Contribution to the Golden-Rings (Odonata, Anisoptera, Cordulegastridae) in SW Romania — Recent Localities and a Point of View on Small Habitats and Populations for Biodiversity Assessment

The purpose of this paper is the presentation of the Thecagaster insignis (Schneider, 1845) cluster species recently found in Oltenia region (southwestern Romania), through a holistic, integrated (ecosystemic) approach, viewing them as an integral part of nature and of the hierarchy of natural systems. The morphological characteristics of the specimens are presented and compared with those of other Thecagaster species, confirming the unreliability of morphological traits for species identification. Aspects regarding the biology and habitats of these dragonflies are also provided. The insular nature of one habitat type – the small-scale water island – is discussed; threats and risks to both this habitat and the inhabiting dragonfly population are identified. The study attempts to establish a link between genetic lineages, authentic natural species, and populations—drawing on the perspectives of Sukuraman & Knowles (2017) [1] and Freudenstein et al. (2017) [2]—within the context of biodiversity conservation. The paper introduces and proposes the term peri-species for the assessment of biodiversity at risk. Future directions of studies are set: the identity and taxonomic status of golden-ring species from Oltenia based on molecular markers; in-depth studies of the small-scale water habitats and ecosystems in Oltenia region, following the principles of sustainable conservation.