A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies
Urban settlements range from small villages in rural areas to large metropoles with densely packed infrastructures. Urbanization presents many challenges to the maintenance of freshwater quality and conservation of freshwater biota, especially in Africa. There are many opportunities as well, particu...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/190 |
| _version_ | 1827588351071354880 |
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| author | Charl Deacon Michael J. Samways |
| author_facet | Charl Deacon Michael J. Samways |
| author_sort | Charl Deacon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban settlements range from small villages in rural areas to large metropoles with densely packed infrastructures. Urbanization presents many challenges to the maintenance of freshwater quality and conservation of freshwater biota, especially in Africa. There are many opportunities as well, particularly by fostering contributions from citizen scientists. We review the relationships between dragonflies and urbanization in southern Africa. Shifts in dragonfly assemblages indicate environmental change, as different species are variously sensitive to abiotic and biotic water and bank conditions. They are also conservation umbrellas for many other co-occurring species. Major threats to southern African dragonflies include increasing infrastructure densification, frequent droughts, habitat loss, pollution, and invasive alien vegetation. Mitigation measures include implementation of conservation corridors, maintenance of healthy permanent ponds, pollution reduction, and removal of invasive alien trees. Citizen science is now an important approach for supplementing and supporting professional scientific research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:34:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-267e1c16b02744008f448f1bfd6048ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:34:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-267e1c16b02744008f448f1bfd6048ca2023-12-11T18:17:57ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-02-0112319010.3390/insects12030190A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban DragonfliesCharl Deacon0Michael J. Samways1Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaUrban settlements range from small villages in rural areas to large metropoles with densely packed infrastructures. Urbanization presents many challenges to the maintenance of freshwater quality and conservation of freshwater biota, especially in Africa. There are many opportunities as well, particularly by fostering contributions from citizen scientists. We review the relationships between dragonflies and urbanization in southern Africa. Shifts in dragonfly assemblages indicate environmental change, as different species are variously sensitive to abiotic and biotic water and bank conditions. They are also conservation umbrellas for many other co-occurring species. Major threats to southern African dragonflies include increasing infrastructure densification, frequent droughts, habitat loss, pollution, and invasive alien vegetation. Mitigation measures include implementation of conservation corridors, maintenance of healthy permanent ponds, pollution reduction, and removal of invasive alien trees. Citizen science is now an important approach for supplementing and supporting professional scientific research.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/190aquatic insectsbiodiversity conservationCape Floristic Regioncommunity engagementHighveldMaputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot |
| spellingShingle | Charl Deacon Michael J. Samways A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies Insects aquatic insects biodiversity conservation Cape Floristic Region community engagement Highveld Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot |
| title | A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies |
| title_full | A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies |
| title_fullStr | A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies |
| title_short | A Review of the Impacts and Opportunities for African Urban Dragonflies |
| title_sort | review of the impacts and opportunities for african urban dragonflies |
| topic | aquatic insects biodiversity conservation Cape Floristic Region community engagement Highveld Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/190 |
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