black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Clear, small rivulets rich in
vegetation, including small brooks on the sea shore line. The latter could be
considered critical in connection with urbanization and sea-resort expansion. It may
be added that the south-east corner of the Black Sea harbours yet a few other species
of Odonata, not currently included in this Red Book, but which should be considered
for the future. These include Coenagrion ponticum, a member of the C. puella-
superspecies that is restricted from the coastal foothills of the Caucasus to Trabzon
area, and Cordulegaster mzymtae, a large dark anisopteran that lives in the Pontic
Alps and the Caucasus mountains.
Biology. Larvae rheophilous, quite rare, inhabitants of the rhithral; both larvae and
adults active predators; period of emergence from V to IX-X; adults relatively slow
fliers.
Population trends. A continuing decline has recently been observed, although not
quantitatively documented.
Threats. Polluting and/or drying up the habitats as a result of urbanization, as well as
of uncontrolled stock-farming (pig, sheep etc.) activity both on the coastal plain and
in the Strandzha Mts. hilly land.
Conservation measures taken. Some of the habitats need saveguarding from human
inerference.
Conservation measures proposed. Include Calopteryx virgo and its subspecies in
the list of Rare and Vulnerable Species.
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