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