Man-induced changes in the dragonfly fauna of the Jordan Valley

During a one-year stay in Jordan the eastern affluents of the Jordan River were visited regularly in order to collect dragonflies. Compared with earlier faunistic data, an improverishment in the Transjordan dragonfly fauna was established. These changes are attributed to an increasing number of irrigation projects which cuase a lowering of the water level (or even a drying-up) in the lower courses of perennial wadis. As a result, the vegetation of the river banks and therewith the habitats of many dragonfly species are destroyed.