The Delaware River clubtail (Gomphurus septima delawarensis) is an endemic dragonfly subspecies found in the Delaware River watershed. Due to significant data gaps regarding its taxonomy, distribution, habitat associations, and response to key threats, it is considered a Science Needs species by the Science Applications program in the Northeast. This pilot study is focused on the known historic locations for the subspecies in New York and intends to field-test survey methodologies for assessing its distribution within the Delaware watershed. We will collect all Gomphidae exuviae (shed larval skins) encountered during timed searches at 11 historical locations across New York. These surveys will be repeated at these historical locations 4-5 times (approximately weekly) throughout the flight season, which typically covers the period late May to late June. Collected specimens will be identified to species and used to develop naïve occupancy models. We intend to (a) ensure that our team can successfully locate and identify exuviae for this subspecies, (b) develop naïve estimates of site occupancy and detection probability, and (c) simulate appropriate survey effort for a more comprehensive survey in future years. The results from this study will provide valuable information that will help us design a rigorous protocol for assessing distribution, habitat, and other characteristics of the subspecies.
