Occurrence of protected species ( Gomphus flavipes , Odonata and Palingenia longicauda , Ephemeroptera) in the Danube River and its deltas (Romania, Slovakia)

• Main Authors: BULÁNKOVÁ Eva, BERACKO Pavel, DERKA Tomás
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: CITDD Publishing House 2013-12-01
• Series: Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute
• Subjects: Gomphus flavipes; Palingenia longicauda; Inland Delta; the Danube Delta; Romania; Slovakia
• Online Access: http://www.ddni.ro/manager/editor/UserFiles/File/Scientific%20annals/volume/19/19.Final/art_03.pdf

Till now, altogether 50 species of dragonflies have been found in the Danube and its arms in Slovakia. One of the most important indicator species is Gomphus (Stylurus) flavipes, listed as strictly protected by Appendix II of the Bern Convention. Large population of Gomphus flavipes was found in the Malý Dunaj (Small Danube), in the area called Danube’s “Inland Delta”, in 2000–2001. Watching of dragonflies in the Danube Delta (Romania) demonstrated another large population in 2007–2008. In contrast with these observations are our results, from long–term monitoring of dragonflies in the Danube, in the area influenced by the Gabčíkovo power plant (operational since 1992). Changes in hydromorphology in this section started in 19 th century and at present dam represents a significant impact on the functioning of the Danube ecosystem. During 20 years monitoring we found only one larva of Gomphus flavipes in the Danube at the site downstream of the dam. Another critically endangered species, mayfly Palingenia longicauda was found in the Danube Delta in 2009. We observed emergence of giant mayfly in the Danube ́s arm in Romania. Palingenia longicauda disappeared totally in the 1930s from many European rivers. At present it occurs in Tisza and Rába rivers (Hungary) and has been reintroduced in Lippe and Odra rivers (Germany). New findings of large populations of Palingenia longicauda in the Romanian Delta has been unknown till now. Findings of large population of Gomphus flavipes in deltas confirm that river deltas are of high importance for aquatic biodiversity conservati