DISTRIBUTION OF ODONATA (INSECTA) IN VARIOUS ECOSYSTEMS IN NORTHERN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

<title>STRIBUTION OF ODONATA (INSECTA) IN VARIOUS ECOSYSTEMS IN NORTHERN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Odonata larvae and adults were collected from fourteen sites of various habitats including rivers, rice fields, mountain streams, freshwater and peat swamps, oil palm, sugarcane and rubber plantations and lake. Out of 51species recorded, Libellulidae made up the most dominant of 10 families followed by Gomphidae and Coenagrionidae.Other families were less common. Riverine and stream ecosystems were the most diverse, both with six families and 19 and 13 species respectively. In the rice fields, Libellulidae and Coenagrionidae were represented by 17 and seven species respectively. The poorest fauna of Odonata was recorded from a lake system. A few of libellulids were found to be pollution tolerant and widespread in distribution. Many odonate species were restricted to preferred habitats or water parameter gradients that could be used as bioindicators of respective habitats or parameters.

<abstract>onata larvae and adults were collected from fourteen sites of various habitats including rivers, rice fields, mountain streams, freshwater and peat swamps, oil palm, sugarcane and rubber plantations and lake. Out of 51 species recorded, Libellulidae made up the most dominant of 10 families followed by Gomphidae and Coenagrionidae. Other families were less common. Riverine and stream ecosystems were the most diverse, both with six families and 19 and 13 species respectively. In the rice fields, Libellulidae and Coenagrionidae were represented by 17 and seven species respectively. The poorest fauna of Odonata was recorded from a lake system. A few of libellulids were found to be pollution tolerant and widespread in distribution. Many odonate species were restricted to preferred habitats or water parameter gradients that could be used as bioindicators of respective habitats or parameters.