Contribute to a better understanding of mountain dragonflies dispersal!

Mardi 01 avril 2025 Biodiversité

France Nature Environnement Haute-Savoie, INRAE and the Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine have joined forces to carry out a major project to understand the distribution of Aeshna juncea populations in the mountains. This species is in danger of extinction (EN status on the European red list (De Knijf et al., 2024)).

Aeshna juncea (Marie Lamouille-Hébert)

The aim of this project is to explore the population structure of Aeshna juncea at its southwestern European limit (excluding England). It covers the whole of France, as well as Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

European distribution map of Aeshna juncea (Boudot & Kalkman, 2015)

Take part in this major project by collecting genetic material!

The results should provide a better understanding of how the species has colonized the southwestern European mountains and what the barriers to its dispersal are.

Starting this summer, you can collect genetic material in the mountains.

If you are interested in participating and understanding the ins and outs of the project, and for further information, please do not hesitate to contact Marie Lamouille-Hébert: marie.hebert@fne-aura.org

The form:

Once you have registered and received your material, you can fill in this form from your Android phone when you collect genetic material, or from home on your computer.

On Android phone :

Step 1: Download the « ODK collect » application onto your Android phone from the PlayStore or from this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.odk.collect.android&hl=fr

Step 2: Launch the application, then scan the QR code below to access the ‘DNA sample collection’ form. Once you have done this, you will be able to fill in the form even without an internet connection.

Scan this QR code from the application to access the form when collecting genetic material.

On your computer or iPhone:

Whether you are at home on a computer or on the move with your iPhone, you can, with an internet connection, fill in the form by accessing the following link:

https://central.sicen.fr/-/single/1p4WBgWj2fh3btHt0H7jIkawlsUEbId?st=kSXmMfTcuZxTOmUIPEu$y0GOAlBjAt4ChJlPOhbV4DhmnJEuCSDQFlgmEK8GdXw$

To change the language of the form, there is a button at the top right of the form.