Annex 1 - Dragonflies/media/Files/A/... · 2016. 1. 11. · Survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies...

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Liberia Western Range Iron Ore Phase 1 Direct Shipping Ore

Addendum to Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: Additional Zoological Studies: Annex 1 Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey of the ArcelorMittal Concession, Yekepa, Liberia December 2011

ArcelorMittal Liberia Liberia Western Range Iron Ore Phase 1 Project

Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey of the ArcelorMittal Concession, Yekepa, Liberia December 2011 2

URS Scott Wilson Scott House Alencon Link Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7PP Tel : +44 (0) 1256 310 200 Fax :+44 (0) 1256 310 201 www.urs-scottwilson.com

Revision Schedule Survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies in Nimba County, Liberia December 2011

Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

01 July 2011 Report Dijkstra K. D-B. Odonata Specialist

Tanya Romanenko Project Manager

Gareth Hearn Technical Director

02 Dec 2011 Report Dijkstra K. D-B. Odonata Specialist

Tanya Romanenko Project Manager

Gareth Hearn Technical Director



Report Structure of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Section Report Title Main Report Addendum to Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Phase 1. Additional

Zoological Studies Annex 1 Survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) in Nimba County, Liberia. Dijkstra,

K.-D.B Annex 2 Conservation Status of Bats (Chiroptera) Within the ArcelorMittal Liberia Concession,

with Special Emphasis on the Phase 1 Footprint. Monadjem, A. Annex 3 Nimba Toad Survey (Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis liberiensis) Within the

ArcelorMittal Liberia Concession Sandberger, L. & Loua, N.S. Annex 4 Herpetological Survey of the ArcelorMittal Concession, Yekepa, Liberia. Penner, J. Annex 5 Reptile Survey Report – Baseline Data with Additional Observations on the

Amphibian Fauna. Phase 1 DSO Mining Project, Nimba County, Liberia. Branch, W R



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Survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) in Nimba County, Liberia December 2011 5

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 6 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 State of Knowledge .......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Study Site ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Fieldwork .......................................................................................................................... 7

2 Species.............................................................................................. 9 2.1 Diversity............................................................................................................................ 9 2.2 New Species .................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Important Species .......................................................................................................... 11

3 Habitats ........................................................................................... 17 3.1 Sites of Interest .............................................................................................................. 17 3.2 Critical Habitat ................................................................................................................ 17

4 Recommendations ......................................................................... 18 4.1 Control habitat degradation and erosion ........................................................................ 18 4.2 Monitoring....................................................................................................................... 20 4.3 Fieldwork ........................................................................................................................ 22 4.4 Offset.............................................................................................................................. 23

5 References ...................................................................................... 24



1 Introduction

1.1 Background Dragonflies and damselflies are the most conspicuous freshwater insects, being one of the few well-known groups that represent both this vital resource, water, and the largest class of animal diversity, insects. They are suited for evaluating change in the long (biogeography, climatology) and the short term (conservation), above and below the water surface (e.g. Clausnitzer 2003; Corbet 1999; Dijkstra & Lempert 2003), receiving increasing attention from the public, conservationists and scientists at regional and global levels (Clausnitzer et al. 2009; Kalkman et al. 2008). Due to their attractive appearance, they function not only as flagships for conservation of water-rich habitats such as wetlands and rainforests, but also for habitats where water is scarce and, therefore, especially vital to the survival of life. Human disturbance of watersheds, with the consequent loss of soil and water-sources, is a problem world-wide, especially in the tropics, and certainly in Africa. Considering the ever-changing nature of the African landscape, be it under human, geological or climatic influence, the study of its Odonata will help understand the past and future of a rapidly changing continent (Dijkstra 2007a). For the above reasons, Odonata were selected as one of the animal groups for which the likely impact of mining activities in the Nimba area should be assessed in detail.

1.2 State of Knowledge Over 300 species occur in Western Africa (Nigeria and further west), of which over 60 are endemic. The Odonata of Upper Guinea have been fairly well studied, with landmark papers on Sierra Leone (Carfì & D’Andrea 1994), Ghana (O’Neill & Paulson 2001), the Guinean side of Mt Nimba (Legrand 2003) and Taï Forest in Côte d’Ivoire (Legrand & Couturier 1985). The fauna of Liberia is principally known due to Lempert (1988), who surveyed the country (mostly the eastern half) for a total of six months. His thesis is still the most in-depth study of any tropical dragonfly community and includes countless unique observations of reproductive behaviour. Lempert recorded between 140 and 150 species, including numerous unnamed species, especially in the Gomphidae. A number of these have since been described by Legrand (1992, 2003). Judging from data from neighbouring countries, the true number of species occurring in Liberia should be at least 200 (Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2006). Dijkstra (2007d) found 93 species in three Liberian forest reserves in late 2005, representing 59% of the 158 species known from the country, of which he provided an up-to-date checklist. Large parts of Liberia remain unexplored, in particular the centre (e.g. Grand Bassa and River Cess Counties) and the southeast (Grand Kru, Maryland). Central Liberia is of lesser interest as it is enclosed in Lempert’s survey area and relatively deforested. The southeast is interesting because the region is probably nearest to the centre of the Upper Guinea rainforest refugium.

1.3 Study Site Study site research focused on a roughly rectangular area of Nimba County between Sanniquellie and the Guinean border (about 27 by 16 km and 430 km²), centred around the ArcelorMittal Liberia mining concessions at Mts Tokadeh, Gangra and Yuelliton and the western flank and ridge of Mt Nimba (Fig. 1). Although some pools sampled on Mt Nimba lie at 1325 m altitude, there is very little accessible water at higher altitudes and almost all sites sampled lie between 400 and 600 m above sea level. No prior research on Odonata had been undertaken, except for a handful of records by Lempert (1988), but Legrand (2003) published many findings from adjacent Guinea. The nearest equally intensively surveyed sites lie in Grand Gedeh County, almost 200 km south, and eastern Sierra Leone, 230 km west (see



Checklist, columns PU and GS). The area offers a fairly complete array of lightly to strongly disturbed aquatic habitats in rainforest to savanna transition, from deeply shaded springs to exposed dams, but lacks a larger river. Nimba’s savanna character is unique in Liberia.

1.4 Fieldwork Depending on an area’s size, a fair picture of local diversity can be obtained within two to six weeks (Dijkstra 2007b; c; d; 2009). Adults are active throughout the year, although February to May may be best for recording. Sampling at Nimba took place for eighteen days in the end of the rainy season (27 September to 14 October 2010), nineteen (27 December to 14 January 2011) in the peak of the dry, and five (18 to 22 March 2011) at the start of the rains. Aside from the mountains, where mining will take place, a focus on the surrounding valleys is important, because mining can affect habitats downstream, even outside the concession (Fig. 1). About 30% of time was spent around Yekepa and in the East Nimba Nature Reserve (ENNR) for comparison. Adults were observed and caught with a hand net during daylight. Identifications were made using Dijkstra & Clausnitzer (2011), nomenclature follows Dijkstra (2007a; d). Collected specimens were preserved with acetone and deposited in the collection of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis in Leiden. Due to habitat and behaviour, only observation frequency can provide some measure of relative abundance. Based on data from Liberia and Ghana, Dijkstra & Lempert (2003) described the composition of odonate assemblages in running waters in the Upper Guinea rainforest. As these waters harbour the majority of the region’s range-restricted species, this offers a baseline for the ecological interpretation of survey data.



Figure 1 Sampling pattern inside at outside of the Concession



2 Species 2.1 Diversity

During the survey 145 species were found, while one more was reported by Lempert (1988) and another three recorded near Ganta (see Checklist, column LN). The total of 149 species represents 76% of the minimally 196 species known from Liberia. The specific identity of several genera found only as larvae can hopefully be clarified by matching their DNA to adult samples from elsewhere. Based on records from adjacent Guinea, at least 168 species should occur in the entire Nimba region, the presence of 87% is now proven in the Liberian part. Of these, 53% are found only within the mostly forested Guineo-Congolian realm, 17% and 10% are even more restricted within that realm, not occurring east of Cameroon and Togo respectively. In Grand Gedeh County, these values were 64%, 21% and 9% of 134 species, in Liberia overall 57%, 23% and 14% of 196, and in Gola Forest (Sierra Leone) 61%, 23% and 11% of 141, indicating Nimba’s stronger representation of savanna species, but similar proportion of Upper Guinea endemics.

2.2 New Species Twenty-six species were found in Liberia for the first time, two of which are new to science, although both have been recorded in Sierra Leone, 230 km west. Most novelties are widespread in rather open habitats: Lestes dissimulans, L. tridens, Elattoneura nigra, Africallagma subtile, Azuragrion vansomereni, Pseudagrion hamoni, P. kersteni, Anax chloromelas, A. speratus, Ictinogomphus ferox, Aethiothemis solitaria, Orthetrum monardi, O. trinacria and Zygonyx natalensis. Their discovery can be accounted to insufficient prior research, especially in this corner of Liberia where savanna species are most likely to occur.

Aethiothemis bella (Fig. 2c), Nesciothemis nigeriensis (Fig. 2d) and Orthetrum latihami are more localized in open seasonal grassy swamps from Western Africa to North East Congo-Kinshasa. Their habitat is abundant in the Yekepa area and the species may profit from small-scale rice farming and diamond extraction creating new habitat. The finding of A. bella are especially notable, as it was previously known from only five similar specimens, all type material, but for three different species: a pair from near Niangara in North East Congo-Kinshasa was described as Cirrothemis bella by Fisher (1939), a single male from Danané in W Côte d’Ivoire as Sleuthemis diplacoides by Fraser (1951), and a pair from Bandakarafaia in Sierra Leone as Monardithemis leonensis by Aguesse (1968). These are possibly synonymous with the equally poorly known Aethiothemis basilewskyi (Fraser, 1954) from Gabon, both Congos and North East Zambia. Probably the species is inconspicuous, localized and seasonal rather than rare: it was found throughout the study region (Fig. 1) in October, but had almost disappeared completely by the end of December. Phyllomacromia amicorum and Trithemis kalula (Fig. 2e) are also rarely recorded species of the northern savannah belt, but most likely breed in rivers.

Only nine new Liberian discoveries, including the two new to science, appear to be associated with forest. Gynacantha sextans, Heliaeschna sembe, Microgomphus near camerunensis, Neurogomphus near fuscifrons (sight record only) and Idomacromia proavita (Fig. 2b) are fairly widespread, but difficult to observe. The latter refers to Legrand’s (1985) Upper Guinean subspecies I. p. couturieri, which may be of conservation significance, which the more localized Microgomphus jannyae (Fig. 2a) and Atoconeura luxata definitely are (Table 1). A new species of Tragogomphus, first found on Mt Tokadeh, was discovered two months later in Gola Forest, eastern Sierra Leone (see Checklist, column GS). It is closely related to T. aurivilii from Cameroon and T. ellioti from Gabon and is probably an Upper Guinean endemic. This species complex is only know from a handful of specimens and probably breeds in spring streams.



The rarity of Urothemis n. sp. is more surprising as it is conspicuous (Fig. 2f) and potential habitat is abundant. It was first discovered by a photograph taken at tin mines in East Congo-Kinshasa and is common at swampy pools and lakes in and near forest in South East Gabon. The first western African records were made 08-13 March 2011 at abandoned diamond pits in East Sierra Leone. In Liberia it was not seen at suitable sites in Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties during over 70 field days between 27 September 2010 and 21 February 2011, but found with ease 19-22 March at several sites surveyed previously in Nimba, suggesting the species is seasonal. In South East Gabon it has been recorded in all months except between 25 April and 31 August, which appears to confirm it is not on the wing in the dry season.



Figure 2 Some Odonata illustrations

2.3 Important Species Many endemics, like Sapho ciliata, Chlorocypha radix, Chlorocnemis elongata, C. flavipennis and Platycnemis guttifera, are present throughout Western Africa at forest streams and therefore of least concern. Table 1 lists all regionally endemic or threatened, rare and



insufficiently known (and thus potentially threatened) taxa recorded in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Twenty are known to occur in Liberian Nimba (Fig. 3), but at least five more, all first described from Guinean Nimba, are likely to occur: Cornigomphus mariannae, Paragomphus kiautai, P. tournieri, Phyllomacromia lamottei and Zygonyx geminunca (Table 1), all probably elusive, localized and seasonal species. Of the species found at and around the proposed mining sites that are most relevant for conservation, Phyllomacromia funicularioides is elusive, difficult to survey, and its ecology is unknown. Three species are discussed below whose populations appear particularly sensitive to the planned activities and which thus are especially suited to monitor the continuing existence of healthy freshwater habitats. Measures for protecting their habitats are suggested under Sites of Interest and Recommendations.

Figure 3. Sites from which records were obtained, those with species of concern (Table 1) are shown with a filled circle: their size, shade and value indicates how many were present.

Atoconeura luxata and Sapho fumosa (Fig. 8c) share their predilection for clear and rocky forest streams, particularly favouring fast-flowing sections, a habitat found especially on



mountain slopes. Mining in the concession may thus either directly destroy their habitat or lead to siltation of streams by mine runoff or by erosion. Dijkstra (2006) found that the populations of Porpax bipunctus from East Sierra Leone to South West Côte d'Ivoire are geographically isolated and marked distinctly from those in Central Africa, possibly representing an endemic species or subspecies (Fig. 4a). He hypothesised that the isolation was due to the sensitivity of its habitat to desiccation, thus confining the species to wetter and climatologically stable areas. P. bipunctus occurs at sites on the forest floor where leaf litter is soaked by seepage or flooding from adjacent streams, but lacks open water (Fig. 4b). It may also be found at old mining pits under the canopy filled up with leaf litter. At seepages, the species is a good indicator to find Idomacromia larvae (Fig. 4c), adults of which are nearly impossible to obtain (Fig. 2b). The West African populations of P. bipunctus were assessed as vulnerable (Dijkstra et al. 2010), and thus represent a threatened taxon if found to be (sub-) specifically distinct. It was found only at a single site on Tokadeh (see below).

Fig. 4. Porpax bipunctus (a), its habitat (b), and presumed larva of Idomacromia proavita (c). Table 1. Species and subspecies of conservation interest and their occurrence at the survey site. CO conservation relevance, after Dijkstra & Vick (2004) and Dijkstra et al. (2010). DD: globally data-deficient, EN:

globally endangered, NT: globally near-threatened, RV: regionally (Western Africa) vulnerable, UG: strict Upper Guinea endemic (west of Togo) that is not assessed to be (near) threatened, VU: globally vulnerable.

AM present, probable, possible or improbable on or downstream of Mts Yuelliton, Gangra and Tokadeh.

EN present, probable, possible or improbable in or downstream of ENNR

CO AM EN Remarks Agriocnemis angustirami VU impr impr Known only from swampy habitats, possibly on the edge

of mangroves, near Freetown and Monrovia. Atoconeura luxata RV pres pres Occurs at fast-flowing sections of forest streams at the

base of highlands from Guinea and Sierra Leone to Gabon. Found at clear rocky stream on Tokadeh.

Chlorocnemis nr flavipennis UG impr pres Lempert (1988) and Legrand (2003) recognised two taxa within C. flavipennis: a lowland taxon occurring up to 550 m and another at 800 m and 550-1200 m on Liberian and Guinean Nimba. Dijkstra (2007e) saw little support for this and none were observed in the present survey that differed distinctly. Specimens were obtained between 490 and 660 m on Tokadeh and Nimba, but one at 900 m on Nimba did not produce any records.



CO AM EN Remarks Chlorocypha luminosa UG pres pres Occurs from Guinea and Sierra Leone to W Togo.

Found on (tributaries of) Dehn and Vellie Creeks near Lugbeyee and Bonlah, as well as north of Tokadeh.

Cornigomphus mariannae DD poss prob Described from Guinean Nimba and NE Gabon, later found in nearby Liberia. Close to C. guineensis from Equatorial Guinea.

Diastatomma gamblesi UG pres prob Occurs from Guinea and Sierra Leone to W Togo. Found on Dehn Creek at Lugbeyee and main stream and “above the ladder” on Tokadeh.

Elattoneura dorsalis VU impr impr Known only from four sites in Sierra Leone within a 20,000 km² area of lowland forest habitat, and an unconfirmed record from Liberia.

Eleuthemis n. sp. U? pres prob First recognised as a form of E. buettikoferi by Lempert (1988). Has distinct coloration and ecology in Liberia and Ghana (Dijkstra & Lempert 2003). Found on two tributaries of Vellie Creek coming off Gangra-Yuelliton, as well as Bee Creek off Tokadeh.

Gynacantha n. sp. NE poss poss Male and female collected in E Liberia form the only geographically matched pair, aside from single females from Liberia, Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville, and males from Congo-Kinshasa and Sierra Leone.

Idomacromia p. couturieri U? pres prob Known from single female from Taï Forest in W Côte d’Ivoire, with which one from Tokadeh agrees (Fig. 2b). Legrand (2003) did not comment on the identity of four males from Guinean Nimba. Larvae assumed to be this species found “above the ladder”.

Lestinogomphus africanus DD poss poss Known only from poorly preserved holotype from Sierra Leone and of dubious taxonomic standing.

Lestinogomphus matilei UG poss poss Described from Danané, W Côte d'Ivoire, since reported from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Togo.

Lestinogomphus n. sp. 1 U? poss poss Known only from a single male from Zwedru. Lestinogomphus n. sp. 2 U? poss poss Known only from a single female from Sinoe River. Mesocnemis tisi EN impr impr Known only from the Sinoe River and two tributaries

near Juarzon and Pyne Town. Microgomphus jannyae UG pres prob Described from Guinean Nimba, found at one site in S

Mali. A single male was emerging from the Kahn River upstream from inflow from Gangra-Yuelliton (Fig. 2a).

Neodythemis campioni UG poss pres Local in Liberia and Sierra Leone and probably Guinean Nimba (see Checklist); perhaps NT. Found on Yiti River between Grassfield and Gbapa.

Orthetrum sagitta DD impr impr Despite reports from all-over Africa, the few reliable records are all from Sierra Leone and adjacent Liberia, where the species seems numerous.

Paragomphus kiautai DD poss prob Described from Guinean Nimba; not found since. Larvae found “above the ladder” on Tokadeh may be this.

Paragomphus n. sp. nr elpidius U? poss poss Known from a few specimens from the Cavalla and Sinoe Rivers in Liberia and a tributary of the Moro in Sierra Leone.

Paragomphus tournieri DD poss prob Described from Guinean Nimba; found in E Liberia and E Sierra Leone. Larvae found “above the ladder” on Tokadeh may be this species.

Phyllogomphus aethiops UG poss poss Known only from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, holotype from



CO AM EN Remarks The Gambia (origin doubtful) and possible female from Sierra Leone.

Phyllogomphus bartolozzii DD poss poss Known only from poorly preserved holotype from Sierra Leone and of dubious taxonomic standing.

Phyllogomphus helenae DD poss poss Known only from poorly preserved holotype from Sierra Leone and of dubious taxonomic standing.

Phyllogomphus n. sp. U? poss poss Known only from a single male from SW Liberia. Phyllomacromia aeneothorax UG pres pres True aeneothorax may be threatened endemic of Sierra

Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire; related form lieftincki from Nigeria, Cameroon and Bioko may be a different species. Found “above the ladder” on Tokadeh and by Lempert (1988) at 800 m on Liberian Nimba.

Phyllomacromia funicularioides NT pres prob Described from Guinean Nimba; found in E Liberia. Single female caught north of Tokadeh.

Phyllomacromia lamottei DD poss prob Described from Guinean Nimba, later found in nearby Liberia.

Phyllomacromia occidentalis DD poss poss Known only from the Ivorian holotype (precise locality unknown) and a male compared with it by Lempert (1988) from Liberia.

Phyllomacromia sophia UG pres prob Known with certainty from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. Presence in Nigeria unconfirmed. Found “above the ladder” on Tokadeh and west of Gangra-Yuelliton.

Phyllomacromia nr melania U? pres prob Several females collected “above the ladder” on Tokadeh match specimens found elsewhere in Liberia, which may represent a taxon distinct from true Ph. melania found from Ghana east.

Porpax bipunctus RV pres prob Known from E Sierra Leone, N and E Liberia and SW Côte d'Ivoire, far from populations in SE Nigeria and SW Cameroon; population distinctly marked and may represent a separate taxon. Strong population “above the ladder” on Tokadeh.

Prodasineura villiersi UG pres pres Known only from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Found at streams on and off Tokadeh and flowing east off Gangra-Yuelliton.

Pseudagrion cyathiforme U? pres prob Local, known only from Sierra Leone and Liberia, but apparently also collected in Nigeria (Lempert 1988). One male found emerging from creek at Sehyi Geh, flowing off south-east of Tokadeh.

Pseudagrion mascagnii CR impr impr Known only from type locality on the Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone.

Pseudagrion n. sp. nr massaicum U? impr impr Known only from two sites on Moa River, Sierra Leone. Sapho fumosa NT pres pres Found only at rather shaded rocky streams in hilly

terrain from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau near the border with Guinea, through Sierra Leone, to Mt Nimba. Found at clear forested streams on Tokadeh and flowing east off Gangra-Yuelliton.

Tragogomphus christinae DD poss pres Described from Guinean Nimba; found in E and W Liberia, E Sierra Leone and possible specimen known from Togo. Male found emerging at Yiti river.

Tragogomphus sp. n. aurivilii UG? pres prob Several adults emerging “above the ladder” on Tokadeh are first records of new species related to T. aurivilii from Cameroon and T. ellioti from Gabon (both DD). Single



CO AM EN Remarks male was collected later at similar site E Sierra Leone.

Trithemis africana UG poss poss Only known from shaded streams in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire; Liberia must be species’ stronghold.

Urothemis n. sp. NE pres pres First discovered on a photograph taken in E Congo-Kinshasa. Recently found in SE Gabon and E Sierra Leone. Found at several swamps on Tokadeh and the lake near Leagbala.

Zygonyx chrysobaphes UG pres prob Known only from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, presence in Nigeria unconfirmed. Males seen at stream near Bonlah flowing west off Gangra-Yuelliton and in farmbush near Dayea (Ya) River between the two mining areas.

Zygonyx geminunca UG poss prob Described from Guinean Nimba, later found only at one site in W Ghana and unconfirmed record Togo.



3 Habitats 3.1 Sites of Interest

Yehwah, Gangra-Yuelliton, 610-650 m (7.555°N 8.624°W): Conditions inhibited a proper survey of odonates, but Sapho fumosa is present, as must be the case for more of the Upper Guinea endemics. ‘Jewelwing index’ = 8. According to one plan, the waste dump is planned in this deep valley, which harbours several well-forested headwaters of the Kahn River. Dumping waste into valleys affects the hydrology of their stream systems and increases silt-laden run-off into them. Placement of waste in the saddle between Gangra and Yuelliton will allow for its impacts to be more contained. “Above the ladder”, Tokadeh, 600-660 m (7.445°N 8.658°W): Sapho fumosa, Prodasineura villiersi, Diastatomma gamblesi, Tragogomphus n. sp., Phyllomacromia aeneothorax, Ph. nr melania, Ph. sophia and Porpax bipunctus; larvae found may belong to Paragomphus kiautai or P. tournieri and almost certainly to Idomacromia p. couturieri (see Table 1). ‘Jewelwing index’ = 7. Forested basin with numerous seepages and springs feeding shallow stream with sandy bottom mixed with organic material. The stream drops 20 m down a concrete wall, the damming having created a small reservoir now largely filled with sludge, enclosed by an extensive swampy area. Thus the combination of natural and anthropogenic conditions provides diverse habitats for a valuable species assemblage, unlike any seen in the region. The reservoir was piped for water extraction in early 2011, draining most standing water and running the waterfall dry. The latter may have been negative for S. fumosa, but its presence was probably marginal and associated with the concrete construction, there being no natural rocks. The drainage had no negative impact on the spring, swamp and stream habitat. In order to continue using this site for collecting water, the forested catchment area must be protected from impacts uphill. Any dredging should leave at least half of the swampy perimeter intact and allow regrowth; replacement of the reservoir by a concrete tank or basin would be detrimental to present fauna.

Rocky stream, Tokadeh, 490-530 m (7.454°N 8.664°W): Sapho fumosa, Prodasineura villiersi, Diastatomma gamblesi, Atoconeura luxata. ‘Jewelwing index’ = 9.5. Prime example of forested fast-flowing (mostly rocky) stream on Tokadeh, although similar habitats exist in ENNR. Unlike the stream that it feeds. It has been hardly silted by run-off from the old mine. Control erosion upstream and conserve strip of forest (buffer) along stream.

3.2 Critical Habitat The region offers a diverse odonate assemblage typical of a fairly disturbed, but locally intact, Upper Guinea rainforest with a variety of running and standing waters and an influence from adjacent savanna habitats. It appears that the ArcelorMittal concessions and ENNR have a similar fauna, although additional data is required from the eastern, more remote, part of that reserve. Although the local presence and/or abundance of species like Sapho fumosa, Atoconeura luxata, Porpax bipunctus and Tragogomphus n. sp. is significant and may be related to the area’s complex topography leading to a higher density of suitable habitats, all occur more widely in the Upper Guinean region. Thus, the concession appears not to be critical habitat for any threatened odonate species.



4 Recommendations 4.1 Control habitat degradation and erosion

To conserve Odonata, and the freshwater biodiversity they represent, it is necessary to maintain the structural integrity of both larval and adult habitats, i.e. water bodies and their surrounding landscape (Figure. 5a). Erosion along roads and especially from the mine at Tokadeh is filling many streams with red silt. This is detrimental to water quality and to species of clear streams, i.e. probably everything that was previously living there. Many measures to avoid erosion, siltation and unnatural flow regimes are simple. In landscape-altering projects like mining and road-building, damage to the watershed can be minimised by leaving buffer zones of natural vegetation around streams, rivers, inundation zones and swamps. Forest removal should also be avoided because many freshwater organisms, like dragonflies, require shade in their adult stages. Where usage perturbs water, measures to avoid siltation below the outflow are needed, the simplest being by reuse of water and settling ponds. Partial damming of streams (e.g. by using narrow or raised culverts in road construction) can create swamps where run-off silt can settle while also providing interesting aquatic habitats (Fig. 5b). Open-pit mining will affect hydrology and erosion in the mountains. These measures are suggested for affected areas: (1) Leave stream heads intact, i.e. remove no forest from within 50 m and preferably 100 m

of springs, especially those “above the ladder”. (2) Retain forest strips (buffers) along stream courses and swamps at least 50 m wide. (3) Do not fill valleys and swamps with mining waste (notably east of Gangra-Yuelliton). (4) Where damage to catchments and springs is unavoidable, control siltation downstream

by fixing disturbed ground and creating small (flooding up to 100 m of valleys) ‘settling swamps’ (see above) and monitor fauna in affected/created areas (see Monitoring below).

(5) Protect habitats in offset areas (see Offset below) that have at least a similar extent as those affected (lost, receiving more silt, less discharge etc.) by mining.



Figure. 5. Examples of valuable dragonfly habitats are this stream in the southern ENNR, a site for Sapho fumosa (a),

and this swamp at Tokadeh (7.460°N 8.666°W), which collects silt eroding from the mine and releases clear

a

b



water, while providing habitat for scarce species like Anax chloromelas, Aethiothemis bella, Nesciothemis nigeriensis and Urothemis n. sp. (b).

4.2 Monitoring Most streams affected by mining, run towards the populated areas around the mountains. Odonata can be used to monitor the overall diversity and integrity of the freshwater ecosystem, but a fauna of almost 170 species is difficult to monitor without specialist knowledge. However, several easily-identified key species (Table 1), representing distinct aquatic habitats, can be used to signal healthy rivers (Zygonyx chrysobaphes, Figure. 6c), larger (Chlorocypha luminosa, Figure. 6a, Eleuthemis n. sp.) and smaller streams (Prodasineura villiersi, Figure. 6b), rocky streams (Sapho fumosa, Figure. 8c) and seepages (Porpax bipunctus, Figure. 4a).

Fig. 6. Males of Chlorocypha luminosa (a), Prodasineura villiersi (b) and Zygonyx chrysobaphes (c).

Moreover, the jewelwings of the closely related genera Sapho and Umma offer a simple tool to monitor stream condition in the area, as the four species are conspicuous, easy to identify and indicate discrete ecological conditions (Figure. 8, Table 2). If the most desirable species from an environmental conservation perspective is accorded the highest value (4) and the least the lowest (1), and abundant (2) and sporadic (1) presence or absence (0) of each species is determined, the formula [ (4*fumosa + 3*bicolor + 2*cincta + 1*ciliata) / 2 ] gives a simple ‘jewelwing index’ value between 0 and 10 (Figure. 9). For example the pristine stream above 7.45516°N 8.66284°W on Tokadeh has all species in abundance, except for sporadic S. ciliata, indicating a natural and structurally complex habitat: (4*2 + 3*2 + 2*2 + 1*1) / 2 = 9.5. This stream joins a larger stream, which is laden with silt from the mine after heavy rain. Both S. bicolor and S. fumosa drop out immediately, while S. ciliata becomes abundant: (4*0 + 3*0 + 2*2 + 1*2) / 2 = 3. The loss of the remaining forest cover at this stream would make the index drop to 1 (with loss of U. cincta) or even 0 (loss of all species). Data collected during the survey indicate that sites with more key species have a higher ‘jewelwing index’ (Figure. 7).

a b c



Figure. 7. Relationship between ‘jewelwing index’ and species of interest (n = 40). Table 2. Characteristics of Nimba’s Sapho and Umma jewelwing species name wing colour wing spots desirability Piedwing Sapho bicolor

clear with marked blue-black tips

hidden in dark background

high: favours smallest, shadiest streams (e.g. close to source), and thus depends on reasonably closed canopy

Bluewing Sapho ciliata

all blue-black hidden in dark background

lowest: inhabits any running water with some open spots, being typical of disturbed sites

Cloudwing Sapho fumosa

clear, smoky brown tips, opaque white ‘cloud’ near centre

distinct or hidden in smoky tips

highest: near-threatened regional endemic confined to ‘Nimbaesque’ streams (Fig. 5a), i.e. swift (most numerous near small falls), rocky and (partly) forested

Sparklewing Umma cincta

all clear with strong violet shine

tiny, almost indiscernible

low: mostly in sandy and gravelly (typically of calmer) running waters, with at least some shading



Figure. 8. Males of the four jewelwings: Sapho bicolor (a), S. ciliata (b), S. fumosa (c), and Umma cincta (d).

4.3 Fieldwork In order to optimize any offset measures, a survey of the eastern slope of Nimba and adjacent lowlands (i.e. the more remote part of ENNR) is needed to see if that area does, as expected, have a similar odonate fauna as those affected by AML’s mining activities (see Critical habitat). 86% of all species thought to occur in the Nimba area were recorded, and 80% of those expected that are of conservation interest. The missing species probably result from the survey having been conducted largely in the dry season. Probably the run-up from the dry to the wet, from February to May, sees most adult emergence, especially of sensitive species of streams and springs. To find additional species, any further surveys would best take place in March or later, or must focus on rearing larvae.



Figure 9. All running water sites from which records were obtained. Size, shade and value of symbols indicate the ‘jewelwing index’ for each site. All sites with the value 4 or more have Sapho fumosa present.

4.4 Offset The most valuable assemblages, including probably all key species, were found in the forests on the eastern slopes of Gangra-Yuelliton and (especially) Tokadeh and the western slope of Nimba, i.e. the part of ENNR most vulnerable to human encroachment. Similar assemblages should occur on the eastern slope of Nimba (see Fieldwork). Any compensation measures for mining on Gangra-Yuelliton and Tokadeh must focus on a better protection of the forests in ENNR.



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