What is the Slovene Odonata Survey?

THE HISTORY

Knowledge about the dragonflies (Odonata) in Slovenia till the World War 2 is not very exhaustive . A handful of small articles, and small collections, which due to partial preservation only have historical value. In the 1960's the order was studied by B. Kiauta. His articles and partly preserved collection in the Natural History Museum of Slovenia are the only possible basis for tentative taught about changes in composition of odonate fauna and changes in the distribution of some species in the next 30 years. Growing interest in dragonflies at the beginning of 1990's resulted in the formation of the Slovene dragonfly Society (affiliated with Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, S.I.O.) in 1992. Even then, with growing number of published, mostly faunistically oriented articles, the majority of data about Odonata was hidden in field notebooks. Without an available and summarized information, it was impossible to make use of high value of dragonflies as bioindicators and to use them within nature conservation efforts. According to legislature passed in 1993 (Act of protection of threathened animal species) all dragonfly species in Slovenia are protected (!?). In spite of this fact, we are not able to believe that human impact on water habitats will cease.

WHY THE EFFORT?

Mapping schemes, as form of gathering data about the distribution of animal and plant species, are widely recognized in the Europe. Such projects have become more popular in the last decade with the need for concrete data in nature conservation activities. However, probably the strongest basis for such growth are wish and willingness of many nature oriented individuals for concrete action. It is not surprising, that the list of taxonomic groups surveyed in this way, is a compromise between possibilities (required methods of work), use and attractiveness (which regulates the number of potential collaborators). As a result (keeping the armies of ornithologists in mind) it is obvious that birds are at the top of the vertebrate list, followed by amphibians and reptiles. Among invertebrates, butterflies win the race, followed by beetles, dragonflies, snails and grasshoppers. Data collected for the Atlas, equipped with tools (Red Lists) is suitable for use in environmental planing, but at the same time they also strengthens the efforts of civil nature conservation organizations. Two main goals may be achieved through an organized Survey:
  • the extent of territory and time coverage which can not be expected nor achieved within proffessional projects,
  • satisfactory quality at exceptionally low cost.
    The goals of the Slovene Odonata Survey are:
  • updated database about Odonata distribution in Slovenia and connected possibility for quick nature conservation responses,
  • availability of the database for all interested users,
  • correct and regularly updated Odonata Red List.

    CURRENT STATUS QUO AND HOW TO PROCEED?

    Slovene Odonata Survey started in July 1993. At that time the registration blank and instructions for Slovene Odonata Survey were produced. In the autumn of the same year the database was established, using commercially available MS Access. Available data from collections and articles, together with those from 15 collaborators totaled at 4493 records from 636 localities (October 1994 standings). In January of 1996 the database consists of over 12000 records from 1416 localities. 22 collaborators have (non members of the Society among them) submitted their data. Importance of such data collecting may be underlined with the fact that around 80% of data is unpublished, de facto not existing. Collaborators were trained at the Society workshops (2 each in the years 1993, 1994, 1995) and at numerous summer training courses. Alltogether 2667 registration blanks were collected (=1 locality, 1 date and all the recorded species). In the spring of 1997 the first phase of the project will be ended with the publication of the Atlas of Slovene Odonata. At the same time the Odonata Red List will be offered. The sole fact of publication does not mean that the Survey will be finished at that moment. The work has just begun, namely the trends for certain species may first truly be recognized in the next years.
    The text is partly based on:
    KOTARAC, M., 1995. Principles for the distribution Atlas of dragonflies (Odonata) of Slovenia. Grad. Thesis, BTF, Univ.Ljubljana. IX + 104 str.
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