ISSN 2336-3193 Acta Mus. Siles. Sci. Natur., 63: 185-192, 2014 DOI: 10.2478/cszma-2014-0019
New records of lilypad whiteface Leucorrhinia caudalis (Odonata: Libellulidae) in the Czech Republic
Aleš Dolný, Martin Waldhauser, Lubomír Kvita & Lydie Kocourková
New records of lilypad whiteface Leucorrhinia caudalis (Odonata: Libellulidae) in the Czech Repub- lic. – Acta Mus. Siles. Sci. Natur., 63: 185-192, 2014.
Abstract: Leucorrhinia caudalis is listed on the European Red List as near threatened. The species had been thought to be extinct in the Czech Republic for the last fifty years, until an accidental discovery of adult males in 2012. In 2014, larvae of Leucorrhinia caudalis were recorded from water reservoirs in the Česká Lípa region, northern Bohemia, for the first time. Thus, it is the first breeding site of L. caudalis in the Czech Republic. A male Leucorrhinia caudalis was also repeatedly recorded in Havířov-Dolní Suchá in the north-eastern Czech Republic.
Keywords: lilypad whiteface, Leucorrhinia caudalis, dragonflies, breeding site, larva, rediscovering
Introduction
Leucorrhinia caudalis is a rare dragonfly, threatened or vulnerable throughout Europe. It is one of the 16 species strictly protected by the Bern Convention (1979), and it is listed on Annexes IV of the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). It is marked as „near threatened“ in the European Red List – Category EU27, and the population trend of this species with respect to the European regional assessment is stable (Kalkman et al. 2010). L. caudalis lives in backwaters and old river-branches (“oxbow lakes”) in the floodplains of larger rivers as well as relatively shallow lakes or larger ponds (respectively bays and inlets of large lakes which can be characterised as such), mainly smaller mesotrophic, alkaline clear- water lakes, surrounded by woodland. The size of water bodies varies between 30 m2 and 220 ha; but usually there are water areas of 1–5 ha. The key factor of the habitat of L. caudalis is the floating and submerged vegetation, primarily of Myriophyllum spp., Ceratophyllum spp., Utricularia spp. or Chara spp.; exceptionally of the filamentous algae parts or of Potamogeton natans (Helsdingen et al. 1998, Sahlén 2006). Leucorrhinia caudalis has a wide geographic range from Kazakhstan across Russia (the species reaches upper regions of the Ob River) to Western Europe. In the west the range extends from France (very local) across Belgium (rediscovered recently) and the Netherlands (threatened with extinction, rediscovered recently) up to southern Scandinavia. To the south mainly foothills of the Alps are populated, while the species is lacking from the higher parts of the lower mountain ranges as well as the higher mountain areas. Along the larger river systems the species reaches Slovenia and Hungary (Helsdingen et al. 1998). The species is not evenly distributed within its range but it absents from some larger parts. More precisely there are only very few records from many parts of its distribution area. Its regionally extinction follows locality eradication and deficiency in microhabitats suitable for larval development (e.g. by eutrophication), as well as major isolation of residual populations in central Europe and their low population densities (Helsdingen et al. 1998, Sahlén 2006). In the Czech Republic only historical records of some imagines were known for a long time. There are only three historical records from the Czech Republic. Two of these records are from Bohemia (Čelákovice – K. Pfleger leg.; Kolín – K. Táborský leg.), both without date specification (Jeziorski 2000). The last record is from the Silesia region (Dívčí Hrad, 22. 6. 1962, see in Teyrovský 1965), but without voucher specimen, 1♂ observed by V. Teyrovský
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(it is uncertain whether this record refers to L. caudalis or not). Between 1962 and 2012, no records were made of the species, and it had been thought to be extinct for the last fifty years (Dolný et al. 2008), until the accidental discovery of specimens in 2012. In 2012 and 2013, some males were reported from water reservoirs by the airport in the former military training area Ralsko, Česká Lípa region in northern Bohemia (Honců 2014). The aim of this paper is to provide information about new records of L. caudalis from the Czech Republic (Fig. 1). Here, we present unmistakably identified record of this species from Silesia-Moravia region, for the first time. The present data also represent the first record of larvae of this species in the Czech Republic as well as the first report of breeding site of L. caudalis in the Czech Republic.
Fig 1: The known distribution of Leucorrhinia caudalis in the Czech Republic and location of the study sites (black circles) in the north-eastern and northern midwestern regions of the Czech Republic (the open circles show the historical records).
Study areas and methods
Study sites Bohemia (site 1, Fig. 2)
The survey was conducted on the southern edge of the former military airport in Hradčany, 5 km south of Mimoň, in northern Bohemia. Around 1949, originally grassy landing strip had been rebuilt into a water body. Terrain depressions around the airport were created as a result of sand mining. In these depressions a large (5.5 ha) reservoir (GPS 50°36'55.643"N, 14°43'53.366"E, altitude 278 m) as well as four smaller reservoirs (0.24–0.4 ha each) and several small pits were formed. The bank slopes are moderate, average depth can be estimated ca 1 m, locally with deeper parts. The reservoirs are saturated mainly by groundwater and also by drainage ditches. There is fish in the water bodies, but there is no fish management at all. In all of the reservoirs is abundant macrophytic vegetation of Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton natans, Batrachium aquatile, but there are no water lilies (Nymphaea spp. or Nuphar spp.). Litoral vegetation consists of Eleocharis sp., Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea, Juncus effusus, Carex sp., Schoenoplectus lacustris, Alisma plantago-aquatica. Most of the banks immediately border with growth of bushes and trees (Salix sp., Pinus sp., Alnus sp., Betula pendula). Only smaller part of the banks is bare.
Study sites Silesia (site 2, Fig. 3)
The study was conducted in central and eastern parts of the Ostrava - Karviná mining district, in the north- eastern Czech Republic close to the state border with Poland. The climate is temperate, Atlantic - continental,
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Fig 2: Study site 1 – „Hradčany“ in northern Bohemia, the Czech Republic (Photo by M. Waldhauser)
Fig 3: Study site 2 – Havířov-Dolná Suchá in Upper Silesia, the Czech Republic (Photo by L. Kvita)
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warm with abundant precipitation. The area is characterized by black coal mining and heavy metallurgy. Deep underground mining ongoing since 1850s, is the main cause for many changes in the lithosphere, soil cover, hydrosphere and biosphere, especially the formation of subsidence depressions – the terrain slumps infiltrated by ground and precipitation water. (for details see Dolný & Harabiš 2012). The researched locality is situated in the cadastral territory of Havířov-Dolní Suchá (GPS 49°48'47.678"N, 18°26'47.324"E, altitude 274 m). The biotope is a subsidence pool which is no industrially utilized. The measurements of the reservoir are ca 30–60 x 75–85 m. Water depth in the shoreline zone alternates in intervals of 10–50 cm. Large areas of the pool surface are covered with filamentous algae and submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus, but there are no water lilies (Nymphaea spp. or Nuphar spp.). A species-poor riparian vegetation occurs on the banks of the pool and is dominated by Phragmites australis, Juncus effusus and Equisetum fluviatile, Typha latifolia occurs sporadically. Important is the presence of the surrounding trees, dominated by Salix spp., Betula pendula, Populus tremula and Alnus glutinosa (also as shrubs), which have been used as a place to rest and hunt. The present study is based on surveys conducted in 2014. Samples of larvae were taken from different microhabitats within reservoir using hand nets. The adult specimens were photographed from various angles using digital camera (M. Waldhauser, L. Kvita et L. Kocourková observ. et det., A. Dolný revid.), killing and collection was avoided. Only one exuviae has become a part of M. Waldhauser`s collection.
Results
In Hradčany, at the site 1, two larvae of L. caudalis were captured on 7 May 2014 in the large reservoir and one larva on 16 October 2014 in the western pit. The larvae were found in these microhabitats: thin growth of Phragmites australis, about 1 m from the bank at a depth of 0.2 m; Carex elata root system, about 15 m from the bank at a depth of 0.3 m; dense growth of Chara sp. and Myriophyllum sp., about 10 m from the bank at a depth of 0.3 m (Fig. 4). Emergence was recorded on 14 May 2014 (1 female with exuvia; Fig. 5) and on 23 May (1 male) only at the largest reservoir. Adults were observed on 6, 8 and 16 May 2014, approx. 10–15 males at the largest reservoir and 3–5 males at the small southern pit pool. The males were territorial, because they were restricted in their range and they could have been found almost always on the same tree branches. Perching on the natant leaves (Potamogeton natans) was never observed. A total of 40 species were recorded at the site 1 (15 species of the suborder Zygoptera, 25 species of the suborder Anisoptera): Calopteryx virgo, Calopteryx splendens, Lestes barbarus, Lestes sponsa, Lestes dryas, Sympecma fusca, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Erythromma najas, Coenagrion hastulatum, Coenagrion puella, Coenagrion pulchellum, Enallagma cyathigerum, Ischnura elegans, Ischnura pumilio, Platycnemis pennipes, Aeshna cyanea, Aeshna grandis, Aeshna mixta, Anaciaeschna isosceles, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope, Brachytron pratense, Gomphus vulgatissimus, Ophiogomphus cecilia, Cordulia aenea, Somatochlora flavomaculata, Somatochlora metallica, Libellula depressa, Libellula quadrimaculata, Orthetrum brunneum, Orthetrum cancellatum, Crocothemis erythraea, Sympetrum danae, Sympetrum sanguineum, Sympetrum vulgatum, Leucorrhinia albifrons, Leucorrhinia caudalis, Leucorrhinia dubia, Leucorrhinia pectoralis and Leucorrhinia rubicunda. In Havířov-Dolní Suchá, at the site 2, an adult male of L. caudalis was observed on 22–25 May and 10 June, 2014, when several photos were taken (Fig. 6). The male was territorial because was restricted in his range and it could be found almost constantly on the same perch sites (tree branches above the water's surface were used as perches). A total of 26 species were recorded at the site 2 (10 species of the suborder Zygoptera, 16 species of the suborder Anisoptera): Chalcolestes viridis, Lestes sponsa, Sympecma fusca, Platycnemis pennipes, Erythromma najas, Coenagrion puella, Enallagma cyathigerum, Ischnura elegans, Ischnura pumilio, Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Aeshna cyanea, Aeshna grandis, Aeshna mixta, Anaciaeschna isosceles, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope, Cordulia aenea, Libellula depressa, Libellula quadrimaculata, Orthetrum albistylum, Orthetrum cancellatum, Crocothemis erythraea, Sympetrum vulgatum, Sympetrum sanguineum, Leucorrhinia caudalis and Leucorrhinia pectoralis.
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Fig 4: The larva of L. caudalis captured in 2014 at the site 1 “Hradčany” (Photo by M. Waldhauser)
Fig 5: The emergence of female adult of L. caudalis from larva at the site 1 “Hradčany” (Photo by M. Waldhauser)
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Fig 6: Adult male of L. caudalis, observed on 22–25 May and 10 June, 2014 at the study site 2 in Havířov-Dolní Suchá (Photo by L. Kocourková)
Discussion and conclusions
On the basis of these observations, we suggest that the habitat conditions at the site 1 (Hradčany) are suitable for development of L. caudalis. Generally, the species shows a marked preference for clear water with a submerged vegetation, predominantly water lilies or spatterdocks, for oviposition. At the study site, there are no such floating plants that the males prefer as a basis for guarding their territories, but they make do with other perches at need. There is a rich vegetation of Potamogeton natans and pieces of dead wood at this site that the males can use as their resting sites and that are useful for oviposition. Neither secondary habitats nor the presence of fish in the study area presents any problem for study species. L. caudalis can tolerate the presence of fish well because the species expresses the longest spines of all species in the genus Leucorrhinia, where it is clear that dragonfly species with longer spines are better protected against fish predation than species with short spines (Mikolajewski & Johansson 2004). Man-made habitats can substitute for natural habitats for most dragonfly species, especially in heavily industrialized areas (Dolný & Harabiš 2012). Some studies show that in areas that are poor of optimal habitats (i.e. well preserved glacial lakes and oxbow lakes) or where the habitats are destroyed, L. caudalis can inhabit a broader range of secondary habitats, for example fish ponds or surface rock excavations (Rychła & Buczyński 2003; Buczyński & Daraż 2006; Buczyński & Buczyńska 2014). However, the abundance of this species is very low in the study area. In contrast to the above, other studies show that the prospering populations at natural habitats is several orders of magnitude higher (Tończyk & Zemko 2010) than at the study site. Although the populations in man-made environments could be distinctly smaller than in natural waters (Rychła & Buczyński 2003), they should also be able to attain higher population levels and
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probably greater stability (Buczyński & Buczyńska 2014) than the population at the study site 1. Consequently, it can be assumed the probability of future occurrence of the species here is moderate to low. On the site 2 (Dolní Suchá) the outlook of future occurrence is even worse. The source areas are difficult to identify as the closest known populations were found almost 100 kilometres away in Poland and in Germany. In Poland the populations of Leucorrhinia caudalis are not rare and occur primarily in the northern and north-western part of the country. However, the populations are completely lacking in the southern part of the country, i.e. close to the site 2 (Dolní Suchá) (Bernard et al. 2009; Dolný & Miszta 2004). In Germany, the most significant populations are found in Brandeburg and Bayern and the closest site of occurrence to the site 1 (Hradčany) is about 80 kilometres (Mauersberger et al. 2003, Rychła & Buczyński 2003). Our findings are consistent with the recent observations in other countries. In Slovakia, this species had not been recorded up to 2003, when it was found on two sites - in southern part of Slovakia and in Podunajská rovina Plain (Kúdela et al. 2004). This species has also been rediscovered in the Netherlands (in 2006-2009, resp. 2009-2010; Bosch 2013; Muusse & Veurink 2011), Belgium / Luxemburg (in 2011; Vantiegem et al. 2011), as well as in Lower Saxony in north-western Germany (in 2009; Deubelius & Jödicke 2010). Therefore, it can be concluded that other areas of occurrence will develop and the situation of the species will improve.
References
Bernard R., Buczyński P., Tończyk G. & Wendzonka J. (2009): Atlas rozmieszczenia ważek (Odonata) w Polsce. 246 pp., Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań. Bosch J.G. van ‘t (2013): Rare dragonflies in the Netherlands in 2006-2009, CWNO-reports 5. – Brachytron 15(2): 112-122. Buczyński P. & Buczyńska E. (2014): Interesujące obserwacje ważek (Odonata) w piaskowni w Borowej (Polska środkowo-wschodnia) Interesting observations of dragonflies (Odonata) in the sand excavations in Borowa (middle-eastern Poland). – Odonatrix 10(2): 63-64. Buczyński P. & Daraż B. (2006): Interesujące stwierdzenia Leucorrhinia caudalis w siedliskach wtórnych. (Interesting records of Leucorrhinia caudalis in secondary habitats). – Odonatrix 2(1): 8-12. Deubelius K. & Jödicke R. (2010): Leucorrhinia caudalis in Nordwestdeutschland (Odonata: Libellulidae). – Libellula 29(1/2): 1-12. Dolný A., Bárta D., Waldhauser M., Holuša O. & Hanel L. (2007): Vážky České republiky: Ekologie, ochrana a rozšíření/ The Dragonflies of the Czech Republic. Ecology, Conservation and Distribution. 672 pp., Český svaz ochránců, Vlašim. Dolný A. & Harabiš F. (2012): Underground mining can contribute to freshwater biodiversity conservation: Allogenic succession forms suitable habitats for dragonflies. – Biological Conservation 145(1): 109-117. Dolný A. & Miszta A. (2004): Występowanie ważek (Odonata) w czeskiej i polskiej części Górnego Śląska (The occurrence of dragonflies (Odonata) in the Czech and Polish parts of the Upper Silesia). – Wiadomosci entomologiczne 23(3): 133-152. Helsdingen P.J. van, Willemse L. & Speight M.C.D. (1998): Background information on invertebrates of the Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention. Part II - Mantodea, Odonata, Orthoptera and Arachnida. Nature and Environment No. 80 - Council of Europe Publishing, Strasbourg. Honců M. (2014): Nálezy vážky široké Leucorrhinia caudalis (Charpentire, 1840), (Odonata, Libellulidae) na Českolipsku (Česká republika). – Bezděz 23: 213-232. Jeziorski P. (2000): Leucorrhinia albifrons (Burmeister, 1839) and L. caudalis (Charpentier, 1840) (Odonata: Libellulidae) in the Czech Republic. – Časopis Národního muzea, Řada přírodovědná 169(1-4): 45-46. Kalkman V. J., Boudot J.-P., Bernard R., Conze K.-J., De Knijf G., Dyatlova E., Ferreira S., Jović M., Ott J., Riservato E. & Sahlén G. (2010): European Red List of Dragonflies. vii + 28pp., Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Kúdela M., Dolný A., Bárta D., Blaškovič T. & Bulánková E. (2004): First records of Leucorrhinia caudalis (Odonata, Libellulidae) in Slovakia. – Biológia (Bratislava) 59(2): 152. Mauersberger R., Schiel F.-J. & Burbach K. (2003): Zur Verbreitung und aktuellen Bestandssituation von Leucorrhinia caudalis in Deutschland (Odonata: Libellulidae). – Libellula 22(3/4): 143-183.
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Mikolajewski D. J. & F. Johansson (2004): Morphological and behavioral defenses in dragonfly larvae: trait compensation and cospecialization. – Behavioral Ecology 15(4): 614. Muusse T. & G. Veurink (2011): Leucorrhinia caudalis found reproducing in De Weerribben. – Brachytron 14(1): 14-27. Rychła A. & Buczyński P. (2003): Wiederfund von Leucorrhinia caudalis in Sachsen (Odonata: Libellulidae). – Libellula 22(3/4): 119-125. Sahlén G. (2006): Leucorrhinia caudalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2.
Acknowledgements: Financial support through Project CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0100 (IET) financed by the Structural Funds of the European Union and Project LO1208 of the National Feasibility Programme I of the Czech Republic is gratefully appreciated. The records in the Hradčany area were obtained while monitoring of Leucorrhinia caudalis by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR).
Nové nálezy vážky široké Leucorrhinia caudalis (Odonata: Libellulidae) v České republice.
Leucorrhinia caudalis je palearktický, eurosibiřský druh vyskytující se v severozápadní a střední Evropě jen vzácně a velmi ostrůvkovitě. Relativně běžnější je v Polsku, severním Polabí, jižní Skandinávii a také v Rusku. Východním směrem sahá areál rozšíření až po Ural, nezasahuje však dál do centrální Sibiře jako u ostatních evropských zástupců rodu. Řadí se k typickým druhům paleopotamonu, upřednostňuje říční jezera a velké tůně s mezotrofní až dystrofní vodou a s porosty leknínů (Nymphaea spp.), popřípadě stulíků (Nuphar lutea, N. pumila). Při eutrofizaci rychle mizí a proto i z těchto důvodů se řadí na mnoha místech Evropy mezi vyhynulé taxony. Na území České republiky byl druh donedávna považován za nezvěstný, resp. vyhynulý; k dispozici byly jen historické nálezy, dokladované několika dospělci v muzejních sbírkách. V roce 2012 byl druh zaznamenán na Českolipsku, kde byli pozorováni a fotodokumentováni adultní jedinci. Až do našich záznamů larev a jejich proměny v juvenilní dospělce na lokalitě Hradčany v roce 2014 však nebylo zřejmé, zda jde o autochtonní výskyt s průběhem vývojové cyklu. V roce 2014 byli navíc samci druhu opakovaně zaznamenáni a fotografováni v Havířově-Dolní Suché, ve slezské části Česka. Dosud existoval jediný literární údaj o pozorování samce L. caudalis z moravsko-slezské části republiky, avšak bez dokladového exempláře nebo fotodokumentace potvrzující správnost determinace, navíc starý více než 50 let.
Authors‘ addresses: Aleš Dolný, Department of Biology and Ecology / Institute of Environmental Techno- logies, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava. e-mail: [email protected] Martin Waldhauser, Správa CHKO Lužické hory, Školní 12, 471 25 Jablonné v Podještědí. e-mail: [email protected] Lubomír Kvita, Hlavní 565, 708 00 Ostrava-Poruba. e-mail: [email protected] Lydie Kocourková, Čujkovova 59, 700 30 Ostrava-Zábřeh
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