Subproject E07

Dr. Viola Clausnitzer, Philipps-University of Marburg, Dept. of Geography, Deutschhausstr.10, 35032 Marburg, Germany

Diversity and species composition of Odonata as indicators of biotope quality of East African rainforests and their replacement communities

Summary
The ecology and diversity of dragonflies will be studied in primary, secondary and fragmented rain forests in East Africa, with the long term aim to develop rapid and useful monitoring programmes to detect human-induced changes and environmental disturbances. Other outputs will be an identification manual for East African dragonflies, distribution maps and lists of indicator species for rapid assessments and habitat evaluation.

Methods
Inventories in different habitat types will be made, covering as much of Kenya as possible. Based on observations and sweep netting species check-lists will be provided for all areas visited. Taxonomic work will be done on species and genera, which are systematically difficult, using reference collections of difference Museums. Ecological data will be collected for each species, including habitat requirements and seasonality. Already existing data from literature and collections will be surveyed and incorporated.