Scholarlink

Abstract <p> The biodiversity crisis is exceptionally severe in the freshwater systems of the highly threatened Afromontane region. We estimated abundance, occupancy and detection probabilities and studied functional traits of ecological significance for adults and larvae of Kenya Jewel (<i>Platycypha amboniensis</i> Martin, 1915) and Giant Sprite (<i>Pseudagrion bicoerulans</i> Martin, 1907) in Mount Kenya Forest. Our estimates of abundance were based on replicated counts, while occupancy and detection probabilities were estimated using a single-season, two-species occupancy formulation. We found that detection probabilities of one species were influenced by the detection probabilities of the other, but conversely, occupancy was not. This was supported by morphological traits, as the larvae of <i>P. amboniensis</i> are adapted to rocky and fast-flowing lotic streams, while <i>P. bicoerulans</i> is adapted to vegetated, littoral, and slow-moving reaches of the same streams. This means that, while these species have different adaptations, their co-occurrence depends on the heterogeneity of the microhabitats. We recommend implementation of ecosystem restoration approaches that will contribute to maintain habitat complexity and therefore increase the resilience of these co-occurring species to future environmental changes.</p> Implications for conservation <p>The occurrence of Kenya Jewel was not influenced by the occurrence of Giant Sprite, and there was neither competition nor niche overlap. This aligns with the differences in ecological adaptations based on the functional morphology of adults and larvae. This evidence is useful for restoration of the ecosystem to ensure that these species are conserved concurrently in their range of co-occurrence.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Congruence of detection probabilities and co-occurrence of threatened Afromontane damselflies with diverging functional traits (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae, Coenagrionidae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月5日

查看全文
  • Anthony M. Karani,
  • Anne W. Kairu,
  • Michael N. Githaiga,
  • Andrew W. Gichira,
  • Ivy W. Ng’iru

摘要

Abstract

The biodiversity crisis is exceptionally severe in the freshwater systems of the highly threatened Afromontane region. We estimated abundance, occupancy and detection probabilities and studied functional traits of ecological significance for adults and larvae of Kenya Jewel (Platycypha amboniensis Martin, 1915) and Giant Sprite (Pseudagrion bicoerulans Martin, 1907) in Mount Kenya Forest. Our estimates of abundance were based on replicated counts, while occupancy and detection probabilities were estimated using a single-season, two-species occupancy formulation. We found that detection probabilities of one species were influenced by the detection probabilities of the other, but conversely, occupancy was not. This was supported by morphological traits, as the larvae of P. amboniensis are adapted to rocky and fast-flowing lotic streams, while P. bicoerulans is adapted to vegetated, littoral, and slow-moving reaches of the same streams. This means that, while these species have different adaptations, their co-occurrence depends on the heterogeneity of the microhabitats. We recommend implementation of ecosystem restoration approaches that will contribute to maintain habitat complexity and therefore increase the resilience of these co-occurring species to future environmental changes.

Implications for conservation

The occurrence of Kenya Jewel was not influenced by the occurrence of Giant Sprite, and there was neither competition nor niche overlap. This aligns with the differences in ecological adaptations based on the functional morphology of adults and larvae. This evidence is useful for restoration of the ecosystem to ensure that these species are conserved concurrently in their range of co-occurrence.