Odonata trophic ecology

Abstract Trophic interactions are at the core of several key ecological processes and theories as they determine the flow of material and energy within and across communities and habitats. Odonates provide a rich and diverse taxonomic group with several features (e.g. trophic position, hunting behavior, olfaction) that make them a very interesting biological model for the study of trophic interactions in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Moreover, odonates undergo incomplete metamorphosis with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults, which provides opportunities to investigate ontogenetic diet variation and trophic links between aquatic and terrestrial systems. They are also important predators regulating prey populations and mediating community processes such as trophic cascades. Finally, recent studies on odonates have pioneered whether local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity can counterbalance the negative impacts of global change on resource acquisition and fitness. This chapter reviews recent studies investigating the trophic features and role of odonates in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as well as their importance for investigating the impact of global change on trophic ecology, local adaption, and community processes. Many of the insights highlighted in this chapter go beyond odonates and have helped to advance key concepts in trophic ecology.