Baseline Study on Dragonfly and Damselfly (Order Odonata) Diversity in Freshwater Habitats of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

Odonates, including dragonflies and damselflies, are sensitive indicators of freshwater ecosystem integrity and serve as biological control agents for mosquitoes at larval and adult stages. Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta is characterized by extensive freshwater habitats including rivers, swamps, and floodplain pools, yet its odonate fauna remains undescribed. This study conducts a baseline survey of odonate diversity across five freshwater habitat types in Bayelsa State. Adult odonates will be sampled using sweep nets along transects at river banks, swamp edges, stagnant pools, and rice paddies over one year with monthly sampling effort. Identifications will follow the most current keys for African Odonata, with photographs archived digitally. Larval exuviae will be collected at breeding sites to supplement adult records. Diversity indices will be calculated per habitat type, and indicator species analysis will identify habitat-specific taxa. This study provides the first comprehensive odonate species list for Bayelsa State, filling a significant gap in Nigeria's freshwater insect biodiversity records. Results will be shared with the Bayelsa State Environmental Resources Management Agency to support wetland conservation planning. Keywords: Odonata, dragonflies, damselflies, freshwater biodiversity, Bayelsa State