Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- PART I FACTORS DRIVING CHANGES IN WILDLIFE
- PART II CONSERVATION IN ACTION
- PART III THE CASE HISTORIES
- 15 Mammals in the twentieth century
- 16 Bats
- 17 State of bird populations in Britain and Ireland
- 18 The conservation of the Grey Partridge
- 19 Reptiles
- 20 Amphibians
- 21 Freshwater fishes: a declining resource
- 22 Riverflies
- 23 Bumblebees
- 24 Butterflies
- 25 Moths
- 26 Dragonflies (Odonata) in Britain and Ireland
- 27 Flies, beetles and bees, wasps and ants (Diptera, Coleoptera and aculeate Hymenoptera)
- 28 Hemiptera
- 29 Grasshoppers, crickets and allied insects
- 30 Aerial insect biomass: trends from long-term monitoring
- 31 Other invertebrates
- 32 Land and freshwater molluscs
- 33 The seashore
- 34 The offshore waters
- 35 Plants
- 36 Conclusion: what is the likely future for the wildlife in Britain and Ireland?
- Glossary
- Name index
- Subject index
- Plate section
- References
26 - Dragonflies (Odonata) in Britain and Ireland
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2012
Edited by
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- PART I FACTORS DRIVING CHANGES IN WILDLIFE
- PART II CONSERVATION IN ACTION
- PART III THE CASE HISTORIES
- 15 Mammals in the twentieth century
- 16 Bats
- 17 State of bird populations in Britain and Ireland
- 18 The conservation of the Grey Partridge
- 19 Reptiles
- 20 Amphibians
- 21 Freshwater fishes: a declining resource
- 22 Riverflies
- 23 Bumblebees
- 24 Butterflies
- 25 Moths
- 26 Dragonflies (Odonata) in Britain and Ireland
- 27 Flies, beetles and bees, wasps and ants (Diptera, Coleoptera and aculeate Hymenoptera)
- 28 Hemiptera
- 29 Grasshoppers, crickets and allied insects
- 30 Aerial insect biomass: trends from long-term monitoring
- 31 Other invertebrates
- 32 Land and freshwater molluscs
- 33 The seashore
- 34 The offshore waters
- 35 Plants
- 36 Conclusion: what is the likely future for the wildlife in Britain and Ireland?
- Glossary
- Name index
- Subject index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Summary
Although three species of dragonfly became extinct in Britain and Ireland in the 1950s, the outlook for most of the present resident species is favourable, providing that appropriate freshwater habitat is increased and pollution reduced. A number of species are extending their range northwards, mostly as a result of overall temperature increase, but at least one also as a result of reduction in river pollution. Three northern species are showing some sign of a retraction northwards of their southern range margins and this could lead to a serious problem if temperatures continue to rise. A further species currently restricted to the East Anglian coast is threatened by projected sea-level rise. According to IUCN criteria, of our 39 breeding species (17 zygopterans (damselflies) and 22 anisopterans (typical dragonflies)) two are classed as ‘endangered’, four as ‘vulnerable’ and six as ‘near threatened’ in Britain. One of these ‘near threatened’ species is classed as ‘vulnerable’ in Ireland and Ireland has a further species classed as ‘vulnerable’. One resident species in Britain has become established only this century and a further two species have begun breeding on a regular basis and may become established as permanent residents in the near future.
Introduction
Dragonflies inhabit an aquatic environment as larvae and a terrestrial one as adults, and are extremely useful as indicator species of both climate change and of pollution (Corbet 1999; Brooks et al. 2007), with some species being particularly susceptible to the latter.
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- Information
- Silent SummerThe State of Wildlife in Britain and Ireland, pp. 471 - 494Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
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