Dr. Klaas-Douwe 'KD' B. Dijkstra
Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity (NCB Naturalis)
P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands (mail)
Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands (courier)
E-mail dijkstra@naturalis.nl
Telephone +31 71 56 87 679
Room C.05.45
Photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiskadee/
Systematics, biogeography and conservation
of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata)
With their amphibious habits and habitat sensitivity, Odonata respond strongly to change above and below the water surface. Such change can be natural or anthropogenic, e.g. deforestation and erosion versus gradual landscape conversion and altering river courses. Odonate dispersal capacities range from negligible to intercontinental and from airborne (adults) to waterborne (larvae). Thus Odonata are suitable to evaluate habitat connectivity and environmental change in the long and short term (biogeography, climatology, conservation biology).
My fundamental interests are:
Systematics - How species are related and how they can be identified. Taxonomy must be made accessible through keys and field guides.
Biogeography - Which species are found where and why. Faunistic data can be explained with historical biogeography, and larval and adult ecology and dispersal.
Conservation - What species tell us about their habitat, its history, state and future. Systematics and biogeography are essential to conservation.
CV summary
My passion for natural history began when I was nine, living in Egypt. After obtaining an MSc in evolutionary biology, biogeography and systematics at Leiden University in 1998 (cum laude), I worked on African and European Odonata at the National Museum of Natural History (now NCB Naturalis) in Leiden, The Netherlands.
I obtained a PhD at Leiden University in May 2007, with accumulated work on the biogeography and taxonomy of Afrotropical Odonata (thesis), publishing over forty papers on the subject since 2002. The African landscape is ever-changing under geological, climatic and human influence. Study of its over 700 species of Odonata helps understand the continent’s past and future. Research was undertaken in numerous museums and in sixteen African countries, including during three of Conservation International’s (CI) RAP biodiversity assessments. I shared the Worldwide Dragonfly Association (WDA) outstanding achievement award for my African work in 2005. As a member of the IUCN Odonata Specialist Group since 2003, I contributed to the Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment of Africa (2006-2009), resulting in Red List assessments for all species. A handbook for the 470+ species of eastern Africa (Sudan through eastern DRC to Mozambique) will appear in 2011.
I became curator of invertebrates at the National Zoological Collection of Suriname (NZCS) in 2007, initiating collaboration with Naturalis: supported by the Dutch Foreign Ministry, Naturalis’s Suriname collections will be disclosed in databases and books. I returned to Naturalis in 2008, co-funded by CI, to support the Global Dragonfly Assessment (GDA). I continue to do systematic, phylogenetic, biogeographic and ecological research on Odonata, especially of Palaeotropical Zygoptera as part of the DAWN working group (Damselfly Workers Naturalis), and lecture on these subjects for Leiden University.
Books and journals
I published an English fieldguide to European Odonata with Richard Lewington in July 2006 (see sample); French and Dutch editions appeared in 2007 and 2008. I was co-editor and co-author of the handbook of Dutch Odonata (1998-2002) and co-founded the Dutch society for odonatology (NVL) in 1997, being editor-in-chief of its journal (Brachytron) until 2001. Since 2007 I am an editor of the ISI-listed International Journal of Odonatology (IJO) and since 2009 of Tijdschrift voor Entomologie.
Congo 2010
In April-June 2010 I participated in the Congo 2010 expedition. Watch me catch dragonflies while we seek a 'hidden lake' on the Belgian TV news (Dutch), listen to the interview on Dutch national Radio 1 (Dutch; starts at 09:30), or read the articles in Le Vif/L'Express Magazine (French) about the expedition and in De Volkskrant (Dutch) about my involvement, both with photographs by Kris Pannecoucke.
CV, contact and more
Read my full curriculum vitae, download my publication list, e-mail me, or look at my photographs.
Have you got photographs of African dragonflies? Place them on Africa Dragonfly!
Publications
Newsletters, presentations and posters are excluded. Titles between square brackets were published in Dutch.
Books
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & V. Clausnitzer, expected 2011. The dragonflies and damselflies of eastern Africa: handbook for all Odonata from Sudan to Zimbabwe. Studies in Afrotropical Zoology. Belgian Royal Museum for Central Africa (submitted).
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & R. Lewington, 2008. Libellen van Europa: veldgids met alle libellen tussen Noordpool en Sahara. Tirion Uitgevers. 1-320.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., 2007. Demise and rise: the biogeography and taxonomy of the Odonata of tropical Africa. PhD Thesis, Leiden University. 1-204. [click here to download complete thesis]
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & R. Lewington, 2007. Guide des Libellules de France et d'Europe. Delachaux & Niestle. 1-320.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & R. Lewington, 2006. Field guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. British Wildlife Publishing. 1-320. sample
NVL (Editors: Dijkstra, K.-D.B., V.J. Kalkman, R. Ketelaar & M.J.T. van der Weide), 2002. [The Dutch dragonflies (Odonata)]. Nederlandse Fauna 4. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis, KNNV Uitgeverij & European Invertebrate Survey-Nederland. 1-440.
Chapters:
- Dijkstra, K.-D.B. [Morphology and development]. 11-20.
- Dingemanse, N.J., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, D. Groenendijk & R. Ketelaar. [Phenology]. 21-26.
- Bos, F., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, J.T. Hermans & D. Groenendijk. [Ecology and behaviour]. 27-42.
- Dijkstra, K.-D.B. [Diversity and nomenclature]. 43-60.
- Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & W.-J. Hoeffnagel. Aeshna grandis. 236-238.
- Delft, J. van & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Sympetrum flaveolum. 361-364.
- Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Sympetrum fonscolombii. 365-368.
- Delft, J. van & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Sympetrum sanguineum. 374-376.
- Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Sympetrum striolatum. 377-379.
- Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Sympetrum vulgatum. 380-382.
2010
Damm, S., K.-D.B. Dijkstra & H. Hadrys. Red drifters and dark residents: the phylogeny and ecology of a Plio-Pleistocene dragonfly radiation reflects Africa’s changing environment (Odonata, Libellulidae, Trithemis). Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 54: 870-882. [or e-mail for PDF]
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & J.-P. Boudot. First update of the Atlas of the Odonata of the Mediterranean and North Africa: Orthetrum machadoi new to the Palaearctic and Agriocnemis sania new to the Egyptian Nile Valley. Libellula 29: 107-125. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., S.L. Tchibozo & S.S. Ogbogu. Chapter 5. The status and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in western Africa. In: Smith, K.G., M.D. Diop, M. Niane & W.R.T. Darwall (Editors). The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in Western Africa. IUCN. 41-55. PDF
2009
Clausnitzer, V., V.J. Kalkman, M. Ram, B. Collen, J.E.M. Baillie, M. Bedjanič, W.R.T. Darwall, K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R.A. Dow, J. Hawking, H. Karube, E. Malikova, D. Paulson, K. Schütte, F. Suhling, R.J. Villanueva, N. von Ellenrieder & K. Wilson. Odonata enter the biodiversity crisis debate: the first global assessment of an insect group. Biological Conservation 142: 1864-1869. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of the Lower Malagarasi Basin, western Tanzania. In: Malagarasi Aquatic Rapid Biodiversity Assessment. Mott MacDonald. 53-60 (report), 98-104 (appendix). PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., & N. Matushkina. Kindred spirits: “Brachythemis leucosticta”, Africa’s most familiar dragonfly, consists of two species (Odonata: Libellulidae). International Journal of Odonatology 12: 237-256. PDF
Kipping, J., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, V. Clausnitzer, F. Suhling & K. Schütte. Odonata Database of Africa (ODA). Agrion 13: 20-23. PDF
Ottema, O.H., S. Ramcharan, P. Ouboter, F. Chin-Joe & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Four bird species new to Surinam. Cotinga 31: 140-141.
2008
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. The Systematist's Muse – two new damselfly species from 'Elisabetha' in the Congo Basin (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae, Platycnemididae). Zoologische Mededelingen 82: 15-27. PDF [the volume commemorates Linnaeus and 250 years of zoological nomenclature]
Kalkman, V.J., V. Clausnitzer, K.-D.B. Dijkstra, A.G. Orr, D.R. Paulson & J. van Tol. Global diversity of dragonflies (Odonata; Insecta) in freshwater. In: Balian, E., C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens (Editors). Freshwater animal diversity assessment. Hydrobiologia 595: 351-363. PDF
2007
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Demise and rise: the biogeography and taxonomy of the Odonata of tropical Africa. In: Dijkstra, K.-D.B. (Editor). Demise and rise: the biogeography and taxonomy of the Odonata of tropical Africa. PhD Thesis, Leiden University. 143-187. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of Lokutu. In: T.M. Butynski & J. McCullough (Editors). A rapid biological assessment of Lokutu, Democratic Republic of Congo. RAP Bulletin of biological assessment 46: 21-36. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of the Atewa Range. In: McCullough, J., L.E. Alonso, P. Naskrecki, H.E. Wright & Y. Osei-Owusu (Editors). A rapid biological assessment of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Ghana. RAP Bulletin of biological assessment 47: 50-54 (report), 137-142 (appendix). PDF (full report) [appendix provides a checklist of Ghana's Odonata, including unpublished records]
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Erratum in ‘A review of continental Afrotropical Ceriagrion (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)’. Journal of Afrotropical Zoology 3: 162-163. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Gone with the wind: westward dispersal across the Indian Ocean and island speciation in Hemicordulia dragonflies (Odonata: Corduliidae). Zootaxa 1438: 27-48. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Rapid survey of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of North Lorma, Gola and Grebo National Forests, Liberia. In: P. Hoke, R. Demey & A. Peal (Editors). A rapid biological assessment of North Lorma, Gola and Grebo National Forests, Liberia. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 44: 25-28 (report), 79-85 (appendix). PDF [appendix provides a checklist of Liberia's and Sierra Leone's Odonata]
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. The name-bearing types of Odonata held in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, with systematic notes on Afrotropical taxa. Part 1: introduction and Anisoptera. International Journal of Odonatology 10: 1-29. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. The name-bearing types of Odonata held in the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, with systematic notes on Afrotropical taxa. Part 2: Zygoptera and descriptions of new species. International Journal of Odonatology 10: 137-170. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., V. Clausnitzer & A. Martens. Tropical African Platycnemis damselflies (Odonata: Platycnemididae) and the biogeographical significance of a new species from Pemba Island, Tanzania. Systematics & Biodiversity 5: 187-198. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., L.F. Groeneveld, V. Clausnitzer & H. Hadrys. The Pseudagrion split: molecular phylogeny confirms the morphological and ecological dichotomy of Africa’s most diverse genus of Odonata (Coenagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology 10: 31-41. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & E.M. Pilgrim. Trithetrum, a new genus of African dragonflies formerly placed in Sympetrum (Odonata, Libellulidae). Journal of Afrotropical Zoology 3: 77-81. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., M.J. Samways & J.P. Simaika. Two new relict Syncordulia species found during museum and field studies of threatened dragonflies in the Cape Floristic Region (Odonata: Corduliidae). Zootaxa 1467: 19-34. PDF
Finch, B., T.M. Butynski & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. A rapid survey of the avifauna of Lokutu. In: T.M. Butynski & J. McCullough (Editors). A rapid biological assessment of Lokutu, Democratic Republic of Congo. RAP Bulletin of biological assessment 46: 42-46 (report), 66-81 (appendices).
2006
Buczynski, P., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Mauersberger & M.D. Moroz. Review of the Odonata of Belarus. Odonatologica 35: 1-13. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. African Diplacodes: the status of the small species and the genus Philonomon (Odonata: Libellulidae). International Journal of Odonatology 9: 119-132. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Taxonomy and biogeography of Porpax, a dragonfly genus centred in the Congo Basin (Odonata, Libellulidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 149: 71-88. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. The Atoconeura problem revisited: taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of a dragonfly genus in the highlands of Africa (Odonata, Libellulidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 149: 121-144. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. [The blue-eyed damselfly: why "Cercion" should be called Erythromma lindenii]. Brachytron 8: 20-24. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & V. Clausnitzer. Thoughts from Africa: how can forest influence species composition, diversity and speciation in tropical Odonata? In: Cordero Rivera, A. (Editor). Forests and dragonflies. Pensoft Publishers. 127-151. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., V. Clausnitzer & G.S. Vick. Revision of the three-striped species of Phyllogomphus (Odonata, Gomphidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 149: 1-14. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., F. Suhling & O. Müller. Review of the genus Zygonoides, with the description of the larvae and notes on ‘zygonychine’ Libellulidae (Odonata). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 149: 275-292. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & G.S. Vick. Inflation by venation and the bankruptcy of traditional genera: the case of Neodythemis and Micromacromia, with keys to the continental African species and the description of two new Neodythemis species from the Albertine Rift (Odonata: Libellulidae). International Journal of Odonatology 9: 51-70. PDF
Melo, M., R. Covas & K.-D. Dijkstra. First records of Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla for Mozambique. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 13: 80-81.
2005
Clausnitzer, V. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. The dragonflies (Odonata) of Ethiopia, with notes on the status of endemic taxa and the description of a new species. Entomologische Zeitschrift 115: 117-130. PDF
Clausnitzer, V. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Honouring Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai: Notogomphus maathaiae spec. nov., a threatened dragonfly of Kenya’s forest streams. International Journal of Odonatology 8: 177-182. PDF + plate
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. The identity of some widespread and variable Phyllomacromia species, with a revised grouping of the genus (Anisoptera: Corduliidae). Odonatologica 34: 11-26. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Taxonomy and identification of the continental African Gynacantha and Heliaeschna (Odonata: Aeshnidae). International Journal of Odonatology 8: 1-33. PDF + plate
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. A review of continental Afrotropical Ceriagrion (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). Journal of Afrotropical Zoology 2: 3-14. PDF + erratum
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., A. Branson & R. Lewington. A proposal for European standard names for the Odonata of Europe, Turkey and north-west Africa. Atropos 25: 37-43.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., J. van Tol, J. Legrand & G. Theischinger. Tramea Hagen, 1861: proposed conservation (Insecta, Odonata). Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 62: 68-71. PDF
2004
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Comment on the proposed conservation of usage of the specific names of Libellula aenea Linnaeus, 1758 (currently Cordulia aenea) and L. flavomaculata Vander Linden, 1825 (currently Somatochlora flavomaculata; Insecta, Odonata) by the replacement of the lectotype of L. aenea with a newly designated lectotype. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 61: 110.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Dragonflies (Odonata) of Mulanje, Malawi. IDF-Report 6: 23-29. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Dragonflies (Odonata) of Mulanje Mountain, Malawi. Nyala 22: 3-8. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Odonates. In: Louette, M., D. Meirte & R. Jocqué (Editors). La faune terrestre de l'archipel des Comores. Studies in Afrotropical Zoology 293: 251-252. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & G. Balyesiima. First record of Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda in East Africa. Scopus 24: 50.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & V. Clausnitzer. Critical species of Odonata in Madagascar. In: Clausnitzer, V. & R. Jödicke (Editors). Guardians of the Watershed. Global status of dragonflies: critical species, threat and conservation. International Journal of Odonatology 7: 219-228. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & V.J. Kalkman. [An odonatological excursion to the southern Netherlands, half a century later]. Entomologische Berichten 64: 157-161.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & J.J. Kisakye. Idomacromia jillianae sp. nov. from Uganda (Odonata: Corduliidae). International Journal of Odonatology 7: 459-466. PDF + plate
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & G.S. Vick. Critical species of Odonata in western Africa. In: Clausnitzer, V. & R. Jödicke (Editors). Guardians of the Watershed. Global status of dragonflies: critical species, threat and conservation. International Journal of Odonatology 7: 229-238. PDF
García, G. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Odonata collected in the Ankarafantsika Forest, Madagascar. IDF-Report 6: 7-22. PDF
Reinhardt, K. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Auf der Jagd nach Libellennamen in Malawi. IDF-Report 6: 31-34. PDF
Tchibozo, S. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. Rapport d'inventaire préliminaire des libellules des zones humides du Sud-Bénin. IDF-Report 6: 1-6. PDF
2003
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Fooled by the double: Brachythemis liberiensis is Parazyxomma flavicans, with a note on the Zyxommatini (Odonata: Libellulidae). International Journal of Odonatology 6: 17-21. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Problems in Chlorocypha classification: four cases from West Africa and a discussion of the taxonomic pitfalls (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae). International Journal of Odonatology 6: 109-126. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. A review of the taxonomy of African Odonata: finding ways to better identification and biogeographic insight. Cimbebasia 18: 191-206. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & J. Lempert. Odonate assemblages of running waters in the Upper Guinean forest. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 157: 397-412. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., A. Martens & M.J. Parr. Proceedings of the 1st PHAON Meeting on African Odonata, Gällivare, 26 July 2001, Foreword, African Odonatology: past, present and future. Cimbebasia 18: 161-166. PDF
2002
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. [Gone with the Wind: Dragonflies in the dunes]. In: van der Bent, G., G. van Ommering & R. van Rossum (Editors). [Through the dunes: an exploration from The Hague to Noordwijk]. Van Den Berg Kantoorboekhandel. 185-186.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. [Watching dragonflies in The Netherlands: Voornes Duin]. Brachytron 6: 16-18. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. The identity of the West African zygopterans Pseudagrion emarginatum and P. camerunense (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology 5: 105-110. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. Odonata (Dragonflies). In: Nagorskaya, L., M. Moroz, T. Laenko, V. Veznovetz, H. Moller Pillot, K.-D.B. Dijkstra & M. Reemer (Editors). Macrofauna in floodplain pools and dead branches of the Pripyat River, Belarus. RIZA werkdocument 2003 155x: 78-84.
2001
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. [Dragonflies in the dunes]. Duin 24: 22-24.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., A. Cordero Rivera & J.A. Andrés. Repeated predation of Odonata by the hornet Vespa crabro (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). International Journal of Odonatology 4: 17-21. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & V.J. Kalkman. Early spring records of Odonata from southern Turkey, with special reference to the sympatric occurrence of Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé) and C. servilia (Drury) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Notulae Odonatologicae 5: 85-88. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & B. Koese. Dragonflies of Pripyat National Park, Belarus (Odonata). Opuscula zoologica fluminensia 192: 1-20. PDF
2000
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & N.J. Dingemanse. New records of Crocothemis sanguinolenta (Burmeister, 1839) from Israel, with a critical note on the subspecies arabica Schneider, 1982. International Journal of Odonatology 3: 169-171. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & N.J. Dingemanse. Odonata from Kibale National Park, Western Uganda. Notulae Odonatologicae 5: 72-75. PDF
Kalkman, V.J. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra. The dragonflies of the Bialowieza area, Poland and Belarus (Odonata). Opuscula zoologica fluminensia 185: 1-19. PDF
Before 2000
Evans, D.J. & K.-D.B. Dijkstra, 1993. The birds of Gezira, Egypt. Ornithological Society of the Middle East Bulletin 30: 20-25.
Edelaar, P., K.-D.B. Dijkstra & N.J. Dingemanse, 1996. Hemianax ephippiger: a new dragonfly for The Netherlands (Odonata: Aeshnidae). Entomologische Berichten 56: 192-195. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., 1997a. New records of Libellula fulva (Müll.) for Portugal (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Notulae Odonatologicae 4: 160.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., 1997b. Striated Heron Butorides striatus breeding in the Egyptian Nile Valley. Sandgrouse 19: 140.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B. & M.J.T. van der Weide, 1997. [The Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii (Sélys)) in The Netherlands in 1996]. Brachytron 1: 16-21. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., 1998. [Dragonflies in Berkheide and the Coepelduynen 1995-1997, three years of observation between Katwijk and Wassenaar]. Holland's Duinen 32: 7-28.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., D. Groenendijk & V.J. Kalkman, 1998. [Odonata of the Dutch St. Pietersberg]. Brachytron 2: 23-27. PDF
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., 1999. [Dragonflies in Berkheide and De Klip 1998]. Holland's Duinen 34: 19-41.
Dijkstra, K.-D.B., K. Mostert, J.-W. van Velzen & R. Witte, 1999. [Recent developments in the dragonfly fauna of the coastal dunes of Holland and Zeeland]. Brachytron 3: 15-29. PDF
Thursday, August 19, 2010