Climate change and species distribution: the case of Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis (Odonata Calopterygidae) in Piedmont (Italy)

Abstract

Climate change affects species and biological systems in several ways and is documented to be responsible of species distribution shifts. Odonata are reported to respond quickly to climate change, and in last years several Mediterranean species have expanded their range northwards in Europe. In this note, we report the first records of reproductive populations of Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis in Piedmont (NW Italy), suggesting a northwards latitudinal shift of the range of the species in Italy. The reports of Mediterranean dragonflies and damselflies that in the last years have been recorded for the first time in Piedmont are also outlined.