Picture:Male Diphlebia euphoeoides, rainforest damselfly (Paluma)
Of Australia's 300-odd species of dragonfly over 150 occur in
North Queensland. There are two distinct faunas: a lowland fauna
dominated by coenagrionid damselflies and libellulid dragonflies, and an
upland fauna with a wide taxonomic diversity including many archaic
elements. Gems include populations of Petalura ingentissima, Chorismagrion
risi and Lestoidea conjuncta [18k Jpeg]available close to the Paluma
field station.
Present research is concentrated on associating larvae and adults
(largely done), examining larval agonistic behaviour (Coenagrionidae,
Synlestidae, Amphipterygidae systematically, other Zygoptera
opportunistically), determining larval microhabitats and ecology,
examining mating systems (esp. Ischnura aurora), and documenting
adult seasonality of rainforest forms.
References:
Watson, J.A.L., Theischinger, G., Abbey, H.M. 1991. The Australian
dragonflies. Canberra, CSIRO Publications.
Richards, S., Rowe, R. 1994. Australian dragonfly research:
northern Queensland. Kimminsia 5: 7-8
Researchers: Richard Rowe, Steve Richards, Ross Alford
Publications: Alford/Richardson/Rowe
Theses:
Trenery, M. 1988. The ecology of tadpoles in a tropical rainforest stream. unpubl. B.Sc.(hons) thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland. (partim)
Charlton, L. 1989. The ecology of dragonflies (Odonata) in a
tropical Australian stream. unpubl. B.Sc.(hons) thesis, James Cook
University of North Queensland.
Yuile, C. 1993. The ecology of an aseasonal tropical stream on Bougainville Island. unpubl. PhD thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland (partim)
