Question

What are some negative impacts of having this life cycle that might have contributed to a decline in the dragonfly population?

Answer 1

Dragonfly populations can decline due to climate change disrupting life cycle synchrony, pollution directly affecting larvae, and human activities like habitat destruction and use of pesticides. These factors can lead to shortages in food and suitable habitats, affecting dragonfly survival.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dragonfly population may be adversely affected by several factors. One of these is climate change, which can disrupt the synchrony between the life cycle of dragonflies and the availability of their plant hosts or prey species. For example, if the timing of flowering plants or the viability of amphibian offspring is affected due to a mismatch in timing caused by climate change, dragonflies may struggle to find food or suitable habitats for their larvae.

Pollution is another significant issue impacting dragonflies. Contaminants in the water can directly harm dragonfly larvae, which live in aquatic environments before metamorphosing into adults. The notorious pesticide DDT, which has been banned but had historically caused declines in various insect populations by disrupting their life cycles, serves as a historical example of pollution's effect on insect populations.

Human activities such as habitat destruction, the use of pesticides and herbicides, and population growth also put pressure on dragonfly populations. This is because these activities can eliminate the natural habitats dragonflies rely on and introduce substances that are harmful to both adults and larvae.

Answer 2

Dragonflies are important for our environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dragon flies belongs to the ancient family of insects. They are found on every parts of the world and have been from around 300 millions years ago. There are more than 5000 different species of them found in different parts of the world. Conserving dragonflies is important as they considered as a valuable environmental indicators.

Dragon flies are found in the areas where water is available and near grasslands. Their life cycle is an example of an incomplete metamorphosis. The dragon flies lays their eggs near the water or in the water. Dragon flies spends most of the life time as a nymph in the water where they turn into an adult and leave the water. The dragon flies rely on the aquatic ecosystems all through their life. Thus dragonflies are an important indicators of the environment and water quality.

Most of the life cycle of the dragon flies depend on the availability of water and its quality. Polluting water and destroying their habitat will result in the decline of the population of the dragon flies.