Cloud forest in Mexico is an ecosystem largely fragmented and reduced in recent decades by human influence. In this type of vegetation, ravine streams generally contain a particular odonate species composition. We describe the structure, composition, and temporal changes of the Odonata larval assemblage from El Colorín ravine stream in the cloud forest of Chinicuila-Coalcomán region, Michoacán, based on a bi-seasonal sampling 1-year cycle. The assemblage parameters were related to some physicochemical water properties. In total, 17 species were recorded (9 Zygoptera, 8 Anisoptera). Zygoptera was more diverse at supraspecific level with four families vs two of Anisoptera. Six species of Libellulidae were recorded with four species belonging to Brechmorhoga. However, the dominant species throughout the year was the calopterygid Hetaerina capitalis. Although there were changes in water temperature, pH, conductivity, and oxygen throughout the year, the structural changes of the odonate larval assemblage were more related to seasonality. Also, the Odonata adult assemblage of El Colorín was comapared to other adult assemblages from eastern and central Mexico. We propose sub-assemblages of Brechmorhoga, Hetaerina, and Archilestes species as potential indicators of well-conserved conditions of mountain streams.
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1 December 2022
Richness and structure of an Odonata larval assemblage of a cloud forest stream in western Mexico
José Antonio Gómez-Anaya,
Rodolfo Novelo-Gutiérrez
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Odonatologica
Vol. 51 • No. 3-4
December 2022
Vol. 51 • No. 3-4
December 2022
conservation
damselfly
diversity
dragonfly
larvae
Michoacán