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Conservation status assessment of Paraphlebia damselflies in Mexico

Abstract:

We assessed the conservation status of the three Mexican Paraphlebia damselflies based on the criterion B of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN): P. hyalina, P. quinta, and P. zoe. According to this List, P. hyalina has not been evaluated, P. quinta appears as least concern, and P. zoe appears as Vulnerable. Geographical records were taken from literature, enquiries to specialists and field visits. We also projected the future potential geographical range area. We generated species distribution models (SDM) for P. quinta and P. zoe (as there were not enough records for P. hyalina) as a surrogate of the extension of occurrence (EOO) and also calculated the area of occupancy. Future distributions were projected for years 2020, 2050, and, 2080 based on pbkp_redicted changes in climatic conditions. Species distribution models pbkp_redicted current EOO areas for P. quinta and P. zoe as 18 860 and 16 440 km2, respectively, and around 50% of their distribution coincides with agricultural, pasture or urban sites. Our SDM results indicate that IUCN-based conservation status of the three species should be changed as follows: P. quinta and P. zoe moved to endangered category, and P. hyalina to data-deficient category based on the reduced EOO areas and the historical loss of habitat. For P. quinta, future climatic projections suggest an initial reduction (2020) followed by an expansion (2050 and 2080) in suitable areas, whereas for P. zoe there will be a decrease in pbkp_redicted area for the three time periods. Preserving areas that provide shade, high humidity and perching sites seems to be a key for Paraphlebia species survival.