Research Article |
Academic editor: Levan Mumladze
© 2024 Denis Kitel, Kyle Kittelberger, Kayahan Ağirkaya, Gul Tutar, Çağan H. Șekercioğlu.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Kitel D, Kittelberger K, Ağirkaya K, Tutar G, Șekercioğlu ÇH (2024) Notes on the phenology of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Aras River Valley of Türkiye. Caucasiana 3: 281-294. https://doi.org/10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879
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A check-list of Odonata found at Aras River Valley in Kars and Iğdır provinces of Türkiye is published for the first time, representing 38 species. The abundance of species from March to November is noted by month, with the phenology of the flight period indicated. Summer months host the highest number of species, up to 28 in June. We provide a complete phenology for the imago (adult) presence in the area for 22 species, from their emergence to their disappearance at the end of their flight period and life cycle. Short notes regarding selected species which are either rare in the region or have international protection status are also provided. This study shows that the Aras River Valley is an important place for Odonata, especially Onychogomphus flexuosus and Libellula pontica, species which are classified as “Vulnerable” and “Near Threatened”, respectively, in the present IUCN Red List of threatened species.
Anisoptera, Aras, flight period, odonate, wetland, Zygoptera
Türkiye is a large, rugged, and diverse country, with habitats ranging from snowy peaks and temperate forests to cold steppes and hot deserts to subtropical coasts. This diversity of habitats is reflected in the diverse fauna of dragonflies (
The level of past odonatological exploration of Iğdır, Kars, and adjacent provinces is very low. Consequently, since the pioneering work by
There has been a long tradition of studying dragonflies—“the“birdwatcher’s insect” (see
This study was carried out in the northeastern part of the Republic of Türkiye in Iğdır and Kars provinces around the Aras River Ornithological Research Station (40.078°N; 43.358°E), mainly in the vicinities of Yukarı Cıyrıklı and Aşağı Cıyrıklı villages. The Aras River Ornithological Research Station has been operated through the University of Utah and the KuzeyDoğa Society in collaboration with the Koç, Iğdır, and Kafkas universities since 2006 (
The climate of the study area is continental, with mild winters and hot, dry summers, which is typical for the Eastern Anatolia region. The mean annual precipitation rate is 258 mm (Türkoğlu and Şekercioğlu 2018). The wetland and riparian vegetation of the region primarily consists of a mixture of Phragmites and Typha spp. among scrub, orchards, and steppe grasslands (
The material for this study was collected across multiple months and years during routine daily work at the Aras River Ornithological Research Station. Some individuals were extracted from the mist nets with a mesh size of 16 mm, identified, photographed, and released. In good weather, places far from the station were visited; of particular interest were flooded fields for growing grass, artificial channels and small lakes with drinking water for cattle, the Aras floodplain terrace, and the surrounding steppe landscape.
Data were gathered by the authors in the following time periods: 11-31 October, 2014 (DK); 01 May – 01 July, 2019 (KDK); 30 August – 20 November, 2021 (KDK); 15 June – 15 November, 2022 (DK); 01 March – 28 April, 2023 (DK); 29 April – 15 June 2023 (KA, GT); 11 Jul – 15 Nov 2023 (KA, GT); 09 March – 27 June, 2024 (DK, KDK, KA, GT).
For the convenience of presenting data on Odonata flight periods, observations were grouped into discrete time periods. Thus, every month was divided into 3 periods: I—from 1 to 10 calendar days, II—from 11 to 20 calendar days, and III—from 21 to 30 (or 31) calendar days. The observation of the species during the day was counted as one record, i.e., the maximum number of records a year in periods I and II was 10, and in period III was 11.
In total, 38 species were recorded (Table
Regarding taxonomic groups, 14 species found at the study area belong to suborder Zygoptera, and 24 species to Anisoptera. Among the families detected, 16 species are from Libellulidae; 6 species from families Coenagrionidae and Aeshnidae, respectively; 5 species from family Lestidae; 2 species from family Gomphidae; and 1 species from families Calopterygidae, Epallagidae, and Platycnemididae, respectively.
For 22 species of Odonata in our study (Table
Flight period of Odonata in the Aras River valley in northeastern Türkiye. Scientific and taxonomic nomenclature follows
Species | № of records | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | III | I | II | ||
Chalcolestes parvidens | 38 | 2 | • | • | • | 1 | 1 | 1 | • | 3 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||
Lestes barbarus | 94 | 4 | 7 | • | • | • | 5 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 2 | |||||||||||
Lestes dryas | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sympecma fusca | 132 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 7 | • | • | • | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||
Sympecma paedisca | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Calopteryx splendens | 48 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | • | • | 5 | 11 | 8 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
Epallage fatime | 9 | 1 | 5 | • | • | • | 2 | • | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Enallagma cyathigerum | 3 | 1 | • | 1 | • | • | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coenagrion ornatum | 31 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Coenagrion scitulum | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coenagrion puella | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Platycnemis dealbata | 70 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | • | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 1 | • | • | 1 | ||||||||||
Ischnura elegans | 131 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 1 | • | 5 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 4 | ||||||||
Ischnura pumilio | 41 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 2 | • | • | • | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | • | 1 | ||||||||
Aeshna affinis | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Aeshna mixta | 83 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Anax ephippiger | 9 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Anax imperator | 12 | 3 | 7 | 1 | • | • | • | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Anax parthenope | 84 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 7 | • | • | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||
Isoaeschna isoceles | 16 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gomphus schneiderii | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Onychogomphus flexuosus | 15 | 1 | • | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Crocothemis erythraea | 14 | 4 | 2 | • | • | • | • | • | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
Libellula depressa | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Libellula pontica | 29 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 4 | • | • | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Orthetrum albistylum | 85 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 8 | • | • | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
Orthetrum brunneum | 127 | 1 | • | 5 | 12 | 9 | 6 | • | • | 8 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |||||||
Orthetrum cancellatum | 2 | 1 | • | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Othetrum coerulescens anceps | 37 | 4 | 5 | • | • | • | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
Pantala flavescens | 9 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sympetrum depressiusculum | 3 | 1 | • | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sympetrum flaveolum | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sympetrum fonscolombii | 86 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | • | 1 | • | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 1 | |||||||
Sympetrum meridionale | 37 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sympetrum pedemontanum | 63 | 4 | • | 1 | • | 5 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | • | 1 | ||||||||||||
Sympetrum sanguineum | 41 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 1 | • | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
Sympetrum striolatum | 55 | 2 | • | 1 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
Sympetrum vulgatum decoloratum | 7 | 1 | 1 | • | 1 | 1 | • | 2 | • | 1 |
The degree of study of the phenology of dragonflies of Aras River Valley.
The beginning and end of the flight season is known | Only the beginning or the end of the flight season is known | Insufficient data | One record |
---|---|---|---|
Chalcolestes parvidens , Lestes barbarus, Sympecma fusca, Calopteryx splendens, Epallage fatime, Platicnemis dealbata, Ischnura elegans, Ischnura pumilio, Aeshna mixta, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope, Onychogomphus flexuosus, Crocothemis erythraea, Libellula pontica, Orthetrum albistylum, Orthetrum brunneum, Orthetrum coerulescens anceps, Sympetrum fonscolombii, Sympetrum pedemontanum, Sympetrum sanguineum, Sympetrum striolatum, Sympetrum vulgatum decoloratum | Coenagrion ornatum , Coenagrion puella, Aeshna affinis, Isoaeschna isoceles, Gomphus schneiderii | Enallagma cyathigerum , Anax ephippiger, Libellula depressa, Orthetrum cancellatum, Pantala flavescens, Sympetrum depressiusculum, Sympetrum meridionale | Lestes dryas , Sympecma paedisca, Coenagrion scitulum, Sympetrum flaveolum |
Sympecma paedisca
(Brauer, 1877) (Fig.
Anax ephippiger
(Burmeister, 1839) (Fig.
Onychogomphus flexuosus
(Schneider, 1845) (Fig.
Libellula pontica
Selys, 1887 (Fig.
Pantala flavescens
(Fabricius, 1798) (Fig.
Sympetrum depressiusculum
(Selys, 1841) (Fig.
The results of this study are not comprehensive but provide a reliable basis to continue investigation of the Odonata fauna occurring in the Aras River Valley. Additionally, they provide a baseline and blueprint to study their regional flight period in the context of climate change. Especially, the presence of a bird ringing station facilitates long-term monitoring of odonates, while opportunistic captures via bird mist nets offer subsequent in-hand examination.
Since the Aras River Valley predominantly consists of running water sources, species tied to stagnant water, which are relatively common elsewhere in Türkiye, are local or rare in the study region. For instance, Libellula depressa was observed only twice at the study area: presumably a migrating individual at the station and one male defending territory on the small lake near İncesu village. Othetrum cancellatum was found only at one location, at a small cattle drinking pond in the steppe (N40.117°, E43.441°); it seems to be a common and numerous species there, but due to the distance of the cattle pond from the bird ringing station, the phenology data is not fully known. The same is true with Enallagma cyathigerum, which was also present in good numbers at the same pond but was scarce elsewhere.
The area plays an important role in the preservation of some range-limited or globally threatened species, such as Libellula pontica and Onychogomphus flexuosus (
The authors are grateful to KuzeyDoğa Society for the logistical support throughout the research period. This study would not have been as complete without the significant volunteer contributions of Maksim Kostin, Nikolas Orton, Maria Mak, and Ilayda Eryilmaz. We also appreciate communication with and advice from Asmus Schröter and Vasil Ananian during the work and preparation of the article.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
No funding was reported.
DK wrote the manuscript with support from KDK and CHS; DK conceived the original idea for the project; DK, KDK, KA, and GT documented Odonata in the field; DK prepared the flight period dataset and figures, with assistance from KDK; all co-authors contributed to and gave final approval of the manuscript.
Denis Kitel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5298-2611
Kyle Kittelberger https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1461-732X
Kayahan Ağirkaya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4030-8643
Gul Tutar https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3351-1071
Çağan H Șekercioğlu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3193-0377
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.