Past and present: changes in the Odonata fauna of small lowland watercourses

Small lowland watercourses, strongly exposed to anthropogenic activities and climate change, have received negligible odonatological attention. This study provides a revised checklist of three typical lowland small watercourses (Kallai-fofolyas, Konyari-Kallo and olyvos) within the Pannonian Lowland and presents the changes in their diversity over the past decades. Results revealed a significant biodiversity loss, with a 31.6% decline in Odonata fauna over the last 53 years. The upper and middle sections degraded the most, where the habitats have dried out or become intermittent. However, a diverse Odonata assemblage (1,277 individuals of 27 species) was observed at the 14 sampling sites of the three watercourses, containing protected and sensitive species (Somatochlora flavomaculata, Orthetrum brunneum, Aeshna isoceles, Libellula fulva). However, the low abundance of larval and exuvial forms (59 individuals of 13 species) suggests that the majority of the observed adults were developed in other watercourses. While recolonisation from nearby habitats is still possible, a parallel degradation of adjecent waterbodies could lead to an irreversible biodiversity loss.

Automated summary

This study provides a revised checklist and presents the changes in diversity of three typical lowland small watercourses in the Pannonian Lowland. The results reveal a significant loss in Odonata fauna, with upper and middle sections being the most degraded areas.