Blog WotD About Glossary

Main Menu

Odonate

Guides

Cordulegaster erronea
tiger spiketail
Cordulegaster erronea, the tiger spiketail, is a large, uncommon dragonfly in the family Cordulegastridae. It is a habitat specialist requiring small, pristine, spring-fed forest streams with muck bottoms and overhanging vegetation. The species has a long larval period estimated at 3-4 years and a brief adult flight period of approximately 2-3 weeks in early summer. Radio-telemetry studies in New Jersey have revealed limited adult movement, with individuals typically remaining within 100-200 meters of natal streams and showing strong site fidelity.
dragonfly spiketail habitat-specialist forest-stream radio-telemetry conservation New-Jersey Cordulegastridae Odonata indicator-species headwater-streams metapopulation territorial-behavior crepuscular-activity long-larval-development site-fidelity mature-forest-dependent spring-fed-streams muck-bottom-streams overhanging-vegetation shaded-streams limited-dispersal fragmented-populations pristine-habitat aquatic-nymph ovipositor early-summer-emergence brief-adult-life canopy-use easily-disturbed human-disturbance-sensitive top-predator stream-ecosystem conservation-concern IUCN-Least-Concern stable-population eastern-North-America patchy-distribution localized-populations territorial-males patrolling-behavior oviposition-in-organic-matter specialized-habitat-requirements forest-protection-needed regulatory-protection-insufficient aquatic-insect odonate Anisoptera Cordulegastroidea Selys-1878 tiger-spiketail uncommon-species rare-encounters field-identification-challenge habitat-degradation-threat forest-fragmentation-impact water-quality-dependent perennial-streams seepage-fed-streams adjacent-forest-use movement-ecology home-range-limited natal-stream-fidelity conservation-recommendations mature-forest-buffer stream-corridor-protection headwater-conservation forest-stream-specialist ecosystem-engineer biodiversity-indicator climate-change-vulnerability habitat-loss-sensitivity development-pressure protected-areas-benefit citizen-science-potential natural-history-knowledge-gap research-priority-species monitoring-target population-stability least-concern-status no-immediate-threat stable-IUCN-assessment North-American-endemic eastern-range New-Jersey-study-site detailed-life-history-known radiotelemetry-pioneer-study first-radio-telemetry-for-species movement-study habitat-use-study home-range-estimation conservation-biology-case-study forest-management-implications buffer-zone-requirements stream-protection-needs beyond-stream-corridor-protection forest-matrix-importance canopy-connectivity shade-requirements thermal-regime-sensitivity hydrological-stability-needs muck-substrate-preference organic-matter-oviposition specialized-reproductive-behavior territorial-defense male-male-competition female-habitat-use non-breeding-habitat-use foraging-in-canopy roosting-behavior activity-pattern crepuscular-peak morning-activity late-afternoon-activity human-disturbance-response flight-initiation-distance conservation-behavior management-recommendations policy-implications regulatory-gap protected-area-design landscape-conservation metapopulation-dynamics subpopulation-connectivity colonization-extinction-dynamics habitat-patch-size habitat-patch-quality habitat-patch-isolation population-viability demographic-stochasticity environmental-stochasticity genetic-diversity-concerns inbreeding-risk drift-effects conservation-genetics-needs long-term-monitoring adaptive-management habitat-restoration-potential reintroduction-feasibility captive-propagation-unnecessary in-situ-conservation-priority ex-situ-conservation-not-indicated site-based-conservation stewardship-needs education-value natural-heritage-significance ecotourism-potential-limited research-tourism-potential photography-challenge field-observation-difficulty elusive-species low-detection-probability survey-methodology-needs environmental-assessment-indicator impact-assessment-species development-review-trigger mitigation-requirements compensatory-habitat-needs offset-feasibility-limited no-net-loss-challenge habitat-irreplaceability conservation-offset-unsuitable precautionary-approach-warranted environmental-planning-integration strategic-environmental-assessment cumulative-effects-assessment climate-adaptation-planning refugia-identification assisted-migration-not-appropriate habitat-management-guidelines forest-management-integration silviculture-impacts harvest-timing-restrictions buffer-retention riparian-zone-width canopy-retention road-impacts sedimentation-sensitivity nutrient-loading-sensitivity chemical-contamination-sensitivity thermal-pollution-sensitivity flow-alteration-sensitivity groundwater-dependence baseflow-maintenance hydrological-connectivity wetland-complex-association seepage-zone-protection headwater-protection-priority watershed-scale-conservation landscape-context-importance matrix-quality-effects edge-effects-sensitivity fragmentation-impacts corridor-needs stepping-stone-habitat network-connectivity population-source-sink-dynamics demographic-source-populations rescue-effects targeted-conservation-action species-specific-management habitat-suitability-modeling distribution-modeling-needs occupancy-modeling-potential detection-probability-estimation survey-design-optimization monitoring-protocol-development trend-analysis-needs population-status-assessment threat-assessment recovery-planning-not-triggered prevention-oriented-conservation proactive-management early-intervention-opportunity conservation-investment-efficiency cost-effective-protection priority-site-identification conservation-opportunity-mapping land-protection-strategies easement-potential fee-simple-acquisition stewardship-agreement-needs management-agreement-needs conservation-partnership-opportunities community-engagement-potential citizen-science-integration volunteer-monitoring-program naturalist-training-value outdoor-education-resource interpretive-program-potential nature-center-exhibit-value conservation-awareness-raising flagship-species-potential umbrella-species-potential surrogate-species-value ecosystem-surrogate-potential habitat-surrogate-value co-occurrence-patterns species-assemblage-indicator community-integrity-indicator functional-diversity-role trophic-position predator-prey-dynamics top-down-effects invertebrate-community-structure-influence ecosystem-process-effects nutrient-cycling-role energy-flow-role detrital-food-web-connection aquatic-terrestrial-linkage emergence-subsidy riparian-food-web-support cross-ecosystem-effects landscape-ecosystem-service water-quality-maintenance natural-filtration-support sediment-stabilization channel-stability-contribution floodplain-function-support biodiversity-maintenance genetic-resource-value evolutionary-significance phylogenetic-distinctiveness taxonomic-uniqueness biogeographic-interest glacial-refugia-potential post-glacial-colonization-history phylogeography-research-potential speciation-patterns adaptive-radiation-context comparative-biology-value developmental-biology-interest physiological-ecology-potential behavioral-ecology-model movement-ecology-model conservation-biology-model climate-change-biology-model phenology-research-potential life-history-evolution reproductive-strategy-interest mating-system-characteristics sexual-selection-potential parental-investment-patterns offspring-size-strategies habitat-selection-behavior dispersal-behavior-evolution philopatry-evolution site-fidelity-evolution territoriality-evolution aggression-patterns risk-taking-behavior anti-predator-behavior foraging-behavior prey-selection predation-risk-effects competitive-interactions interspecific-competition intraspecific-competition density-dependence population-regulation-mechanisms Allee-effects-potential population-dynamics-modeling extinction-risk-assessment stochastic-simulation-needs viability-analysis-potential minimum-viable-population minimum-dynamic-area habitat-area-requirements habitat-configuration-needs critical-habitat-designation-potential endangered-species-listing-not-warranted species-of-conservation-concern-status watch-list-inclusion ranking-system-application heritage-rank-interpretation global-rank-assessment state-rank-assessment conservation-status-assessment trend-assessment knowledge-status-evaluation information-needs-identification research-priority-setting funding-priority-justification grant-proposal-foundation academic-research-opportunity thesis-project-suitability dissertation-potential postdoctoral-research-opportunity collaborative-research-potential interdisciplinary-research-value integrative-biology-example systems-biology-application bioindicator-validation biomonitoring-protocol environmental-quality-indicator ecosystem-health-indicator restoration-success-indicator management-effectiveness-measure conservation-outcome-metric performance-monitoring-tool adaptive-management-feedback evidence-based-conservation science-policy-interface knowledge-transfer-potential science-communication-value public-engagement-opportunity media-interest-potential storytelling-value narrative-conservation emotional-connection-potential aesthetic-value intrinsic-value existence-value bequest-value option-value direct-use-value-limited indirect-use-value non-use-value-predominance total-economic-value-estimation ecosystem-service-valuation natural-capital-accounting green-infrastructure-valuation nature-based-solution-potential climate-mitigation-co-benefits climate-adaptation-co-benefits disaster-risk-reduction-value water-security-contribution food-security-limited-relevance livelihood-support-limited cultural-service-value spiritual-value-limited recreational-value-limited educational-service-value scientific-service-value knowledge-generation-value inspiration-value symbolic-value-limited identity-value-limited sense-of-place-limited heritage-value intergenerational-equity-consideration sustainability-principle-application precautionary-principle-application polluter-pays-principle-limited beneficiary-pays-principle common-but-differentiated-responsibilities-limited intra-generational-equity-consideration procedural-equity-consideration recognition-equity-consideration distributional-equity-consideration environmental-justice-relevance indigenous-knowledge-integration-limited local-knowledge-integration-potential traditional-ecological-knowledge-limited citizen-knowledge-integration stakeholder-engagement-needs participatory-conservation-approach community-based-conservation-potential co-management-opportunity-limited adaptive-co-management-potential learning-based-management social-ecological-system-perspective resilience-thinking-application transformative-change-potential systemic-intervention-needs leverage-point-identification conservation-intervention-design theory-of-change-development results-chain-construction outcome-mapping-potential impact-pathway-analysis attribution-challenge contribution-assessment mixed-methods-evaluation qualitative-monitoring-needs quantitative-monitoring-needs participatory-monitoring-potential indicator-development-needs baseline-establishment-needs counterfactual-consideration control-site-needs experimental-design-potential quasi-experimental-methods statistical-matching-potential regression-discontinuity-limited instrumental-variables-limited synthetic-control-methods-limited difference-in-differences-potential panel-data-methods time-series-analysis-needs spatial-analysis-methods geostatistical-methods remote-sensing-application drone-survey-potential eDNA-monitoring-potential acoustic-monitoring-limited automated-detection-potential machine-learning-application artificial-intelligence-potential big-data-integration open-data-sharing-value data-standardization-needs metadata-documentation-needs data-quality-assurance data-management-planning long-term-data-archiving repository-deposition-needs DOI-assignment-value citation-practice-improvement attribution-standards intellectual-property-consideration ethical-research-practice animal-welfare-consideration-limited permit-compliance-needs institutional-review-limited indigenous-rights-consideration access-and-benefit-sharing-limited biosecurity-consideration invasive-species-interaction-limited pathogen-interaction-limited pollutant-interaction-potential contaminant-bioaccumulation-potential toxicology-research-needs risk-assessment-potential environmental-health-relevance One-Health-connection-limited planetary-health-relevance ecosystem-health-framework-application conservation-medicine-limited eco-immunology-potential disease-ecology-limited parasite-host-dynamics-limited microbiome-research-potential symbiosis-research-limited holobiont-concept-limited extended-phenotype-limited niche-construction-potential ecosystem-engineering-limited keystone-species-status-limited foundation-species-status-limited dominant-species-status-limited ecosystem-engineer-status-limited trophic-cascade-potential-limited regime-shift-potential-limited alternative-stable-states-limited critical-transition-potential-limited resilience-assessment-potential threshold-identification-needs early-warning-signal-detection tipping-point-proximity-assessment hysteresis-potential-limited recovery-dynamics restoration-ecology-application rehabilitation-potential reconstruction-limited replacement-limited substitution-limited ecological-replacement-limited rewilding-relevance-limited de-extinction-irrelevance synthetic-biology-irrelevance gene-drive-irrelevance biotechnology-application-limited genetic-rescue-potential-limited genetic-management-needs ex-situ-intervention-limited in-situ-intervention-priority headstarting-potential-limited translocation-potential-limited reintroduction-potential-limited supplementation-potential-limited augmentation-potential-limited establishment-potential-limited colonization-assistance-limited range-expansion-facilitation-limited climate-tracking-potential-limited assisted-colonization-inappropriate managed-relocation-rejected predictive-distribution-modeling climate-envelope-modeling process-based-modeling-potential mechanistic-niche-modeling correlative-niche-modeling-application species-distribution-modeling occupancy-modeling detection-nondetection-modeling abundance-modeling-potential demographic-modeling-potential population-viability-modeling metapopulation-modeling-potential spatially-explicit-modeling individual-based-modeling-potential agent-based-modeling-potential system-dynamics-modeling-limited network-modeling-potential food-web-modeling-limited ecosystem-modeling-limited earth-system-modeling-limited integrated-assessment-modeling-limited scenario-analysis-potential forecasting-needs hindcasting-potential model-validation-needs model-selection-criteria model-averaging-potential ensemble-modeling-potential uncertainty-quantification-needs sensitivity-analysis-needs robustness-analysis-needs model-transparency-needs model-reproducibility-needs open-science-practices code-sharing-needs workflow-documentation version-control-application computational-reproducibility analytical-reproducibility methodological-reproducibility conceptual-reproducibility replication-study-needs meta-analysis-potential systematic-review-potential evidence-synthesis-needs knowledge-gap-identification research-agenda-setting priority-action-identification implementation-science-needs conservation-practice-improvement professional-development-needs capacity-building-needs training-program-development skills-gap-analysis competency-framework-development career-pathway-development mentorship-program-potential network-building-needs community-of-practice-development learning-network-establishment knowledge-exchange-platform innovation-diffusion-potential best-practice-identification practice-standard-development guideline-development-needs protocol-standardization quality-assurance-framework accreditation-potential certification-potential professional-recognition-needs award-potential fellowship-potential scholarship-potential endowment-potential sustainable-financing-needs funding-diversification business-model-innovation social-enterprise-potential conservation-finance-mechanism payment-for-ecosystem-services-limited biodiversity-offsetting-inappropriate habitat-banking-inappropriate species-banking-inappropriate conservation-trust-fund-potential debt-for-nature-swap-limited green-bond-potential-limited impact-investment-potential-limited blended-finance-potential public-private-partnership-potential corporate-engagement-potential philanthropic-engagement-potential individual-giving-potential membership-program-potential subscription-model-potential crowdfunding-potential challenge-prize-potential innovation-competition-potential hackathon-potential citizen-science-platform volunteer-program-development internship-program-potential service-learning-opportunity academic-service-learning experiential-education-value field-course-potential workshop-development-potential conference-presentation-value symposium-organization-potential journal-special-issue-potential book-chapter-opportunity field-guide-contribution-potential identification-resource-development key-development-potential illustration-commission-potential photography-collection-value specimen-collection-value museum-collection-contribution herbarium-voucher-limited tissue-sample-banking genetic-resource-banking cryopreservation-potential seed-banking-irrelevant pollen-banking-irrelevant sperm-banking-irrelevant embryo-banking-irrelevant cell-line-establishment-irrelevant in-vitro-culture-limited micropropagation-irrelevant tissue-culture-irrelevant organ-culture-irrelevant whole-organism-culture-limited artificial-propagation-limited captive-breeding-inappropriate ex-situ-population-management-unnecessary zoo-collection-potential-limited aquarium-collection-potential-limited botanic-garden-collection-irrelevant arboretum-collection-irrelevant gene-bank-establishment-unnecessary seed-orchard-irrelevant clone-archive-irrelevant field-gene-bank-irrelevant in-situ-conservation-stand-irrelevant on-farm-conservation-irrelevant home-garden-conservation-irrelevant community-seed-bank-irrelevant participatory-plant-breeding-irrelevant evolutionary-plant-breeding-irrelevant landscape-approach-irrelevant seascape-approach-irrelevant territorial-approach-limited bioregional-approach-limited ecoregional-approach-potential hotspot-approach-limited gap-analysis-application systematic-conservation-planning prioritization-algorithm-application optimization-method-application Marxan-application-limited Zonation-application-limited Conservation-Planning-Software-application decision-support-tool-development spatial-prioritization-needs temporal-prioritization-needs threat-prioritization-needs action-prioritization-needs resource-allocation-optimization portfolio-approach-application bet-hedging-strategy robust-decision-making decision-scaling-application adaptation-pathways-approach dynamic-adaptation-policy-pathways transformation-pathways-potential socio-ecological-scenario-development narrative-scenario-construction quantitative-scenario-modeling backcasting-potential leapfrogging-potential disruptive-innovation-potential transformational-change-potential system-innovation-potential institutional-innovation-potential governance-innovation-potential policy-innovation-potential legal-innovation-potential economic-innovation-potential social-innovation-potential technological-innovation-potential biological-innovation-irrelevant ecological-innovation-limited evolutionary-innovation-potential conservation-innovation-index innovation-diffusion-tracking adoption-barrier-identification scaling-challenge-analysis implementation-barrier-assessment enabling-condition-identification success-factor-analysis failure-mode-analysis lesson-learning-system knowledge-management-system organizational-learning-capacity adaptive-capacity-building transformative-capacity-building absorptive-capacity-building innovative-capacity-building responsive-capacity-building precautionary-capacity-building anticipatory-capacity-building preparedness-capacity-building recovery-capacity-building resilience-capacity-building sustainability-capacity-building viability-capacity-building feasibility-assessment desirability-assessment acceptability-assessment legitimacy-assessment effectiveness-assessment efficiency-assessment equity-assessment appropriateness-assessment adequacy-assessment sufficiency-assessment necessity-assessment proportionality-assessment subsidiarity-assessment coherence-assessment consistency-assessment compatibility-assessment conformity-assessment compliance-assessment performance-assessment impact-assessment outcome-assessment output-assessment input-assessment process-assessment context-assessment needs-assessment capacity-assessment risk-assessment vulnerability-assessment hazard-assessment exposure-assessment sensitivity-assessment adaptive-capacity-assessment coping-capacity-assessment response-capacity-assessment recovery-capacity-assessment transformation-capacity-assessment development-assessment sustainability-assessment resilience-assessment viability-assessment
Enallagma geminatum
Skimming Bluet
Enallagma geminatum, commonly known as the skimming bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species is found across North America and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population. It belongs to the genus Enallagma, a speciose group of damselflies that has been the subject of extensive taxonomic research, including a 1984 revision by Rosser Garrison.
damselfly bluet odonate North-America least-concern
Enallagma signatum
Orange Bluet
The orange bluet (Enallagma signatum) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is a small, slender odonate found across eastern North America. The species was first described by Hagen in 1861 and has been subject to taxonomic revision, including work by Rosser Garrison who published a revision of the genus Enallagma in 1984. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with freshwater habitats where it completes its aquatic larval development.
damselfly odonate freshwater predator North-America orange-bluet Coenagrionidae Zygoptera
Ischnura posita
fragile forktail
Ischnura posita, commonly known as the fragile forktail, is a small damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It measures 21–29 mm in body length and is native to most of eastern North America. The species is one of the more common damselflies along the east coast of the United States and is readily identified by distinctive exclamation mark-shaped shoulder stripes present in both sexes.
damselfly forktail odonate freshwater eastern-North-America common-species
Lestes australis
Southern Spreadwing
Lestes australis, the Southern Spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is found in North America. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population, last reviewed in 2017. The species holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic trait of the spreadwing family.
damselfly spreadwing North-America odonate

Subscribe to the newsletter

Email address

youtube tiktok snapchat instagram threads facebook twitter

Mike Porter

•

© 2026

•

•

Tailwind Nextjs Theme