Dragonfly Conservation Group and Research

We work with amateur and professional researchers to further our understanding of dragonflies and how best to protect and manage their wetland habitats.

Dragonfly Conservation Group

The Dragonfly Conservation Group (DCG) exists as a sub-group within the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) and aims to co-ordinate the conservation, research, recording and training aspects of the Society. It works closely with the Society’s Trustees, Officers and the BDS Recording Scheme. The Group administers the Society’s grant scheme, for which the Convenor is the point of contact.

The DCG meets at least twice a year, in spring and autumn, and currently numbers twelve, plus two corresponding members. Its Convenor is appointed on a rolling four-year basis and the members are selected to provide a wide range of relevant skills.

Pam Taylor (Convenor)	Mike Averill	Pat Batty
Steve Cham	Eleanor Colver	Jen Davidson
David Hepper	Toby Hill	Lauren Kennedy
Adrian Parr	Dave Smallshire	Jon Van-gowler
	Daniele Muir

Membership of the Dragonfly Conservation Group is by invitation only, but the group always welcomes enquiries from people who believe they can expand the expertise of the team.

In particular, the group would welcome contact from people with the following skills or experience:

Recent or current experience of working in academia and/or ecological/environmental research.
In-depth knowledge of Odonata.
In-depth knowledge of freshwater ecosystems and their management.
Experience in GIS or ecological statistics.

For further enquiries please contact Pam Taylor (Convenor)

Corbet Moore Award

The Corbet Moore Award is currently unavailable due to a redirection of funds towards specific research initiatives.

Research Ideas For Students

	A detailed study of the behaviour of Aeshna isoceles in Stratiotes aloides An examination of activity throughout the year could help to explain how its larvae and the adults use the plant and to illustrate which of its features (large surface area, vertical seasonal movement etc) are most significant.
	An Investigation of the larval habitats of Lestes dryas This would help to determine the special requirements of this species and whether its choice of often slightly saline sites and sites with wooded cover in the British Isles is a means of avoiding competition with other Odonate species.
	Survey of the breeding areas of Gomphus vulgatissimus in silts and gravels of the River Thames This would help to determine which ones are the most important for the species and so require special treatment by the water authorities.
	Dragonfly Dispersal We know little about how damselflies colonise water bodies and studies would help to provide an insight. It would need to be linked to a mark-release-recapture study.
	Water quality Studies Although we know that dragonflies require unpolluted, well oxygenated water, little is known accurately about their definite requirements. A literature review is also required to help identify the work that has already taken place.
	Species Habitat Requirements Currently habitat requirements are mostly defined at the qualitative level. Consequently some more objective parameters for particular species would be valuable and help to guide conservation.
	Causes of Mortality at Emergence We know that many dragonflies do not survive emergence and causes of mortality would provide an interesting insight. The use of artificial emergence sites could make the project easier.

Please contact our Conservation Officer if you would like to discuss any of these projects.

International Research Organisations And Websites

Worldwide Dragonfly Association	The WDA is an international organization dedicated to research, conservation and public awareness of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata).
International Odonatological Foundation	“Odonatologica is one of the best biology journals in the world at the moment. It’s a classic example of the ‘ground-up’ approach to global biodiversity.”
International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)	The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) acts as adviser and arbiter for the zoological community by generating and disseminating information on the correct use of the scientific names of animals.
International Dragonfly Fund (IDF)	Promoting projects to research and protect the dragonflies of our world and their habitats.
OdonataCentral & The Dragonfly Society of the Americas (DSA)	OdonataCentral hosts the site of the DSA and also contains comprehensive checklists of species together with ditribution maps and photos for USA, Canada and Mexico species.
Société française d’Odonatologie (SfO)	The French Odonatology society.
Finnish Dragonfly Society	The site is in Finnish so here is a direct link to the species list in English.
Libellules	Site about the odonata of France
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Libellenstudie (NVL)	Brachytron: the Dutch dragonfly society.
Gesellschaft deutschsprachiger Odonatologen (GDO)	A German Odonatologists group
The Hokkaido Odonatological Society	A group interested in studying and conserving dragonflies in Hokkaido
Odonata EU	The online identification guide for all dragonfly and damselfly species that occur in Europe.
Odonata.DK	Dragonflies and damselflies of Denmark, in English and with Danish common names, by photographer Jesper Johnsen Pedersen.
Swedish Dragonflies	The Swedish dragonfly website.

We work with amateur and professional researchers to further our understanding of dragonflies and how best to protect and manage their wetland habitats.

Dragonfly Conservation Group

Codes of Practice

Research Ideas For Students