Biodiversity and Seasonal Abundance of Dragonflies (Order: Odonata) in the Urban Areas of Makassar City and Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Dragonflies are insects belonging to the order Odonata; at the nymph stage, they act as bioindicators of water quality, and at the adult stage, they act as predators of small insects. Seasonal changes and environmental issues in urban areas can affect the existence of dragonfly populations. This study aims to identify species diversity, abundance, similarity, and the relationship between biotic vegetation characteristics and abiotic seasonal elements. The study was conducted in freshwater habitats, including running water and stagnant water habitats, in Makassar City and Gowa Regency during the dry and rainy seasons. Data collection was conducted using the Visual Encounter Survey (VES) method and specimen collection using insect nets. The results showed 12 species from 2 families, 11 species from Makassar City, and 6 species from Gowa Regency. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index showed that the dry season's diversity value is H' = 1.39 and the rainy season's value is H' = 1.72. The abundance of dragonflies showed that the species Agriocnemis pygmaea and Brachythemis contaminata were the most frequently observed species. Additionally, one particular research site shared the same species across six different aquatic environments. There was a correlation between the abundance of dragonflies in each research location and the variation of abiotic variables. Differences in vegetation composition also affected the structure of the dragonfly community.