Post on 31-Dec-2020
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Eungella
Damselflies
Dragonflies
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• Dragonflies and damselflies collected in variety of aquatic habitats
• Rainforest streams at Finch Hatton Gorge, Owens Creek (lowland), Eungella Plateau (upland)
• More open streams at Cattle Creek (lowland) and Broken River (highland)
• Large lakes at Teemburra and Eungella Dams
• Small farm dams and soaks at Fredrickson’s Farm (upland)
• Collections supplemented with records from specimens in the Queensland Museum and the private collection of Gunther Theischinger
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• Thanks to Elliot Leach, Narumi Kimura, Louise
Ashton, Jess Mackie, Erica Odell and Elinya
Watkins for help in collecting
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• A total of 54 species of dragonflies (28) and damselflies
(26) recorded from the region
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• A total of 54 species of dragonflies (28) and damselflies
(26) recorded from the region
• Fauna consists of different elements
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• A total of 54 species of dragonflies (28) and damselflies
(26) recorded from the region
• Fauna consists of different elements
• Widespread species that occur to the north and south
of Eungella and often far beyond (43 species)
Common Bluetail
Fiery Skimmer
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• A total of 54 species of dragonflies (28) and damselflies
(26) recorded from the region
• Fauna consists of different elements
• Widespread species that occur to the north and south
of Eungella and often far beyond (43 species)
• Southern species that extend only as far north as
Eungella (6 species)
Sapphire Rockmaster
Southern Giant Darner
Tropical Rockmaster
Northern Giant Darner
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• A total of 54 species of dragonflies (28) and damselflies
(26) recorded from the region
• Fauna consists of different elements
• Widespread species that occur to the north and south
of Eungella and often far beyond (43 species)
• Southern species that extend only as far north as
Eungella (6 species)
• Northern species that extend only as far south as
Eungella (1 species)
Zebra Vicetail
Eungella Biodiversity Study
• A total of 54 species of dragonflies (28) and damselflies
(26) recorded from the region
• Fauna consists of different elements
• Widespread species that occur to the north and south
of Eungella and often far beyond (43 species)
• Southern species that extend only as far north as
Eungella (6 species)
• Northern species that extend only as far south as
Eungella (1 species)
• Endemic species only found at Eungella (4 species)
Azure Flatwing – Austroargiolestes elke
Eungella Darner – Austroaeschna eungellae
S-spot Darner – Austroaeschna christine
Intermediate Whitetip – Episynlestes intermedius
5 Sampling methods
20 m
Intensive and
systematic survey
• 6 elevations : 200, 400,
600, 800, 1000, 1200
metres above sea level
• 4 sites at each elevation =
24 sites
• Collected ants in
November 2013 and
March 2014
• Used 5 collecting
methods
5 Sampling methods
20 m
20 m
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
• Leaf Litter
(2 x 1m2)
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
• Leaf Litter
(2 x 1m2)
• Bark Sprays
(2 x 5 trunks)
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
• Leaf Litter
(2 x 1m2)
• Bark Sprays
(2 x 5 trunks)
• Malaise trap
(1 x 10 days)
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
• Leaf Litter
(2 x 1m2)
• Bark Sprays
(2 x 5 trunks)
• Malaise trap
(1 x 10 days)
• Hand Collecting
(1 hour)
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
• Leaf Litter
(2 x 1m2)
• Bark Sprays
(2 x 5 trunks)
• Malaise trap
(1 x 10 days)
• Hand Collecting
(1 hour)
16 samples/site
5 Sampling methods
• Pitfall Traps
(10 x 10 days)
• Leaf Litter
(2 x 1m2)
• Bark Sprays
(2 x 5 trunks)
• Malaise trap
(1 x 10 days)
• Hand Collecting
(1 hour)
16 samples/site
16 x 24 x 2 = 768
March 2014 - 8334 ants from 120 different species
November 2013 – still be sorted and identified
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Specie
s d
ensity
Elevation (m a.s.l.)
a aa a
b
ab
Average number of ant species found at a
site declines with increasing elevation
Composition of the ant faunal gradually
changes with increasing elevation
200 m
400 m
600 m
800 m
1000 m
1200 m
2D Stress: 0.11
Some ant species known to be endemic to Eungella
Eungella Bull Ant – Myrmecia eungellensis
Image by Ryan Perry from http://www.antweb.org