Weather data
A large number of automatic weather stations has been implemented in the frame of the BIOTA AFRICA project by the Namibian National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and the Group "Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology" (BEE) of the University of Hamburg. The website offers hourly updates of data and graphs of a large number of weather parameters.


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Subproject S08 (expiring December 2004)

Subproject Coordination: Prof. Dr. Otto Richter, head of project; Dr. Frank Suhling, for special questions concerning dragonflies, Institut für Geoökologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38102 Braunschweig
o.richter@tu-bs.de
f.suhling@tu-bs.de

Effects of anthropogenic changes on the diversity of Namibian Odonata: Modelling on different geographical scales

The purpose of our project was to develop and test a system, which allows modelling the Odonata diversity on the population-, species- and assemblage-level of arid and semiarid African regions. The system was aimed to serve as a tool to assess different scenarios of climate change and anthropogenic effects for ecosystem management. In this context we regarded the diversity of dragonflies as an indicator. We set up a countrywide monitoring program. Community composition, species' habitat selection, life cycles, behaviour etc. were studied. Using DNA marker we studied the genetic diversity. Based on these data we evolved habitat-suitability, population dynamic and dispersal models. There are several results of all initial fields of the sub-project, for instance cf. references (selection as of 20 July 2004):

Braune, E. 2004. Populationsdynamik in sich verändernden Landschaften: Ein räumlich explizites Modell für Libellen in Namibia. In: Dormann, C., A. Lausch, T. Blaschke, D.

Johansson, F. & F. Suhling 2004. Behaviour and growth of dragonfly larvae along a permanent to temporary water habitat gradient. Ecological Entomology 29: 196-202.

Martens, A. 2003. Reproductive behaviour of African Odonata - a review. Cimbebasia 18: 225-241.

Martens, A., R. Jödicke & F. Suhling, 2003. Annotated checklist of the Odonata of Namibia. Cimbebasia 18: 139-160.

Padeffke, T. & F. Suhling, 2003. Temporal priority and intraguild predation in temporary waters: an experimental study using Namibian desert dragonflies. Ecological Entomology 28: 340-347.

Schenk, K., F. Suhling & A. Martens, 2004. Relation between egg distribution, mate-guarding intensity, and offspring characteristics in dragonflies (Odonata). Animal Behaviour 68: 599-606.

Suhling, F., R. Jödicke & W. Schneider, 2003. Odonata of African arid regions - are there desert species? Cimbebasia 18: 207-224.

Suhling, F., A. Martens & E. Marais, 2004. Critical species of Odonata in southwestern Africa In: Jödicke, R & V. Clausnitzer (eds.). Guardians of the watershed. Global status of dragonflies: critical species, threat and conservation. International Journal of Odonatology 7: 263-277.

Suhling F, G Sahlén, D Gaedecke, J. Kasperski, in press. Behavioural and life history traits in temporary and perennial waters: comparisons among three pairs of sibling dragonfly species. Oikos.

Suhling, F., K. Schenk, T. Padeffke & A Martens, 2004. A field study of larval development in a dragonfly assemblage in African desert ponds (Odonata). Hydrobiologia 526: 75-85.

Suhling, F., C. Schütte & O. Müller, 2004. Nesciothemis farinosa (Förster): description of the final stadium larva. International Journal of Odonatology: 73-78.