Odonata of the Romanian Carpathians 20. Dezember 2011183 Odonata of the Romanian Carpathians with notes on Somatochlora alpestris and on the first Romanian record of Aeshna subarctica (Odonata: Corduliidae, Aeshnidae) Ulrich Flenker Manfred Donike Institute, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, D-50933 Köln, <[email protected]> Abstract The Odonata fauna of the Romanian Carpathians was investigated during a summer expe- dition from 18-vii- to 14-viii-2009. The work was mostly focused on boreo-alpine species. It is demonstrated that Somatochlora alpestris is present in all parts of the Romanian Carpathians. Aeshna subarctica has been detected in Romania for the first time. The cor- responding record represents the first known occurrence of this species in a rather large area. Aeshna juncea is much more widespread in the region than has been known before. Aeshna cyanea is present and abundant in forested areas. Sympetrum danae has been recorded for the first time in the Romanian western Carpathians. Zusammenfassung Libellen der rumänischen Karpaten mit Anmerkungen zu Somatochlora alpestris und dem Erstnachweis von Aeshna subarctica in Rumänien (Odonata: Aeshnidae, Corduliidae) – Während einer vierwöchigen Expedition zwischen dem 18. Juli und dem 14. August 2009 wurde die Libellenfauna der rumänischen Karpaten untersucht. Der Schwerpunkt lag auf der Erfassung boreo-alpiner Arten. Daher wurden vor allem potentielle Habitate in der subalpinen rund alpinen Höhenstufe aufgesucht. Somatochlora alpestris konnte in allen Teilen der rumänischen Karpaten nachgewiesen werden. Aeshna subarctica wurde erst- malig in Rumänien nachgewiesen. Dieser Fund stellt darüberhinaus das bislang einzig be- kannte Vorkommen dieser Art in einem größerem Umkreis dar. Aeshna juncea ist in der Region offenbar deutlich weiter verbreitet als zuvor bekannt. In bewaldeten Gebieten ist Aeshna cyanea stets anzutreffen und häufig. Sympetrum danae wurde erstmalig in den rumänischen Westkarpaten nachgewiesen. Libellula 30 (3/4) 2011: 183-202 184 Ulrich Flenker Introduction The Carpathian Mountains are well known for their importance in the conserva- tion of Europe’s large mammals (Baltzer et al. 2009). The role of the conserva- tion of invertebrate biodiversity might be comparably pivotal. But corresponding research has been neglected hitherto and the knowledge concerning the species inventories of invertebrates is still very sketchy (Gurung et al. 2009). This also applies to Odonata as became evident during collaborative fieldwork performed in the south-western Carpathians in 2007 (Manci & Kalkman 2008). During this campaign, the knowledge about the occurrences and ranges of boreo-alpine spe- cies of the CarpathiansSomatochlora particularly alpestris turned outS. arctica to be very incomplete. However, subsequent fieldwork immmediately yielded important contributions to the knowledge of and of in Romania (de Knijf et al. 2011). This research, however, was restricted to the southern Carpathians, west of the River Olt. In order to elucidate the distributions of boreo-alpine species in much larger parts of the Romanian Carpathians, a dedicated expedition was or- ganized in 2009. The objective was to achieve the broadest possible geographic coverage. Methods Abbreviations L.: “Lac” or “Lacul” – Romanian for lake or small lake; loc., locs.: locality, locali- ties; Mţii.: “Munţii” – Romanian for mountains; P.: “Pasul” – Romanian for pass; R.: “Râul” – Romanian for river; Vf.: “Vârful” – Romanian for peak. Visited counties of Romania: AB Alba; AG Argeş; AR Arad; BH Bihor; BN Bistriţa-Năsăaud; BV Braşov; HD Hune- doara; HR Harghita; MM Maramureş; SB Sibiu. The expedition started on 18-vii-2009 in the north-westernmost part of the Ro- manian Carpathians, in the Mţii. Gutiului (Statiunea Izvoare). Subsequently, and in chronological order, the Mţii. Rodnei, the Mţii. Căliman, the Mţii. Hasmas, the Mţii. Harghita, the Mţii. Bucegi, the Piatra Craiului, the Făgăraş, the Mţii. Cindrel, the Mţii. Lotrolui, the Mţii. Parâng, the Mţii. Bihor, and the Mţii. Apuseni were visited. The last records were collected on 14-viii-2009. Beforehand, promising sites were localised on available tourist maps. A closer inspection was then performed using freely available satellite images. Specifi- cally, bogs and fens at the montane, subalpine, and alpine levels were localised. Potential habitats close to the timberline received special attention. In the field, coordinates were obtained by GPS and have been referenced to WGS 84 ellipsoid, Potsdam datum. GPS generated altitudinal data tended to be imprecise, especial- ly in forested areas. Where there was doubt, altitudes were read from local maps. Libellula 30 (3/4) 2011: 183-202 Odonata of the Romanian Carpathians 185 On site, a search was made for Odonates and – where possible – these were iden- tified with binoculars. Critical species were netted and have been identified ac- cording to Dijkstra & Lewington (2006). When no observation of imagines could be achieved at promising sites within 20 to 30 min, the waterbodies were intensely searched for larvae using a colander. In case of poor flying conditions, the respective sites were inspected for larvae immediately. In order to reduce detrimental effects, the search for larvae was stoppedSomatochlora on the first finding. alpestris This wasS. done arctica as a minimum at places where there was poor species diversity expected. This particularly applied to potential habi- tats of and of . Consequently, only one larva has been collected from corresponding locations. Larvae were killed in boilingSomatochlo water­ raand preserved in 70 % ethanol. Determination of larval species was performed according to Heidemann & Seidenbusch (1993) and specifically for larvae according to Wildermuth (2008) and to Schmidt (1951). Results Altogether 17 species of Odonata were recorded at 48 localities in the Romanian ListCarpathians. of visited localities with Odonata records Typha 1. Pond N Corbi (AG); 45°21’47’’N; 24°48’24’’E; 670 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Shallow and shaded pond in a garden. Overgrown with sp. Surrounded by coniferous forest. 2. L. Muntinu (SB); 45°22’01’’N; 23°39’11’’E; 2,000 m a.s.l. Large, obviously shal- low cirque lake. Surrounded by fen pools and alpine pasture. Well above the timberline (Fig. 5). 3. Fen N L. Muntinu (SB); 45°22’03’’N; 23°39’12’’E; 1,980 m a.s.l. Fen fed by creeks leaving L. Muntinu (loc. 2). Densely vegetated with sedges. Few very small pools, virtually no open water during time of inspection. 4. PondEquisetum N P. Urdele (SB); 45°23’28’’N; 23°38’32’’E; 1,700 m a.s.l. Artificial pool next to gravel road. Located at the treeline. Densely vegetated with helophytes ( sp.). Boggy littoral zone with some peat moss. 5. Valea Rea (AG); 45°29’51’’N; 34°31’39’’E; 930 m a.s.l. Meadow near creek. Sur- rounded by deciduous forest. 6. Valea Rea (AG); 45°30’24’’N; 24°51’15’’E; 980 m a.s.l. Meadow surrounded by coniferous forest. 7. Cheile Pisicii SW Zărnesti (BV); 45°32’00’’N; 25°16’01’’E; 1,050 m a.s.l. Clear- ing in a limestone canyon. Deciduous forest. 8. Valea Rea (AG); 45°32’02’’N; 24°50’42’’E; 1,030 m a.s.l. Sunny spots in a nar- row valley. Mixed forest. Libellula 30 (3/4) 2011: 183-202 186 Ulrich Flenker 9. Transfăgăraş road (AR); 45°32’02’’N; 24°35’21’’E; 1,100 m a.s.l. Lawn and hedges near the road. 10. Valea Rea (AG); 45°32’06’’N; 34°50’05’’E; 1,050 m a.s.l. Clearing in mixed for- est. Juncus 11. Valea Rea (AG); 45°32’28’’N; 24°47’39’’E; 1,200 m a.s.l. Helocrene. Densely vegetated with sedges, sp., and some peat moss. Some shallow and very small pools. 12. L. Oaşa Mică (SB, AB); 45°33’10’’N; 23°37’33’’E; 1,270 m a.s.l.Salix Sedge swamps in a tributary to the Oaşa Mică reservoir lake. Several densely vegetated pools. Lotic conditions in the middle of the pools. Several sp. shrubs. Surrounded by coniferous forest. 13. Valea Doamnei (SB); 45°36’12’’N; 24°36’24’’E; 2,080 m a.s.l. Pool in the fens on the N slope of the Făgăraş main ridge. Location resembled a very small raised bog although peat moss was absent. Densely vegetated. Surrounded by alpine pasture and meadows. Well above the local timberline and no trees within several kilometers distance. 14. ValeaJuncus Dobrani SW of Avram Iancu (AB); 46°21’12’’N; 22°46’44’’E; 1,080 m a.s.l. Helocrene spring in a clearing next to the forest road. Densely vegetated by sp. and moss. Numerous small pools. Environment deciduous for- est. 15. Valea Divaia NW Munţele Rotund (AB, AR); 46°22’08’’N; 22°42’03’’E; 1,260 m a.s.l. Group of pools formed by a creek. Environment juniper heath, pasture, and coniferous forest. 16. Pool SW Cucurbăta Mare (AB, BH); 46°26’12’’N; 22°40’30’’E; 1,550 m a.s.l. Muddy watering place without any vegetation. Surrounded by coniferous forest, subalpine pasture, and juniper. 17. Vf. Harghita Mădăraş (HR); 46°26’38’’N; 25°35’25’’E; 1,640 m a.s.l. Shallow pools in the fens SE of Vf. Harghita Mădăraş. Environment pasture, juniper heath, and coniferous forest. Located close to the local timberline. 18. Watering place N Cucurbăta Mare (AB, BH); 46°27’28’’N; 22°41’13’’E; 1,640 m a.s.l. Shallow small lake near rough road. Densely vegetated. Envi- ronment subalpine pasture and juniper heath. 19. Vf. Fertău (HR); 46°30’37’’N; 25°35’01’’E; 1,450 m a.s.l. Fen area within the pastures on the S slope of Vf. Fertău. Fed by several helocrenes. Numerous small pools which possibly had been created by cattle and sheep.