Stormwater ponds as habitat for Odonata in urban areas: the importance of obligate wetland plant species

Stormwater ponds have been constructed in North American cities to mitigate the effects of increased urban runoff by dampening floods and filtering out contaminants. However, these ponds may also provide habitat for wetland species in cities.

This study aimed at determining the significance of stormwater ponds as attractive habitats for the adult stages of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), widely considered bioindicators of aquatic and wetland ecosystem health. A total of 41 urban stormwater ponds and ten rural natural ponds were sampled across the National Capital Region of Canada. On average, stormwater ponds had fewer species and lower abundance of dragonflies but, in contrast, more species of damselflies.