Congruence of detection probabilities and co-occurrence of threatened Afromontane damselflies with diverging functional traits (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae, Coenagrionidae)

The biodiversity crisis is exceptionally severe in the freshwater systems of the highly threatened Afromontane ecosystems. We studied functional traits of ecological significance, estimated abundance, probabilities of occupancy, and detection of adults and nymphs of Kenya Jewel ( Platycypha amboniensis Martin, 1915) and Giant Sprite ( Pseudagrion bicoerulans Martin, 1907) in Mount Kenya Forest. The estimates of abundance were based on replicated counts, while occupancy and detection probabilities were estimated using a single-season, two-species occupancy formulation. The study revealed that detection probabilities of one species were influenced by the detection probabilities of the other, but conversely, occupancy was not. This was supported by morphological traits. The larvae of P. amboniensis is adapted to rocky and fast-flowing lotic streams, while P. bicoerulans is adapted to vegetated, littoral, and slow-moving reaches of the same streams. The study concluded that while these species have different adaptations, their co-occurrence depends on the heterogeneity of the microhabitats and recommended ecosystem restoration approaches that maintain habitat complexity to increase the resilience of co-occurring species to future environmental changes. Implications for conservation : The occurrence of Kenya Jewel was not influenced by occurrence of Giant Sprite and; there was neither competition nor niche overlap. This aligns with the differences in ecological adaptations based on functional morphology of adults and larvae. This evidence is useful for restoration of the ecosystem to ensure that these species are conserved concurrently in their range of co-occurrence.