Endangered damselfly found along restored chalk river in Hertfordshire
Scarce blue-tailed damselflies were recorded at two River Ash monitoring sites after a 7km restoration, as a new Red List moved the species to Endangered.
The story in focus
A scarce blue-tailed damselfly, reclassified as Endangered in the British Dragonfly Society's Red List review, was recorded at two monitoring sites in late summer along a restored 7km stretch of the chalk River Ash near Hertford, BBC News reports. The project also created gravel beds where brown trout are spawning.
- The scarce blue-tailed damselfly was recorded at two closely spaced monitoring sites in late summer along the River Ash near Hertford.
- The British Dragonfly Society's Red List review reclassified the species from Near Threatened to Endangered.
- The same review found eight species now classed as endangered, twice the number in the previous 2008 assessment.
- The 7km stretch at the Easneye Estate was restored to its original course last year.
- Brown trout are spawning on new gravel beds, and monitoring found more mayflies and stoneflies.
What was recorded
The scarce blue-tailed damselfly was recorded at two monitoring sites located close together in late summer along the River Ash near Hertford. BBC News reports the sightings came alongside wetlands created by a project that restored a 4.3-mile (7km) stretch of the chalk river at the Easneye Estate to its original course last year.
The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said that for species facing increasing pressure, creating and restoring suitable habitats was vital to reversing declines.
Red List context
A new assessment of Britain's dragonflies and damselflies raised concerns about some species. The British Dragonfly Society's Red List review reclassified the scarce blue-tailed damselfly from Near Threatened to Endangered, and found eight species now classed as endangered, twice the number identified in the previous assessment in 2008.
The River Ash is one of about 260 chalk rivers in the world. The trust said the restoration included creating new gravel beds, and that brown trout were already spawning on them. Monitoring carried out before and after the restoration found an increase in river invertebrates, including mayflies and stoneflies.
Trust's view
Sarah Perry, rivers recovery manager at the trust, said natural rivers, connected floodplains and healthy wetlands support biodiversity by providing places for wildlife to feed and breed. She said they also help water move through the landscape and can contribute to resilience against flooding and drought.
Perry described the River Ash sightings as a hopeful example of what such efforts can achieve.
How many dragonfly and damselfly species are now classed as endangered in Britain?
Eight species are now classed as endangered in the British Dragonfly Society's Red List review, twice the number identified in the previous assessment in 2008, according to BBC News.
Sources & further reading
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