New European Red List of dragonflies observes sharp decline
INBO coordinated a new Red List for the 146 European dragonfly species. This was done on the basis of recent data and by calculating the trend over the last 10 years. This shows that 21% of the species are threatened . This means a 50% increase compared to the 2010 Red List. In addition, 12% are near threatened. Of the dragonflies that occur only in Europe, even 42% are threatened and 21% almost threatened.
Of the 29 endangered species, no fewer than 14 occur in Flanders. These include the Sympetrum danae, the Common hawker, the White-faced darter and the northern damselfly. Almost all of the endangered species found in Flanders are typical of our moors and peatlands.
Dragonflies are true ambassadors for the condition and quality of still and flowing waters. The sharp decline in the habitat of species bound to nutrient-poor pools is due to:
- eutrophication, both via air and surface water;
- desiccation of the surrounding landscape due to increased groundwater abstraction and drainage by agriculture;
- effects of climate change, especially higher temperatures combined with long droughts.
The complex interactions between all these factors are responsible for the observed sharp decline.
This publication is part of the EU-funded project ‘Providing Technical and Scientific Support in Measuring the Pulse of European Biodiversity Using the Red List Index,’ which IUCN led and INBO contributed to.
Image above: black darter (photo Geert De Knijf)