Rare damselflies given help

Rare damselflies on Dartmoor are being given help to increase their numbers by a collaborative project between Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Environment Agency.

The ‘Southern Damselfly Project’ starts this month and will run for three years. It will build on research already carried out since 2002 to provide knowledge and develop methods in how best to encourage the species and the habitat on which it relies.

Nationally, the southern damselfly breeds in heathland and chalk streams, culm grassland and calcareous mires. Suitable habitat is threatened due to insufficient grazing and inappropriate heathland management, including deepening of shallow breeding streams, drainage, abstraction and eutrophication (nutrient enrichment from nitrates and phosphates).

The two Dartmoor southern damselfly colonies were first discovered in 1995 and 1997 in the north east of the moor by Dartmoor National Park Authority staff.

Norman Baldock, Ecologist, Dartmoor National Park Authority, said, “The southern damselfly is a priority species in both the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and the UK BAP, and its future is under threat if work isn’t done to safeguard it. The Authority has subsequently worked in conjunction with landowners and the Environment Agency carrying out extensive habitat management, survey and monitoring to ensure the continued existence of the damselflies.”

The Environment Agency has lead responsibilities for this species in the areas of regulation, operations, planning, promotion, research and data management.

Roger Goulding from the Environment Agency said, “Successful work has already been carried out to increase the size of both colonies. Now a programme of academic research and monitoring will aim to make further improvements and encourage a beneficial land management regime. The work will include assessing how many damselflies live at both sites, where they are breeding, and adjacent areas which might, with some work, become suitable breeding grounds.”

The 2.5 centimetre long damselfly is similar in appearance to a small dragonfly, except it holds its wings together above its body when at rest. Damselflies breed near lakes, ponds and watercourses as their nymphs live in water. It is believed that 25 per cent of the global population of the southern damselfly occurs in the UK.

Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Environment Agency are jointly funding the project, which amounts to £18,000 over three years, to monitor the populations and the success of habitat management works. The project is being managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority with support from the Environment Agency, Dartmoor Commoners, landowners and Liverpool University.