Demographic characteristics of Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden, 1820) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in arid regions: sex and female morphs differences in survival and capture probabilities, space use patterns and spatial density

Abstract

We used the mark-recapture method to gather fundamental information on the population dynamics of Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden, 1820) in an arid region of central Iran. Ischnura elegans expresses female-limited colour polymorphism. We investigated sex and female morphs differences in survival and capture probabilities, space use patterns and spatial density. We used Cormack–Jolly–Seber and spatial capture-recapture models. The estimated capture probability for males was lower than females. The survival probability was not different between either males and females or gynomorphs and andromorphs. We found support for sex differences in density and detection probability, and female morphs differences in density, space use and detection probability. Based on our results the extreme conditions of arid regions can lead to a male-biased dispersal. Our findings also confirm the existence of behavioural differences between andromorph and gynomorph females and suggest a within species spatial habitat partitioning.

Keywords:

• Spatial mark-recapture
• arid
• population dynamic
• damselflies
• dragonflies

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr Ahmad Reza Khosravi from Shiraz University for his great help in plant identification. We also express our gratitude to all people who helped us with the fieldwork.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.