Implicações das condições ambientais de riachos e déficit Wallaceano sobre Odonata no Nordeste, Brasil

ABSTRACT Alterations in land use resulting from anthropogenic actions modify biotic and abiotic conditions due to loss of environmental quality. This is worrying in regions where knowledge of biodiversity is derisory. Considering this scenario, the present study’s objectives were to evaluate the effects of anthropogenic alteration on the integrity of stream habitat in the eastern region of Maranhao, Northeast Brazil (i); to verify how these stream conditions affect Odonata species (ii); and to evaluate the known distribution of the species recorded in this study and discuss knowledge gaps on Odonata (iii). A total of 269 specimens, represented by 17 genera and 30 species were collected. Of the 30 species collected, 17 are new records for the state of Maranhao; of these, 47.05% are geographically widespread species, occurring in practically all regions of Brazil. Considering the records in the literature, there was a 68% increase in the number of Odonata species known for Maranhao. In addition to demonstrating the alteration of stream environmental quality, our work contributes to reducing the Wallacean shortfall in a transition area between the Cerrado-Caatinga biomes, an area severely threatened by the advance of the region’s agricultural frontier.