1. Author: Steve Valley
Email: Magnifica.steve@gmail.com
Phone: 541-223-3667
Location: Albany, Oregon
Title: Aeshna palmata Egg Development as Seen with High Resolution Digital Imaging, Confessions of a Dragonfly Stacker.
Introduction: The sophisticated optics, digital cameras, and computational programs available today allow for the detailed study of microscopic features and processes such as those involved in dragonfly ontogeny.
Methods: A captive Aeshna palmata female was induced to oviposit. Embryo development was captured with a photomicrographic focus stacking technique using Mitutoyo microscope objective lenses adapted to a 200mm Micro-Nikkor lens on a Nikon D810 camera mounted on a StackShot rail. Developmental sequences including blastokinesis, organogenesis, katatrepsis, eclosion of the pronymph, and ecdysis of the second instar were captured. The image stacks were processed using Zerene Stacker and Adobe Photoshop software.
Results: Data and images collected revealed features of eggs and early instar nymphs not previously recorded photographically. In particular, the process of katatrepsis was imaged and detailed images will be presented.
Conclusion: Odonate embryo development can be documented using the equipment and techniques described here. In addition, microscopic features at any life stage can be revealed.
2. Authors: Curt Oien, Mitch Haag, Ami Thompson
Email: curtisoien@gmail.com, hami0108@yahoo.com
Affiliation: Minnesota Dragonfly Society
Location: Minnesota
Title: Surveying Northern Minnesota’s Vast and Inaccessible Bogs
Abstract: Are “rare” Minnesota odonates truly uncommon or just living in areas where they are not frequently encountered by people? To answer this question, among others, the Minnesota Dragonfly Society has been surveying for odonates in the bogs and fens of Northern Minnesota. We have found that many species are indeed uncommon to rare and have begun documenting their habitat requirements in an effort to inform future conservation efforts. Our survey methods included canoeing, trudging many miles through the bogs, and accessing them with exotic vehicles like marsh masters, argos, and helicopters.
3. Name: Holly Kundel
email: kundelh@augsburg.edu
Institutional affiliation: Augsburg University
Speaker location: St. Paul MN
Title: NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK: HUNTING FOR A RARE DRAGONFLY (RHIONAESCHNA MUTATA) IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY, MN
The Spatterdock Darner, Rhionaeschna mutata, is a rare North American dragonfly, which is most widely distributed in the eastern USA. In 2009, a breeding population was found in two kettle ponds in the Saint Croix River Valley in eastern Minnesota. This was the first record of this species in Minnesota, establishing a substantial northwestern range expansion. The goal of our research was to characterize R. mutata breeding habitat and geographic distribution in Minnesota to inform conservation planning. We compiled information on R. mutata habitat preferences, and then selected 25 potential breeding sites, targeting heavily vegetated, fishless ponds with a sphagnum fringe and a wooded riparian zone. We conducted early summer field surveys in 2015 and 2016, using multiple methods to increase our likelihood of detection (visual adult surveys; shoreline exuviae collections; aquatic nymph sampling with dip-nets, minnow seines, and sweep frames). No R. mutata were found. R. mutata may be present in this water-rich region, but has gone undetected by our efforts, or a local extirpation may have occurred, possibly linked recent fish colonization in one of the original breeding ponds.
4. Name: Maia Crews-Erjavec
Email: crewsem@augsburg.edu
Institutional affiliation: Augsburg University
Speaker location: St. Paul MN
Title: PHENOLOGICAL SHIFT OF CANADA DARNER (AESHNA CANADENSIS) EMERGENCE IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY, MINNESOTA
Dragonflies are good bioindicators of environmental change and are particularly useful as sentinels of climate change. We conducted a phenological study of Aeshna canadensis (Canada Darner) emergence in three fishless kettle ponds in the St. Croix River Valley, Minnesota. Ponds were sampled three times per week from mid-May through early October, 2017 using methods (emergence traps, rearing cages, emergence screens, and shoreline exuviae hunting) aimed at collecting emerging dragonflies. We documented emergence beginning May 24, peaking the first week of June, and ending July 15. We observed adults flying beginning the last week of August and continuing through the end of our sampling period. Emergence timing of our study population does not align with the observed flight period or with that suggested by published literature. We hypothesize that this species is shifting to an earlier emergence window in response to warming climate. Additionally, we may have detected a migratory population with early-emergers flying elsewhere to reproduce. We are exploring this using hydrogen isotope analysis to detect differences in natal origin of late-flying adults.
5. Author: Ami Thompson
Email: althomps@umn.edu
Affiliation: University of Minnesota
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Title: Surviving Minnesota Winters: Observing the Phenology and Growth of the Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Abstract: How do dragonflies survive harsh Minnesota winters? The common green darner (Anax junius) is an interesting focus species for this observational study because in fall individuals can either metamorphose and migrate south or remain an aquatic nymph and wait out winter below the ice. To better understand their natural history the phenology, all life stages of Anax junius were observed in three fishless prairie pothole ponds for two years at Crow Hassan Park Reserve, near St. Michael MN. Additionally, Anax junius nymphs were reared through their last three stadia in five temperature-controlled chambers to quantify the effect of temperature on nymph growth and to calculate their base temperature (the temperature below which they cannot grow). Data is being collected through the summer of 2018 but preliminary results will be presented along with a description of a new winter nymph-collecting method. Many questions about how dragonflies survive winter remain (specially about diapause, freeze tolerance, use of aquatic microhabitats, and more) but this observational work lays the foundation for asking more specific and testable questions.
6. Author: Jason Bried
Institution: Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB (Canada)
Email: bried@okstate.edu
Co-author: Robert Hinchliffe (Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Royal Alberta Museum)
Title: Taxonomic sufficiency rationale for adult Odonata in large-scale freshwater biodiversity monitoring
Abstract: Aquatic insects pose special challenges for large-scale biodiversity monitoring. One of the issues is taxonomic resolution and having sufficient information (i.e. species level) to assess the distributions and trends of biodiversity. A potential solution is to focus on adult stages, especially for the readily observed Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). Adult Odonata surveys should greatly enhance the amount of species-level information and eliminate identifications left at suborder, providing a singular rationale for monitoring this group. We used a wetland monitoring program in Alberta, Canada to illustrate how much taxonomic information can be lost in larval collections, and an extensive adult records database to estimate what could be gained from adult surveys. Despite processing 22,638 specimens from 975 wetlands throughout Alberta, larval monitoring failed to collect or identify almost 60% of the lentic-breeding Odonata species known from adult records. A total of 25 lentic-breeding dragonfly species and 12 lentic-breeding damselfly species were present in adult records and not the larval data, including species of conservation concern. Due to the abundance of early instars, a substantial 82% of the processed damselfly collection and 62% of the processed dragonfly collection was left at suborder. We strongly recommend supplementing aquatic macroinvertebrate collections with adult surveys (at least Odonata) to improve the basic inventory and overall status assessment in large-scale freshwater biodiversity monitoring. This is especially true when sampling is restricted to a suboptimal time of year for species identifications.
7. Authors: MaLisa Spring, Jim Lemon, and Norman Johnson
Email: spring.99@osu.edu
Phone: 614-688-4694
Affiliation: The Ohio State University
Affiliation location: Columbus, Ohio
Title: Ohio Dragonfly Survey: Revitalized with citizen scientists and iNaturalist
Abstract: Ohio is home to 168 species of dragonflies and damselflies. Of these, 23 are state-listed as endangered, threatened, or species of concern. The Ohio Dragonfly Survey is a citizen-science group attempting to document all species across the state to get a better understanding of the current distribution patterns. Thanks to the help of many dedicated naturalists across the state, we have been able to compile over 12,000 records in iNaturalist to incorporate into the survey in 2017. Over 163 new county records were reported, expanding the known distribution of several species (Dythemis velox, Enallagma traviatum westfalli, Libellula incesta). To date, 401 different users contributed data via iNaturalist. Of these, 22 individuals contributed at least 100 observations to the survey. Fifty-two volunteers reported at least one new county species record, with one individual reporting 26 new records using a targeted approach. A great deal of work remains for upcoming years: 37 of 88 counties in Ohio had fewer than 20 dragonfly and damselfly observations in 2017. Five counties - Brown, Gallia, Meigs, Morrow, and Pike - had no observations in 2017 and are priorities for the upcoming field season.
8. Email: jlrotiroti@gmail.com
Name: Joseph L Roti Roti
Institutional affiliation: Illinois Master Naturalist, Emeritus professor Washington University, St Louis
Title: Changes in Odonata Populations after Restoring a Native Prairie with Ephemeral Ponds
Abstract: The goal of this study is to assess the impact of native prairie and ephemeral pond restoration on Odonata populations. Since prior land use was agricultural with drainage channelized, we hypothesized that the changes would increase species diversity and population numbers. Dragonflies and Damselflies were counted at each pond, lake and along specified trails, 2 to 6 times per week. The daily average for each species was calculated for each week of the flight season. The impact of the restoration was obtained by comparing data prior and after the restoration. We designed one pond to attract Great Blue Skimmers (GBS) (Libellula vibrans). In 2017, we observed 16 GBS per day for the peak week of their flight season up from 0.5 per day prior to the restoration. The ponds were established August 19, 2015. Within 1 day 5 species arrived, with 2 showing breeding activity. After two weeks there were 9 species and 11 after a month, with 4 showing breeding activity. After 2 months there were 17 species with 7 breeding and 4 species new to the site. Long-term, the total flight season increased by 4-6 weeks, due to the early arrival of C. Green Darners (Anax junius) and Southern Spreadwings (Lestes australis) and the presence of Meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum & vicinum) late in the fall. While the increase in the number of dragonfly species was modest (about 4 per year), several species went from occasional visitor to resident breeding populations. In conclusion, native prairie restoration with ephemeral ponds had immediate and long term positive impacts on Odonata populations.
9. Authors: Dennis Paulson
Email: dennispaulson@comcast.net
Title: MADAGASCAR SAMPLER
Abstract: Evolution has created a spectacular and unique natural world in Madagascar, the big Indian Ocean island that was last in contact with the Indian mainland 88 million years ago and was last part of Africa 135 million years ago. Subsequently it has been moving slowly nearer to Africa again and has received modern immigrants from that continent as well, resulting in its present-day mixture of Asian, African and endemic groups. At present the island supports about 180 species of Odonata, of which three-fourths are endemic. There are 10 endemic genera, and two of these may even represent endemic families. This is a sampling of some of those species from a two-week visit in January 2016. The biota is so fabulous that a few non-odonates may creep into the presentation.