Poster Details
URBAN PONDS: AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE FOR DRAGONFLY DIVERSITY.AND CONSERVATION.
The City of Denton is rapidly expanding its urban footprint in north central Texas. As infrastructure is developed, stormwater retention ponds are often built as mitigation measures. These ponds, valued as green spaces, are often overlooked as sources of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In March 2017, a study of the aquatic insect’s diversity found within a series of six ponds located along an urbanization gradient began. The objective of this study, a subset of a larger project, was to identify catchment, habitat and environmental characteristics and estimate their net influence on the diversity of the dragonflies (Odonata). To date, nearly 40 species of dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera) have been identified. While the number of species found in each pond is similar, the composition differs. Body size and wing asymmetry also varies in some species common across the ponds. Changes to odonate population characteristics are related to the quality of the pond’s catchment area and diversity of the aquatic and terrestrial vegetation. Study results are being used to develop an integrated catchment management plan to maximize the aquatic diversity of the ponds.
Gillian Graham (Primary Presenter/Author), University of North Texas, GillianGraham@my.unt.edu;
Sabrina Moore (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, sabrinamoore2@my.unt.edu;
Karina Barbosa (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, KarinaBarbosa@my.unt.edu;
James Kennedy (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, kennedy@unt.edu;