Biodiversity of odonates (Dragonflies and damselflies) in the riparian strip of the Kimpoko River in Kinshasa/DR Congo

Odonates, occupy varied habitats such as forests, farmland, lakes, rivers and other aquatic environments. The present investigation aimed to study the biodiversity of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) in the riparian strip of the Kimppoko River in Kinshasa/RD Congo. Environmental parameters recorded in the Kimpoko river watershed indicated air temperature, wind speed, humidity, UV index, atmospheric pressure and cloud cover respectively of 29.8±1.5°C; 11.27±1.8 km/h; 68.8±1.5%; 8.9±0.4; 1013.6±0.5mb and 54±1.6%. Seven hundred and seventy-four (774) individuals were captured, divided into 9 families and 53 species. The Libellulidae family was the most diverse, with 30 species out of 53 identified, followed by the Coenagrionidae (9), Lestidae (5), Macromoidae, Gomphidae, Calopterygidae, Chlorocyphidae and Platycnemidae (2 species each) and Aeshnidae (1 species) families. Shanonn-Weaver diversity ranged from H'=3.67 (Kimp3) to H'=3.27 (Kimp2). Hill's index ranged from Hill=0.83 (Kimp2) to Hill=0.71 (Kimp1). Piélou's equitability vacillated between E'=0.94 and E'=0.93. ANOVA revealed a p-value of 0.99 for abundance, species richness and diversity indices between stations, indicating that there was no significant difference between the stations studied. This suggests that environmental conditions have no significant impact on the variability of measurements within this hydrosystem.