A preliminary assessment of odonate diversity along the river Tirthan, Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, India with reference to the impact of climate change

A recent study along the Tirthan River in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) revealed 19 odonate species, including eight dragonflies and 11 damselflies, with 17 recorded for the first time. This significantly increases the known diversity of odonates in GHNPCA to 23 species across 18 genera and eight families. Notably, three species—Indothemis carnatica, Agriocnemis femina, and Argiocnemis rubescens—were documented for the first time in the western Himalayas. The study also observed a marked shift in odonate species composition over 18 years, suggesting that climate change-driven microhabitat alterations may be reshaping local biodiversity. This research highlights the vulnerability of high-altitude ecosystems to climatic shifts and underscores the need for long-term monitoring in protected areas.

Singh, A. P., De, K., Uniyal, V. P., & Sathyakumar, S. (2021). A preliminary assessment of odonate diversity along the river Tirthan, Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, India with reference to the impact of climate change. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(11), 19611–19615. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5427.13.11.19611-19615