Risk of Local Extinction of Odonata Freshwater Habitat Generalists and Specialists |
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Authors: | JUKKA SUHONEN ESA KORKEAMÄKI JUKKA SALMELA MARKKU KUITUNEN |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyv?skyl?, , FIN‐40014 Jyv?skyl?, Finland;2. Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, , FI‐20014 Turku, Finland;3. Water and Environment Association of the River Kymi, , FI‐ 45160 Kouvola, Finland;4. Zoological Museum, Department of Biology, University of Turku, , FI‐20014 Turku, Finland |
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Abstract: | Understanding the risk of a local extinction in a single population relative to the habitat requirements of a species is important in both theoretical and applied ecology. Local extinction risk depends on several factors, such as habitat requirements, range size of species, and habitat quality. We studied the local extinctions among 31 dragonfly and damselfly species from 1930 to 1975 and from 1995 to 2003 in Central Finland. We tested whether habitat specialists had a higher local extinction rate than generalist species. Approximately 30% of the local dragonfly and damselfly populations were extirpated during the 2 study periods. The size of the geographical range of the species was negatively related to extinction rate of the local populations. In contrast to our prediction, the specialist species had lower local extinction rates than the generalist species, probably because generalist species occurred in both low‐ and high‐quality habitat. Our results are consistent with source–sink theory. Riesgo de Extinción Local de Odonatos de Agua Dulce Generalistas y Especialistas de Hábitat |
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Keywords: | damselfly dragonfly extinction freshwater generalist species geographical range size specialist species source– sink agua dulce caballitos del diablo diná micas source‐sink especies especialistas especies generalistas extinció n libé lulas tamañ o del rango geográ fico |
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