Odonata as Indicators? Dragonflies and Damselflies Respond to Riparian Conditions along Ozark Spring Streams

The Odonata are not typically regarded as informative taxa for stream bioassessment in North America compared to other insects, particularly when monitoring the ecological impacts of organic pollution. However, we hypothesized that stream-dwelling odonates useful bioindicators riparian conditions because vegetation associated with streams is used oviposition and establishing breeding territories likely a cue suitable nymphal habitat. We sampled from multiple microhabitats all macroinvertebrates riffle habitat 12 Ozark Highlands (USA) spring along gradient conditions. also measured standard suite physical chemical variables each stream. various aspects odonate macroinvertebrate assemblages among sites evaluate sensitivity structure measured. were strongly riparian-specific variables, while lesser degree. additional environmental explained minimal variation either assemblage. Overall, our results suggest alone could be biomonitoring around streams. Nearctic regions should further studied identify regional species-specific differences.