1 August , 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Dragonflies (Odonata) are some of the most aesthetically pleasing and most loved wetland insects, yet we know very little about the ecology or biology of Australian species. There are more than 40 species found in southwestern Australia, of which nearly half are endemic species, and there are also endemic genera.
This presentation will describe the southwest fauna and dragonfly and damselfly life cycles and report on recent research to understand patterns of species diversity in urban (Perth) wetlands to identify the qualities of wetlands needed to maximise their diversity.
Belinda is an Associate Professor at Murdoch University. She has been working on the effects of climate change on biodiversity, especially the effects of climatic drying and is working on new ways to manage ecosystems to sustain freshwater biodiversity as the climate continues to dry.