Hine's emerald dragonflies will benefit from multi-state recovery efforts. Photo by Dr. Paul Burton.

As part of a multi-state effort to benefit the endangeared Hine's emerald dragonfly, the Chicago Illinois Field Office led an effort to acquire funds from section 6 of the Endangered Species Act for the states of Illinois and Wisconsin..  These funds will be used to determine the current status of the dragonfly at sites where it has been observed and to gather information on new sites that will contribute to the long-term viability and recovery of the species. 

The Hine's emerald dragonfly, currently found in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin, is one of North America's rarest dragonflies.  Historically known from northern Ohio and Indiana, it is now thought to be extirpated from these states.  Quantitative information on the population status across its range is very limited.  Most of the sites for this species are described from the presence of adults alone, making the status of many sites as breeding habitat uncertain.

The Hine’s emerald dragonfly larvae live in small, temporary streams and flowage areas of fens and sedge meadows that are fed by calcareous groundwater associated with dolomitic bedrock.  Habitat loss due to agriculture, development, limestone quarrying and groundwater extraction are the probable cause of this species' decline.  Loss of remaining habitat through disruption of ecological and hydrological processes is the primary threat to surviving populations.

To develop appropriate conservation and recovery efforts for the Hine’s emerald dragonfly, information on its current distribution, population status and viability are crucial.  Due to the fact that adults are highly mobile, with only limited systematic survey work conducted, identification of viable, reproducing populations is also particularly important for assessing the species' status and long-term viability and for prioritizing sites for conservation and recovery efforts.  Larval studies can provide information useful in the quantification and identification of trends in Hine’s emerald dragonfly populations.  Adult dragonflies often are found some distance away from what is believed to be suitable larval habitat.  More information on ecological requirements of the Hine’s emerald dragonfly is needed, including determining larval habitat requirements. Thus, a search for Hine’s emerald dragonfly larval habitat within existing sites was considered a high priority by the recovery team. 

Population genetic data are essential to the management and recovery of endangered species.  It has long been recognized that the presence of genetic diversity within species allows for future adaptation in a changing environment.  Habitat fragmentation can reduce gene flow between habitat patches.  Disruption of natural population structure and dynamics can accelerate declines in genetic diversity within already declining populations.  The population genetic structure and genetic connectivity among Hine’s emerald dragonfly sites on local and range-wide scales is a major gap in our knowledge of this species.  Because the population dynamics of the dragonfly were unknown when the recovery plan was completed, the status of the species and the recovery criteria for reclassification and delisting were based on theoretical knowledge of metapopulations.  Effective recovery and management is simply not possible without knowing the spatial scale and structure of populations. 

Once genetic data are combined with ecological data on the dispersal and movement of Hine’s emerald dragonflies in Illinois, and Wisconsin, it will be possible to plan effectively for habitat preservation, restoration and creation.  In addition, completing this work will result in better understanding of the species' status and identifying appropriate and attainable recovery criteria.  For these reasons, we are going to use funds from a multi-state section 6 grant to identify new breeding locations, survey for larvae, quantify known populations, and determine genetic diversity among Hine’s emerald dragonfly populations in Door and Ozaukee counties in Wisconsin and Cook, DuPage and Will counties in Illinois. 

The major goals of the study are 1)  determine levels of genetic variability in HED sites in Cook, DuPage, and Will counties in Illinois and Door and Ozaukee counties in Wisconsin;  2)  estimate the population genetic structure (level of genetic connectivity) among sampled locations within each state or geographical cluster of sites; 3) delineate populations, subpopulations, metapopulations, or other appropriate units within the sampled areas based on frequencies of genetic markers; 4) estimate genetically effective population sizes of  these units; 5) estimate levels of genetic similarity across the sampled sites.       

This project will provide data critical to the conservation of the Hine’s emerald dragonfly.  Habitat complexes currently occupied by the dragonfly will be resurveyed to learn more about current use and breeding status of these sites.  This information is needed to implement the recovery plan for the species.  In addition, it will enable public and private land managers to better protect and manage for this species.  This project also will identify potential sites for future ecological research.  At the end of the project, the information base will expand knowledge of Hine’s emerald dragonfly occurrences, estimates of population size, genetic variability, and threats to existing populations.  Working relationships or partnerships with local conservation organizations will be developed whenever possible and enable the implementation of long-term monitoring and conservation work at the local level.