What to do if streams go dry? Behaviour of Balkan Goldenring (Cordulegaster heros, Odonata) larvae in a simulated drought experiment in SW Hungary

• Published in: Ecological entomology 2020-12, Vol.45 (6), p.1457-1465
• Main Authors: Pernecker, Bálint, Mauchart, Péter, Csabai, Zoltán
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisoptera; artificial stream system; Body size; Burrowing behavior; burrowing behaviour; climate change; Cordulegaster; Desiccation; Drought; Drying; Experiments; Hyporheic zones; Larvae; Macroinvertebrates; Odonata; Refugia; Sediments; Species; Streams; stream‐dwelling dragonfly; Substrates; Survival; water deprivation; Water levels
• ISSN: 0307-6946; 1365-2311
• DOI: 10.1111/een.12931

In case of dryings, the hyporheic zone is one of the most important refugia for stream macroinvertebrate communities, including the few Odonata species living in these habitats, such as Cordulegaster species. There is no information on the desiccation resistance strategies and methods of any members of the genus, including Cordulegaster heros. We hypothesised that the larvae use burrowing behaviour to survive droughts. In this study, beyond recording the survival rates of the larvae, we tested the effects of the sediment particle size and the body size of the larvae on burrowing behaviour in a 3‐week‐long simulated drought experiment in an indoor artificial stream system. Eighty larvae were involved in the experiment, from which 60 were treated with drought, and 20 served as controls. Larvae were put into flowing water, into separate special compartments; 1 day later, the flow was ceased, and then, the water level was gradually decreased for 3 weeks. Approximately 15% of larvae could survive the 3 weeks of drying. The survival probability of drought‐treated larvae was significantly increased if animals burrowed into the sediment. In addition, the survival probability was higher in case of fine substrate material. Size of the larvae only affected the depth of the burrowing, not the survival rate. However, two‐thirds of the larvae did not dig into the sediment, which implies that surviving via burrowing is not the only mechanism of the species to withstand dry periods. Approximately 15% of Cordulegaster heros larvae are capable of surviving 3 weeks without surface water under laboratory conditions. The survival probability was significantly increased if animals burrowed into the sediment. Survival probability was higher on fine substrate material. Size of the larvae only affected the burrowing depth. Two‐thirds of the larvae did not dig into the sediment, which implies that surviving via burrowing is not the only mechanism of the species used to withstand dry periods.