The movement responses of three libellulid dragonfly species to open and closed landscape cover

Abstract

Abstract The land cover between habitats (i.e. matrix environment) can affect connectivity by impacting organismal movement. Many animals, however, have preferences for specific matrix environments, which can affect their movement through the landscape. We examined how different terrestrial matrix environments impacted the fine‐scale movement of adult dragonflies. Based on previous studies of adult dragonfly dispersal and larval distributions, we hypothesised that dragonflies would prefer to enter fields rather than forests and that forests would be a barrier to dragonfly movement, due to forests’ structural complexity, low understory light availability, and lower air temperatures. To test how adult dragonflies responded to various terrestrial environments, we released 108 Leucorrhinia intacta , a mixture of 108 Sympetrum rubicundulum and obtrusum/rubicundulum hybrids, and 108 Sympetrum vicinum , at field‐forest ecotones and assessed their preferences for fields or forests. Individual behavioural responses were recorded, including their probability of taking flight, their direction of movement with respect to the two matrix types, and flight time. The likelihood of adult dragonflies taking flight was species‐specific in response to release location. Adults moved more frequently towards fields than forests when released at a forest edge. Individuals released within forests had shorter flight times, but again this response was species‐specific. The presence of an open matrix (field or meadow) is likely important for facilitating movement in dragonflies; however, forests are not movement barriers for all dragonfly species. Integrating assays of matrix and habitat preferences can provide insight into how landscape connectivity can be maintained for actively dispersing species.