Gunther Theischinger

Continental-scale assessment of risk to the Australian Odonata from climate change

Climate change is expected to have substantial impacts on the composition of freshwater communities, and many species are threatened by the loss of climatically suitable habitat. In this study we identify Australian Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) vulnerable to the effects of climate change on the basis of exposure, sensitivity and pressure to disperse in the future. We used an ensemble of species distribution models to predict the distribution of 270 (85%) species of Australian Odonata, continent-wide at the subcatchment scale, and for both current and future climates using two emissions scenarios each for 2055 and 2085. Exposure was scored according to the departure of temperature, precipitation and hydrology from current conditions. Sensitivity accounted for change in the area and suitability of projected climatic habitat, and pressure to disperse combined measurements of average habitat shifts and the loss experienced with lower dispersal rates. Streams and rivers important to future conservation efforts were identified based on the sensitivity-weighted sum of habitat suitability for the most vulnerable species. The overall extent of suitable habitat declined for 56–69% of the species modelled by 2085 depending on emissions scenario. The proportion of species at risk across all components (exposure, sensitivity, pressure to disperse) varied between 7 and 17% from 2055 to 2085 and a further 3–17% of species were also projected to be at high risk due to declines that did not require range shifts. If dispersal to Tasmania was limited, many south-eastern species are at significantly increased risk. Conservation efforts will need to focus on creating and preserving freshwater refugia as part of a broader conservation strategy that improves connectivity and promotes adaptive range shifts. The significant predicted shifts in suitable habitat could potentially exceed the dispersal capacity of Odonata and highlights the challenge faced by other freshwater species.

Generic revision of Argiolestidae (Odonata), with four new genera

The subfamily Argiolestinae is raised to family level to include all zygopteran genera in which the gills of the larvae are flat and held in a horizontal plane. A diagnosis of the family is given and characters for both adults and larvae are presented. The family is divided into two subfamilies based on characters in the genital ligula, with the subfamily Argiolestinae found in Australasia east of Huxleys Line and the subfamily Podolestinae found in Africa and Asia west of Huxleys Line. Four genera are newly described: Eoargiolestes (New Caledonia, type species Sympecma ochracea Montrouzier, 1864), Luzonargiolestes (Philippines, type species Argiolestes realensis Gapud & Recuenco, 1993), Solomonargiolestes (Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and Malaita, Solomon Islands, type species Argiolestes bougainville Kalkman, 2008) and Pyrrhargiolestes (Papua New Guinea, type species Argiolestes sidonia Martin, 1909). In addition Metagrion (type species Argiolestes postnodalis Selys, 1878) and Wahnesia (type species Argiolestes kirbyi Förster, 1900), two genera not in use for over 70 years, are reinstated. Based on molecular data the African genera Neurolestes and Nesolestes have been shown to be good genera and are here treated as such, Nesolestes nigeriensis is transferred to Neurolestes. All 20 genera included in Argiolestidae are discussed, with type species, key characters of adults, distribution and habitat being given. In addition a diagnosis is presented for each genus and information is given on their identification together with a map of the distribution of the genus and scanning electron microscope images of the genital ligula of most genera. A key to the genera of the Australasian region is presented and keys to the species of Caledargiolestes, Caledopteryx and Podopteryx are given. New distributional records of Caledargiolestes, Caledopteryx, Luzonargiolestes, Solomonargiolestes and Podopteryx are provided.

A century on from The Biology of Dragonflies by Tillyard 1917: What have we learned since then?

The field of odonatology has developed considerably during the past century. Three figures, namely E. Selys‐Longchamps, R.J. Tillyard and P.S. Corbet, have undisputedly founded our current knowledge of odonatology and contributed massively to the understanding of systematics, biology, ecology and behaviour of odonates. The year 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of Tillyards The Biology of Dragonflies. We review the book and the authors life and contributions to Australian odonatology. We present an updated history of odonatology and highlight prominent advances in the field. The influence of the book on non‐scientists is described. Future research in odonatology on aspects that have not been studied and others that need further investigations are discussed.

Macrocnemis gracilis, a new genus and species of Idiocnemidinae (Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) from Papua New Guinea.

A new genus and species belonging to the damselfly subfamily Idiocnemidinae from Papua New Guinea, Macrocnemis gracilis gen. nov. sp. nov. is described and illustrated. It is the largest known member of the Papuan idiocnemidine radiation, and its affinities to existing genera remain unclear. The new taxon is currently known with certainty only from small streams flowing through mid-montane rainforest in the Hindenburg Range of Papua New Guineas rugged central cordillera.

Drepanosticta machadoi spec. nov. from New Guinea (Odonata: Platystictidae)

Drepanosticta machadoi sp. nov. (Holotype ♂: Dablin Creek, Hindenburg Range) from Papua New Guinea is described. The new species is a predominantly black damselfly, the male with four pale/bright pattern elements on each side of the synthorax, dorsum of segments 9 and 10 largely bright blue, and a uniquely shaped posterior lobe of the pronotum which is a wide-angled fork with rather straight, narrow finger-like prongs. It is referred to the Drepanosticta conica group of species and a key to the males of the D. conica group is provided.

Revision of the genus Dinotoperla Tillyard, 1921 (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) using morphological characters and molecular data: Establishes two new genera, three new species and updates the larval taxonomy

The larval taxonomy of Australian stoneflies (Plecoptera) shows a large disparity in knowledge when compared to the adult taxonomy with many species having undescribed larval forms. The importance of stoneflies as an indicator group for monitoring aquatic ecosystems means knowledge of the larval taxonomy and the ability to identify species is essential. This study combined morphology and mitochondrial gene sequences to associate the adult and larval life-stages for species of Dinotoperla Tillyard. Morphological identification of adult males was recognised for 17 of the 35 Dinotoperla species and combining molecular data with morphology confirmed eight new adult-larval life stage associations. Further, molecular data supported the larval taxonomy for five morphospecies which remain unassociated. The combination of molecular and morphological methods enabled the larval morphology to be reassessed for the genus Dinotoperla and this has led to the establishment of two new genera, Odontoperla, gen. nov. and Oedemaperla, gen. nov., and the new species Dinotoperla aryballoi, sp. nov, D. tasmaniensis, sp. nov. and Oedemaperla shackletoni, sp. nov. as well as the new or updated descriptions of the larvae of 31 species and a comprehensive dichotomous key to these larvae.

Nososticta impercepta sp. nov. (Odonata: Platycnemididae) from Timor, with a key to the Sundaic species

Nososticta impercepta sp. nov. is described and illustrated (holotype ♂: 28.vi.1911, Niki-Niki [South Central Timor Regency], Timor, Indonesia, C.B. Haniel leg., Coll. Ris, No. 2477; deposited at the Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany). An illustrated key for the species of Nososticta known from the Lesser Sunda Islands is given. The occurrence of N. selysi in Timor is considered to be doubtful. Nososticta emphyla is newly recorded from Sumbawa Island.

Dunphy Lake in Warrumbungle National Park, NSW: aquatic animal community after the Wambelong fire in 2013

ABSTRACT Fires are a common occurrence in Australian terrestrial ecosystems. A large fire occurred in January 2013 within and adjacent to the Warrumbungle National Park, near Coonabarabran in NSW, burning over 560 km2 of the park and surrounding region (the Wambelong fire). The Wambelong fire affected Dunphy Lake, the only lake in the park. In this study, we assessed the post-fire aquatic animal community of the lake in March and September 2014. At the times of sampling the lake was largely dry and had only small isolated pools. We found 53 invertebrate taxa including the larvae of the dragonfly Austrogynacantha heterogena and one vertebrate species (larvae of the frog Litoria rubella) in the pool-water samples. Artificial inundation of the lake sediment samples under laboratory conditions led to the emergence of 31 taxa, totalling 62 taxa in the lake overall. Most taxa found in the lake are opportunistic and characteristic of those in still-water bodies. Dunphy Lake seems to be highly resilient in sustai...

Nososticta rufipes sp. nov. from Misool, with notes on the other Nososticta species on the Bird's Head Peninsula and the Raja Ampat, Indonesia (Zygoptera: Platycnemididae)

Nososticta rufipes sp. nov. is described from Misool Island (Indonesia, Papua Barat, Kabupaten Raja Ampat). New records and notes on the species of the genus Nososticta on the Birds Head Peninsula and Raja Ampat Islands are presented. Nososticta lorentzi (Lieftinck, 1938) is placed in synonymy with N. nigripes (Ris, 1913). http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:91B33439-9E9F-48C4-A995-CC4A3ED1392D

A new species of Lanthanusa Ris from north-eastern Papua New Guinea (Odonata: Libellulidae)

A new species of the endemic New Guinean genus Lanthanusa is described from the Trauna River Valley in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Characters of the male are illustrated and affinities of the new species are discussed. Some characters of the type species of Lanthanusa, L. cyclopica, are reassessed and a revised key to the genus is presented. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F0348AC-4486-49A2-8BA6-AFCE7C1DED9C