Eine Paludikultur mit Schilf und Rohrkolben in der Etablierungsphase als Lebensraum für Libellen

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands, extensive rewetting activities are required. In this context, paludiculture could play a key role, as it combines climate protection and agricultural production. The establishment of these crops creates novel habitats for fauna and flora. The aim of this work was to assess the habitat potential of a recently established paludiculture with reed and cattail for dragonflies (Odonata). For this purpose, surveys were carried out on a paludiculture pilot site and in different reference habitat types in the district of Oldenburg (NW-Germany). The results show that the investigated paludiculture was of great importance for the dragonfly fauna of the study area in the second year after its establishment. In comparison to the comparatively species-poor reference habitats, the highest total species numbers were recorded (including the endangered pioneer species Ischnura pumilio), the detected species had comparatively high abundances, and the highest number of species with reproductive behaviour was found. The high attractiveness of the site probably resulted from the combination of shallow water levels, full-area sun exposure, and a high structural diversity, which simultaneously provided suitable conditions for species with different demands. However, these habitat characteristics are limited to the establishment phase of the crops. Further growth of reed and cattail towards dense stands is expected to rapidly reduce the habitat quality for dragonflies. Since paludicultures with reed and cattail are novel land-use systems and our investigation covered only a short period of time, there is a considerable need for research on the further succession of the dragonfly fauna as the cultures age, on the effects of harvesting on different dragonfly species, and on potential measures to promote dragonflies and other species groups in paludicultures.