DNA barcoding and survey of dragonflies in Vienna

Cordulegaster heros (c) Iris Fischer

The overall objective of the project is a complete survey of the dragonfly fauna in Vienna, focusing on two specific aims: (1) the occurrence and distribution of two species listed in the Flora-Fauna-Habitat (FFH) Directive, the Balkan Goldenring (Cordulegaster heros) and the Yellow Spotted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia pectoralis); (2) the acquisition of species specific DNA barcodes of most of the Viennese dragonfly species, including the setup of a reference database comprising the archiving of reference material and the specific DNA sequences of sampled dragonfly specimens.

Data gained in this project on the one hand will help to fulfil the monitoring guidelines of the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive of the European Union, on the other hand we provide data to contribute to a modern biodiversity research approach.

Due to the fact that Vienna provides a mosaic of different biogeographic regions and habitats, the city harbours a high percentage of dragonfly species diversity: 61 species (78 %) have been recorded in Vienna so far. Consequently, within our survey a high proportion of the Austrian dragonfly fauna will be covered.

As part of this study the DNA barcoding method will also be tested and optimized for DNA samples from exuvia sampled in the field. Moreover, the project includes a pilot study using water samples, which are assumed to contain remains of dragonfly larvae, as DNA source (environmental barcoding; environmental DNA). In a next step, the species inventory obtained by observation of imagos can be compared with the species number detected via environmental barcoding.  Both methods, the usage of exuviae and the eDNA approach, depend on a reference database, which will be established within this study. Especially in dealing with species under protection with high biomonitoring value, non-invasive methods like these have a high potential to fill the gaps of knowledge of the distribution of dragonfly species.

The project is funded by the Austrian Programme for Rural Development 2014-2020.

https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rural-development-2014-2020_en
https://www.wien.gv.at/umweltschutz/naturschutz/laendliche-entwicklung.html