Aspects of reproductive biology and ecology of Coenagrion mercuriale at its southern range margin

Hayat Mahdjouba, Rassim Khelifab , Rabah Zebsac, Mohamed Khalil Mellald, Zihad Bouslamaa, Moussa Houhamdie

  1. Laboratory of Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba, Algeria
  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, University of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria
  3. Department of Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Sciences and Earth and Universe Sciences Faculty, University of 08 May 1945, Guelma, Algeria
  4. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria
  5. Department of Nature and Life Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences and Earth and Universe Sciences, University of 08 May 1945, Guelma, Algeria

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 17, Issue 4, Pages 173-180, 2014
https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2014.958580
Published: 2 October 2014 (Received: 3 March 2014, Accepted: 21 August 2014)

Abstract

Coenagrion mercuriale is a threatened damselfly in most parts of its geographic distribution. It is listed as endangered in North Africa, where no data on its biology or ecology are available. This study aims to illustrate the reproductive behaviour and habitat preferences of adults in a population located in north-east Algeria, representing the southern limit of the species distribution. After emergence, adults spent 3 to 4 days away from the water to mature. Young mature individuals returned to the stream to mate, sometimes not far from their emergence site. The mean duration of copulation and oviposition were 20.08 ± 8.79 min (± SD) and 52.66 ± 12.17 min (± SD), respectively, separated by a short post-copulatory rest of 4.60 ± 2.02 min (± SD). Copulation duration was positively correlated with male body length while resting duration was positively related to copulation duration. Single males and breeding pairs preferred the same habitats, characterized by relatively dense and high in-channel bank vegetation, and a quite large stream bed, with a substrate which mainly consisted of clay and silt. A comparison of the reproductive behaviour and habitat preferences with a population located in the northern limit of the distribution range is presented and discussed.

Keywords: Odonata, damselfly, endangered, Algeria, reproductive behaviour, habitat preferences

Issue section: Article