritas ou seu status de conservação avaliado. Paralelamente, o estado continua apresentando altas taxas de transformação e perda de habitats naturais, indicando a urgência de investimento em atividades de pesquisa e ensino, bem como, em ações de conservação para possibilitar a preservação da diversidade de Odonata do estado do Pará.