Diversity and Distribution of Odonates of the Meriç Delta Wetland in Turkish Thrace, with a New Record for the Region

This study was performed in the Meric Delta located in the Edirne province of the Turkish Thrace Region in order to reveal the diversity and distributions of odonates in the delta wetlands. Samplings were performed from spring to autumn in 2014 and 2015 in different wetland localities represented by lagoons, lakes and a river. A total of 30 Odonata species were recorded during the study, of which Libellula quadrimaculata is a new record for both the study area and Turkish Thrace. In addition, Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1780), Lestes dryas Kirby, 1890, Lestes macrostigma (Eversmann, 1836), Coenagrion puella (Linnaeus, 1758), Coenagrion pulchellum (Vander Linden, 1825), Coenagrion scitulum (Rambur, 1842), Enallagma cyathigerum (Charpentier, 1840), lschnura pumilio (Charpentier, 1825), Aeshna affinis Vander Linden, 1820, Aeshna isoceles (Muller, 1767), Anax imperator Leach, 1815, Lindenia tetraphylla (Vander Linden, 1825), Libellula depressa Linnaeus, 1758, Libellula fulva Muller, 1764, Orthetrum brunneum (Fonscolombe, 1837) and Sympetrum meridionale (Selys, 1841) are the species determined to be new records for the Meric Delta wetland. While the Odonata fauna of the Meric Delta was represented so far by 14 species, this number increased to 31 with the addition of 17 new species during this study. The diversity of the Odonata species recorded in the delta and their conservation categories according to the Red List criteria of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) are also considered.