[Odonata-l] what a difference a wing makes

[Ethan Bright]

Dennis Paulson wrote:
> A recent paper published in the journal Fisheries concludes that 
> nearly 40 percent of all species of freshwater and anadromous fishes 
> in North America (Canada, US, Mexico) are in jeopardy.
>
> Details here: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2008/2008-09-09-02.asp
> ...
>
> On the other hand, it is possible that odonates are also more 
> resistant to the numerous environmental problems encountered by fish. 
> One I can think of is fishing pressure. There isn't much of a fishery 
> revolving around any species of odonate! Dragonfly larvae could also 
> be more resistant to pollution, siltation, reduced oxygen levels, 
> and/or temperature fluctuation. They could have greater habitat 
> breadths than fishes, species for species. Or does it all come down to 
> those two pairs of wings?
>
What might be more of concern are the indirect effects upon odonates - 
and other aquatic macroinvertebrates - due to the loss of anadromous 
fish populations. I would hypothesize that the effects upon lotic 
odonates might be more pronounced in oligotrophic streams, where 
migrating fish often represent a significant input in nitrogen and 
phosphorus nutrients upon their death after spawning. (Essentially there 
is a net transfer of biomass and nutrients from regions of somatic 
biomass growth, e.g., the oceans or very large lakes). These fish are 
often important indirect contributors to primary productions in 
naturally nutrient-poor systems, and when these fish die one can see 
both an increase in bacterial, fungal and algal biomass as well as 
macroinvertebrates grazing on the dead bodies as well as the 
previously-mentioned micro-organisms. Yes, there might be a direct 
predator release due to the loss of foraging fish, but then again there 
might be subsequent decline due to the loss of prey organisms that 
depend on the products of fish decomposition.

Would make for a great study. Any money?

Cheers, Ethan