Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024) DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 =, CAUCASIANA Journal on the biodiversity of the Caucasus and the adjacent regions Research Article Notes on the phenology of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Aras River Valley of Turkiye Denis Kitel'®, Kyle Kittelberger?®, Kayahan Adirkaya®®, Gul Tutar®®, Gagan H. Sekercioglu23*© Tbilisi, Georgia KuzeyDoga Society, Kars, Tiirkiye Fe wo NY School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA College of Sciences, Kog University, Rumelifeneri, Sariyer, istanbul, Tiirkiye Corresponding author: Denis Kitel (kitelden@gmail.com) OPEN Qrceess Academic editor: Levan Mumladze Received: 21 October 2024 Accepted: 9 December 2024 Published: 12 December 2024 ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ FB14358A-BC80-445F-BF12- 1FC239B6E145 Citation: Kitel D, Kittelberger K, Agirkaya K, Tutar G, Sekercioglu CH (2024) Notes on the phenology of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Aras River Valley of Turkiye. Caucasiana 3: 281-294. https://doi.org/10.3897/ caucasiana.3.e139879 Copyright: © Kitel et al. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0). Abstract A check-list of Odonata found at Aras River Valley in Kars and Igdir provinces of Turkiye is published for the first time, representing 38 species. The abundance of species from March to November is noted by month, with the phenology of the flight period indicated. Summer months host the highest number of species, up to 28 in June. We provide a complete phenology for the imago (adult) presence in the area for 22 species, from their emergence to their disappearance at the end of their flight period and life cycle. Short notes regarding selected species which are either rare in the region or have international protection status are also provided. This study shows that the Aras River Valley is an im- portant place for Odonata, especially Onychogomphus flexuosus and Libellula pontica, species which are classified as “Vulnerable” and “Near Threatened”, respectively, in the present IUCN Red List of threatened species. Key words: Anisoptera, Aras, flight period, odonate, wetland, Zygoptera Introduction Turkiye is a large, rugged, and diverse country, with habitats ranging from snowy peaks and temperate forests to cold steppes and hot deserts to subtropical coasts. This diversity of habitats is reflected in the diverse fauna of dragonflies (Dijkstra et al. 2020), with the national checklist of Turkish Odonata consisting of 98 species (Boudot et al. 2021). Although the country has a high number of species recorded, the exploration of the country has been uneven, and there is a large potential for odonate research. The level of past odonatological exploration of Igdir, Kars, and adjacent prov- inces is very low. Consequently, since the pioneering work by Kalkman and Van Pelt (2006), only scattered odonate records have been published (see Boudot et al. 2021). However, the dragonfly fauna of the countries bordering eastern Turkiye are comparatively well studied: Armenia (Tailly et al. 2004; Ananian and Tailly 2013), Georgia (Schroter et al., 2015; Seehausen et al. 2016), and Iran (Schneider et al. 2018); see also Boudot et al. (2021). 281 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras There has been a long tradition of studying dragonflies—“the“birdwatcher’s insect” (see Moore 1957)—at ornithological stations, and this has been carried out in several countries recently (Shapoval and Buczynski 2012; Borisov and Borisov 2016; Knoblauch et al. 2021; Shapoval et al. 2022). The Turkish Kuzey- Doga Society has implemented different nature conservation and research-ori- ented projects in the Aras River Valley in northeastern Turkiye for the past two decades, including the Aras River Ornithological Research Station (Akkiictk and Sekercioglu 2016). While working at this station, the authors have made observations of dragonflies and damselflies in the area. We aim to increase knowledge of the species diversity of Odonata in this area as well as provide detailed flight period information for each detected species. Materials and methods This study was carried out in the northeastern part of the Republic of Turkiye in Igdir and Kars provinces around the Aras River Ornithological Research Sta- tion (40.078°N; 43.358°E), mainly in the vicinities of Yukari Ciyrikli and Asagi Ciyrikli villages. The Aras River Ornithological Research Station has been oper- ated through the University of Utah and the KuzeyDoga Society in collaboration with the Koc, Igdir, and Kafkas universities since 2006 (Sekercioglu et al. 2011; Neate-Clegg et al. 2019; Kittelberger et al. 2021, 2022). This region is located at the intersection of the Caucasus and Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspots (Kit- telberger et al. 2022). The study area is situated at an altitude of about 900-1000 m a.s.l. and covers approximately 25 kmz2, including the Aras River Valley and agricultural land from the bridge of D070 road to the dam near Incesu village. The climate of the study area is continental, with mild winters and hot, dry summers, which is typical for the Eastern Anatolia region. The mean annual precipitation rate is 258 mm (Turkoglu 2017). The wetland and riparian vegeta- tion of the region primarily consists of a mixture of Phragmites and Typha spp. among scrub, orchards, and steppe grasslands (Kittelberger et al. 2021, 2022). The banks of the Aras River are partially dammed to prevent the villages and roads from flooding. The bottom of the river is regularly excavated, creating a series of temporary small reservoirs in the dry season. Agricultural land is mainly used for gardening, haymaking, and cattle grazing; therefore, the entire area is riddled with irrigation canals (Fig. 1). The material for this study was collected across multiple months and years during routine daily work at the Aras River Ornithological Research Station. Some individuals were extracted from the mist nets with a mesh size of 16 mm, identified, photographed, and released. In good weather, places far from the station were visited; of particular interest were flooded fields for growing grass, artificial channels and small lakes with drinking water for cattle, the Aras floodplain terrace, and the surrounding steppe landscape. Data were gathered by the authors in the following time periods: 11-31 Octo- ber, 2014 (DK); 01 May — 01 July, 2019 (KDK); 30 August — 20 November, 2021 (KDK); 15 June — 15 November, 2022 (DK); 01 March — 28 April, 2023 (Dk); 29 April — 15 June 2023 (KA, GT); 11 Jul — 15 Nov 2023 (KA, GT); 09 March — 27 June, 2024 (DK, KDK, KA, GT). For the convenience of presenting data on Odonata flight periods, observa- tions were grouped into discrete time periods. Thus, every month was divided Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 282 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras Figure 1. The Aras River Valley in the vicinity of Yukari Cryrikli village (Tuzluca, Igdir province). Photo by DK on 22 July, 2022. into 3 periods: |—from 1 to 10 calendar days, II—from 11 to 20 calendar days, and III—from 21 to 30 (or 31) calendar days. The observation of the species during the day was counted as one record, i.e., the maximum number of re- cords a year in periods | and II was 10, and in period Ill was 11. Results In total, 38 species were recorded (Table 1), corresponding to 38.8% of Tiirkiye’s Odonata fauna. The month with the highest species diversity was June, with 28 species recorded, followed by August and July with 26 and 23 species, respec- tively (Fig. 2). In July, the number of species detected should likely be more than we recorded due to the ornithological station not being in operation during much of the breeding season of many passerine birds, preventing the authors from collecting sufficient data during this period. Regarding taxonomic groups, 14 species found at the study area belong to suborder Zygoptera, and 24 species to Anisoptera. Among the families detect- ed, 16 species are from Libellulidae; 6 species from families Coenagrionidae and Aeshnidae, respectively; 5 species from family Lestidae; 2 species from family Gomphidae; and 1 species from families Calopterygidae, Epallagidae, and Platycnemididae, respectively. Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 283 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras 30 25 NO oS Total number of species o on Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Figures 2. Monthly occurrence frequency of Odonata species at the Aras River Valley. Kalkman and Van Pelt (2006) created histograms of the flight periods of dragonflies and damselflies of Turkiye based on 7558 records. Boudot et al. (2021) reveal flight periods for Odonata of Western and Central Asia, including Turkiye, using approximately 37,000 records. Since our analyses are based on relatively short, non-continuous periods of study, we decided to represent our results as a table compiled from 1434 records (Table 1). For 22 species of Odonata in our study (Table 1), the phenology data from Aras River Valley is complete and contains the beginnings and ends of their flight periods. The longest period of flight is noted in the following species: Sympecma fusca, from March (period I) to October (period III), covering two different generations; Orthetrum brunneum, from April (Ill) to October (III; Sympetrum fonscolombii, from April (1) to October (I); Platyenemis dealbata, from May (II) to October (Il); Ischnura elegans, from April (1) to September (Ill); Ischnura pumilio, from April (Ill) to October (Il); and Anax parthenope, from April (I) to September (Ill). For 5 species, only the beginning or the end of the flight period is known. Additionally, due to regional habitat limitation or scarceness, further efforts to study the phenology of seven species are needed. Only one observation was available for four species, and so any con- clusions on their status and flight period in the region remain premature. The division of dragonfly species according to the degree of their study is present- ed in Table 2. Notes on selected species Sympecma paedisca (Brauer, 1877) (Fig. 3). Two historical records of this spe- cies are available for Tiirkiye (Sélys 1887). This species is known from adja- Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 284 A adouayyed xeuy Jojejaduil Xeuy Jabiddiyda xeuy e)xXIW BUYSaY siulye PUYSaV oljiuund einuyos]| suebayja eunuyos| ejegjeap SIWaUdA}e/g ejjand uolbeua0g winjnyios uolbeua0)g winjeuso uolbeus0g wuniabiyzetso ewbejeuz awijey abe/j/edz suapuayjds xAyajdoje9 eosipaed ewoadwks eosny ewdadWAS seXip sajsaq snuequeq $ajsa7 suapiAsed $a}Ssajoojey9 saiseds 285 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras ‘pajyoadxa si saidads ay} Jo BOUaSaJd dU} ING pa}Da]]OD e}ep OU SEM dJay} UBYM POlJad SWI} dU} SdJeSIPU! - YILW BY “(LZOZ) ‘Je 19 OPNOg SMO}]O} ain}ejOUaWOU SIWOUOXe} puke JIJI]UBIDS “aADN| UJa}Seayyou ul Aa|jeA JAAIY SEJY BUY} Ul EYEUOPC JO polad WYbI|4 “L aqeL Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 Odonata of Aras Kitel et al.: AH hy —- |LO Oo }o [Tt YS ioe) Ww N | c€ wo |v (o>) (99) —- |m IN N MO |r wo | hs a Spl0da/ JO oN lunjesojooap winjebjna wnsyadws wunjejols winsjadwis wuinauinbues winsjadws lunue}UOWAapad WnsjadWws d/EUOIPUAaW LUNIadWAS IIGUIOJODSUOJ LUNIadWAS Wunjoaaey winsjadws lunjnosnissasdap wnsjadws SUdDSAAPL e/eJUCd sdaoue suaosajniaood Wnjay10 Wunje|jaQueD LWINdJaYLIO wunauunsg WwinsjayisO WuN|AISIg/e WNaYywO e91]U0d e/N|/ag!7 essadap ejnjjagi7 BdBIYJAJA SIWIAYJOIOID snsonxay snydwoboyoXug ILaplauyos Snydwoy $9/900S! PUYOSIEOS] saiseds 286 Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras Table 2. The degree of study of the phenology of dragonflies of Aras River Valley. The beginning and end of the flight season is known Only the beginning or the end Insufficient data One record of the flight season is known Chalcolestes parvidens, Lestes barbarus, Sympecma Coenagrion ornatum, Enallagma Lestes dryas, fusca, Calopteryx splendens, Epallage fatime, Platicnemis Coenagrion puella, Aeshna cyathigerum, Anax Sympecma dealbata, Ischnura elegans, Ischnura pumilio, Aeshna affinis, lsoaeschna isoceles, ephippiger, Libellula paedisca, mixta, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope, Onychogomphus Gomphus schneiderii depressa, Orthetrum Coenagrion flexuosus, Crocothemis erythraea, Libellula pontica, cancellatum, Pantala scitulum, Orthetrum albistylum, Orthetrum brunneum, Orthetrum flavescens, Sympetrum Sympetrum coerulescens anceps, Sympetrum fonscolombii, depressiusculum, flaveolum Sympetrum pedemontanum, Sympetrum sanguineum, Sympetrum meridionale Sympetrum striolatum, Sympetrum vulgatum decoloratum cent Armenia (Ananian and Tailly 2013), which is why Kalkman and Van Pelt (2006) expected it to occur in the eastern part of Turkiye. The only individual in our study was found on 24 July 2022 on a grassy meadow next to a small stream overgrown with vegetation. Targeted searches to clarify its status in the region returned no results, though additional research and further surveys are still needed. Anax ephippiger (Burmeister, 1839) (Fig. 4). This obligate migratory species migrates northwards from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula between April and mid-June and returns southwards from late August to mid-October (Boudot et al. 2021). One individual was tangled in a mist net on 16 September 2021. In spring 2024 a small shallow lake had been established after a canal had been dammed, and several individuals were seen regularly and later laying eggs, con- firming the species to breed (possibly successfully) in the Aras River Valley; emergences and exuviae remain to be found, however. Onychogomphus flexuosus (Schneider, 1845) (Fig. 5). The IUCN recognizes this species as globally threatened (“Vulnerable”) (Kalkman 2020). In Georgia, it is common and widespread in the Mtkvari and Alazani River catchment (Schroter et al. 2015). In Armenia, the most recent observations are from the southeastern part of the country (Ananian and Tailly, 2013). The population in the Aras River Valley seems to be large and stable. This species likely emerg- es earlier, but from our observations, it is flying from the end of June to the end of August. Libellula pontica Selys, 1887 (Fig. 6). This species is classified by the IUCN as “Near Threatened” (Kalkman 2006), and it is also protected in Armenia (Ana- nian 2010), where it was detected in 2011 for the first time since 1964 in the Aras River Valley close to the Turkish border (Ananian 2012). It is common in eastern Georgia, which probably constitutes its main stronghold (Boudot et al. 2021). The species is also common in the Aras River Valley on the Turkish side, where it emerges in the middle of May and flies until the end of July. Many ex- uviae were found in flooded areas around canals with running water in the ag- ricultural land. It seems that the species avoids the main flow of the Aras River and instead prefers secondary tributaries or even artificial irrigation canals with overgrown vegetation banks. Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) (Fig. 7). This species is a strong wan- derer and can migrate long distances (Piretta and Assandri 2019; Boudot et al. 2021). From mid to late August, as well as early to mid-September, several individuals, also freshly emerged, were observed. A male patrolling a flooded area to the south of Donandi village was observed on 4 June 2024. Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 287 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras Figures 3. Sympecma paedisca, female. Photo by DK on 24 July, 2022. b Figures 4. Anax ephippiger, male. Photo by DK on 04 April, 2024. Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 288 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras Figures 5. Onychogomphus flexuosus, male. Photo by DK on 17 July, 2022. Figures 6. Libellula pontica, male. Photo by DK on 17 July, 2022. Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 289 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras —_ as a pl Red Figures 7. Pantala flavescens, female. Photo by DK on 26 August, 2022. Figures 8. Sympetrum depressiusculum, male. Photo by DK on 21 July, 2022. Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 290 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras Sympetrum depressiusculum (Selys, 1841) (Fig. 8). Kalkman and Van Pelt (2006) do not depict the distribution of this species in the eastern part of Tiir- kiye. Boudot et al. (2021) show more records in the northeastern part of the country, but it is obvious that its range is patchy and poorly known. This species is not recorded in nearby Iran (Schneider et al. 2018). In Armenia, the last pub- lished record was before 1963 (Tailly et al. 2004), with no recent records men- tioned in the literature (Ananian and Tailly 2013). Few individuals were found at the flooded grass fields near Yukari Cryrikli village on 21 July and 15 and 16 August 2022. Its regional status remains unclear. Discussion The results of this study are not comprehensive but provide a reliable basis to continue investigation of the Odonata fauna occurring in the Aras River Valley. Additionally, they provide a baseline and blueprint to study their regional flight period in the context of climate change. Especially, the presence of a bird ring- ing station facilitates long-term monitoring of odonates, while opportunistic captures via bird mist nets offer subsequent in-hand examination. Since the Aras River Valley predominantly consists of running water sourc- es, species tied to stagnant water, which are relatively common elsewhere in Turkiye, are local or rare in the study region. For instance, Libellula depressa was observed only twice at the study area: presumably a migrating individual at the station and one male defending territory on the small lake near Incesu village. Othetrum cancellatum was found only at one location, at a small cattle drinking pond in the steppe (N40.117°, E43.441°): it seems to be a common and numerous species there, but due to the distance of the cattle pond from the bird ringing station, the phenology data is not fully known. The same is true with Enallagma cyathigerum, which was also present in good numbers at the same pond but was scarce elsewhere. The area plays an important role in the preservation of some range-limited or globally threatened species, such as Libellula pontica and Onychogom- phus flexuosus (Kalkman 2006, 2020). Species-oriented efforts are needed in the future, especially with understanding how these species that are asso- ciated with river ecosystems might benefit from a ban on river construction or the establishment of water reservoirs. Additional explorations of certain areas in the Aras River Valley might lead to the discovery of other species that could be expected to occur: Lestes sponsa, Lestes virens, Platycnemis pennipes, Caliaeschna microstigma, Onychogomphus (forcipatus) albotibi- alis, Selysiothemis nigra, or even as uncommon as Stylurus ubadschii and Sympetrum arenicolor. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to KuzeyDoga Society for the logistical support throughout the research period. This study would not have been as complete without the significant volunteer contributions of Maksim Kostin, Nikolas Or- ton, Maria Mak, and Ilayda Eryilmaz. We also appreciate communication with and advice from Asmus Schroter and Vasil Ananian during the work and prepa- ration of the article. Caucasiana 3: 281-294 (2024), DOI: 10.3897/caucasiana.3.e139879 291 Kitel et al.: Odonata of Aras Additional information Conflict of interest The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Ethical statement No ethical statement was reported. Funding No funding was reported. Author contributions DK wrote the manuscript with support from KDK and CHS; DK conceived the original idea for the project; DK, KDK, KA, and GT documented Odonata in the field; DK prepared the flight period dataset and figures, with assistance from KDk; all co-authors contribut- ed to and gave final approval of the manuscript. 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