The composition of dragonfly and grasshopper communities in Lower Saxony may have changed between 2008 and 2024 due to climate change. As ectothermic organisms, both groups are highly sensitive to climatic conditions and are therefore considered reliable bioindicators. This study aims to systematically investigate these potential changes and identify possible links to climatic developments.
The analysis is based on several opportunistic datasets: a collection from annual excursions to Pevestorf, a broader dataset from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), a dataset from the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN) and a dataset from the Working Group on Dragonflies in Lower Saxony and Bremen. Since these data were not collected using standardised protocols, methodological adjustments are necessary to account for potential biases.
Thesis by Stephanie Schultz
