Damselfly Pollution Sensitivity: What's The Impact?

Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. Damselflies are very sensitive to pollution and cannot breed without clean water. They are affected by various sources of pollution, including pharmaceutical pollution, and are particularly sensitive to oxygen levels and suspended fine particulate matter. They are also impacted by the presence of road salts, which can decrease female mosquito success and reduce disease transmission in cities. In addition, damselfly larvae suffer reduced survival-related behavioural performance when exposed to fluorinated organic compounds like PFOS.

Damselfly larvae are very pollution intolerant

Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. They have existed since the Late Jurassic and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Damselfly larvae and adults are highly predatory, feeding on other insects such as flies, mosquitoes, gnats, moths, and beetles. They are also known to occasionally eat bees and caterpillars. Damselfly larvae are most often ambush predators, preferring to hide among plants and substrates until their target comes close. They breathe using three large external, fin-like gills on the tip of the abdomen, which may also be used for locomotion. They are more sensitive than dragonfly nymphs to oxygen levels and suspended fine particulate matter.

Damselflies are very sensitive to pollution and are therefore extremely intolerant of it. They require clean water to breed and cannot do so in polluted waters. Damselfly larvae are sensitive to various sources of pollution, including PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), a persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Long-term exposure to PFOS has been shown to reduce survival-related behavioural performance in damselfly larvae, making them less active, less capable of escaping simulated predator attacks, and less efficient at foraging. Damselflies are also affected by pharmaceutical pollution, which can alter the natural expression of behaviour. Exposure to certain pharmaceuticals has been shown to impact predation success and efficiency in complex ways.

Behavioural changes indicate pollution

Damselflies are very sensitive to pollution and are therefore useful bio-indicators of environmental pollution and integrity. Behavioural changes can be used as a measure of pollution, as behaviours are the cumulative manifestation of genetic, biochemical, physiological, and environmental cues, all of which may be affected by pollutants.

In a study on the long-term exposure of freshwater invertebrates to PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), it was found that damselfly larvae suffered reduced survival-related behavioural performance. When faced with PFOS concentrations above the NOEC, the larvae were less active, less capable of escaping a simulated predator attack, and less efficient in foraging. This indicates that damselfly behaviour is indeed affected by pollutants.

Another study found that exposure to the pharmaceuticals cetirizine and citalopram impacted the predation success and efficiency of dragonflies in complex ways. While exposure to citalopram reduced predation efficiency, exposure to cetirizine showed varied effects, with predation success being enhanced in some contexts but impaired in others. This suggests that pharmaceuticals, which are increasingly being detected in the tissues of wildlife, have the potential to alter the natural expression of behaviour.

In addition to the direct effects of pollutants on behaviour, pollution can also impact the habitat preferences of damselflies. Damselflies are known to be very intolerant of polluted water and require clean water to breed. As such, increasingly polluted waters worldwide, along with habitat loss and climate change, pose significant threats to damselfly populations.

Overall, behavioural changes in damselflies can indicate the presence of pollution, and these changes can have significant impacts on their survival and reproductive success.

Damselflies are sensitive to pharmaceuticals

Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. They have existed since the Late Jurassic and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. All damselflies are predatory insects, with both nymphs and adults hunting and eating other insects.

Cetirizine is a selective histamine-1 antagonist antihistamine, and citalopram is an antidepressant. Exposure to both compounds elevated dragonfly activity and impacted their predation success and efficiency in complex ways. While exposure to citalopram reduced predation efficiency, exposure to cetirizine showed varied effects, with enhanced predation success in some contexts but impairment in others.

Damselflies are part of the Odonata order, which includes dragonflies, and they are important indicators of water quality. Odonates spend the majority of their lifecycle as nymphs in freshwater, and as adults, they select habitats for reproduction based on the presence of water and macrophytes. Damselflies are generally more resistant to pollution than dragonflies, but they are still vulnerable to pharmaceutical pollution, which can alter their behaviour and impact their interactions with predators and prey.

Overall, damselflies are sensitive to pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical pollution can have complex effects on their behaviour and interactions with other species. More research is needed to fully understand the impacts of pharmaceuticals on these insects and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Damselfly conservation is important

Damselflies spend the majority of their lifecycle as nymphs in freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. These habitats are increasingly threatened by pollution from urban runoff, pharmaceutical pollution, and road salts. As a result, damselfly populations are declining worldwide, and they are not as numerous as they were just a decade ago.

Conservation efforts for damselflies often focus on their more iconic cousins, the dragonflies, which belong to the same order, Odonata. However, the two have similar needs, and what benefits dragonflies will also benefit damselflies. This includes preserving and protecting freshwater habitats by reducing pollution, maintaining water quality, and conserving surrounding forests and wetlands.

Additionally, creating and maintaining clean ponds with submerged, floating, and emergent plants can provide attractive habitats for damselflies. These plants help filter and oxygenate the water, making it more desirable for damselflies to breed. They also provide adults with a place to land and lay their eggs, while the nymphs use them for protection and hunting.

In conclusion, damselfly conservation is important to preserve the health of ecosystems, maintain biodiversity, and ensure the sustainability of freshwater habitats. By addressing the primary threats to damselflies, such as pollution and habitat loss, we can effectively protect these ancient and fascinating insects for future generations.

Damselflies are affected by water quality

Damselflies are very sensitive to pollution and are therefore greatly affected by water quality. They are part of the Odonata order of insects, which also includes dragonflies, and spend their juvenile lives in the water and their adult lives in the air and on land. Odonates breed in freshwater, with some damselfly species breeding in brackish water.

Damselflies are very pollution intolerant and cannot breed without clean water. They are affected by the pollution of waterways, the lowering of groundwater levels, the damming of rivers, and the degradation of wetlands and marshes. They are also more sensitive than dragonfly nymphs to oxygen levels and suspended fine particulate matter. Damselfly larvae are also sensitive to various sources of pollution, such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which is a persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminant. In a study, damselfly larvae exposed to PFOS were less active, less capable of escaping simulated predator attacks, and less efficient in foraging, leading to reduced survival rates.

In addition, pharmaceutical pollution poses a threat to damselfly populations. Laboratory experiments have shown that exposure to certain pharmaceuticals can alter the natural behaviour of dragonflies, impacting their predation success and efficiency. While damselflies are generally less affected by pollution than dragonflies, the introduction of the mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in Hawaii nearly exterminated the island's endemic damselfly population.

The presence of odonates, including damselflies, indicates that an ecosystem is of good quality. To create a desirable habitat for damselflies, it is essential to maintain clean water free of pollutants like heavy metals or ammonium. Providing a mix of submerged, floating, and emergent plants can help filter and oxygenate the water, making it more appealing to damselflies.

Frequently asked questions