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Climate change has the potential to modify habitat characteristics and, consequently, induce species responses to ongoing environmental changes. Functional traits determine both if a species can persist and maintain stable population sizes in particular ecological conditions, and its capacity to disperse to more favourable habitats.Given that functional traits evolve over time, one could expect closely related species to show similar responses to climate change, which should identify vulnerable lineages. Alternatively, species‐specific functional traits may anticipate species responses to climate change, and therefore, trait composition should be a strong predictor.We compiled a comprehensive dataset of functional traits of 84 Iberian and Moroccan odonates species and built a phylogenetic tree to determine if dissimilarity of traits and phylogenetic relatedness are relevant to better discriminate species range‐shift responses to climate change.Modelling results for 66 species showed clear impacts of the increase in temperature and drought events on their potential distribution. The traits that best‐discriminated species that expanded their ranges were multivoltinism, short‐life cycles and preference for temporary habitats, whereas species with a reduced and displaced potential distribution were mostly semivoltine, with a short flying season, oviposition on gravel and restricted to permanent streams, small rivers or oligotrophic lakes. Trait conservatism was rejected and phylogenetic relatedness was a poor predictor of range shifts.Considering odonates as model organisms, traits such as voltinism, beginning and prolongation of flight period and preference of temporal habitats should be examined to anticipate range‐shift responses of freshwater insects to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a field study carried out in 2011 and 2014 adult dragonflies were identified as a rapid and easy-to-use means of assessing habitat quality and biological integrity of Mediterranean streams and rivers in the province of Barcelona (Region Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). The study included sampling sites from five different river catchments: Besòs, Foix, Llobregat, Ter and Tordera. Multivariate statistical procedures and indicator species analysis were used to investigate the relationship between river ecological status, study sites and dragonfly species or species assemblages’ occurrence. The dragonfly association identified with western Mediterranean permanent streams, i.e.Cordulegaster boltonii,Boyeria irene,Onychogomphus uncatusandCalopteryx virgo meridionalis, was found only at the sites with the highest status. All these taxa were identified as indicator species of sites with the best scores for the macroinvertebrate based IBMWP index and for the combined IASPT index, which reflects the sensitivity of the macroinvertebrate families present to environmental changes; besides,B.ireneandC.virgo meridionalisalso proved to be indicator species of the riparian forest quality index andC. boltoniiof the more inclusive ECOSTRIMED, which assesses the overall conservation status of the riverine habitats. The information obtained on habitat preferences and indicator value showed that adults of these taxa may constitute a valuable tool for preliminary or complementary cost-effective monitoring of river status and restoration practices as part of a broader set of indices reflecting biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Sympetrum vulgatum (Linnaeus, 1758) complex is composed of the subspecies S. vulgatum vulgatum, S. vulgatum decoloratum (Selys, 1884) and S. vulgatum ibericum Ocharan, 1985 in the West Palaearctic. These taxa have parapatric distributions and noticeable morphological differences in colour and body size, and their taxonomic status is debated. Here we revise the systematics of this group using molecular taxonomy, including molecular analyses of mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer, ITS1) DNA taking into account known morphological differences. Each subspecies has a unique and differentiated COI haplotype, although divergences among them are low (0.4% maximum uncorrected p-distance). The subspecies are not differentiated by the nuclear marker ITS1. The genetic results for these taxa contrast with the deep divergence of the sister species S. striolatum (Charpentier, 1840). Given current evidence, we propose to maintain the subspecific status of the S. vulgatum complex and hypothesize their biogeographical history. It is likely that the three subspecies became isolated during one of the latest glacial periods, each in a different refugium: S. vulgatum ibericum possibly occupied the Iberian Peninsula, S. vulgatum vulgatum the Balkan Peninsula or territories further east and S. vulgatum decoloratum Anatolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]