Diversity of Caterpillars (Order Lepidoptera) in Khaoyai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
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Proceedings of International Conference on Biodiversity: IBD2019 (2019); 102 - 115 Diversity of Caterpillars (Order Lepidoptera) in KhaoYai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province Paradorn Dokchan1,2*, Nanthasak Pinkaew1, Sunisa Sanguansub1 and Sravut Klorvuttimontara3 1Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University KamphaengSaen Campus, Kamphaeng Saen Dictrict, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 2Environmental Entomology Research and Development Centre, Faculty of Agriculture at KamphaengSaen, Kasetsart University KamphaengSaen Campus, KamphaengSaen District, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 3Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Kamphaeng Saen District, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand *Corresponding author e-mail:[email protected] Abstract: The study of caterpillars diversity was started by sampled caterpillars from 500 meters line transect every 100 meters above mean sea level from 100 meters above mean sea level thru 1,200 meters above sea level in KhaoYai National Park. Caterpillars were sampled every month from January 2017 – June 2017. A total of 3,434 specimens were identified to 86 species, 55 genera, and 19 families and 37 morphospecies. The most abundant species was Euremablanda (n=1,280). The highest diversity was found in 500 meters above mean sea level (H'= 2.66) and the similarity of caterpillar that occurred in different elevation was low. Keywords: caterpillars, elevation, diversity, KhaoYai National Park. Introduction Khao Yai National Park is a Thailand's first national park, it is the third largest national park in Thailand. Situated mainly in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Khao Yai is part of Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a world heritage site declared by UNESCO. In at least five different forest type, Khao Yai National Park has complex ecosystem with richness of plant and animal such as mammal bird reptile and insects. Butterflies and Moths are familiar insects with people. There are recorded of 214 butterflies species in Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex include Khao Yai National Park (Lapkratok and Suwanwaree, 2010). Considering their abundance, moths and butterflies caterpillars are not well known. It’s just a few records of caterpillars and foodplant in Khao Yai National Park. The main objectives of the research were to determine the species of caterpillars and food plants in Khao Yai National Park and to investigate the caterpillar diversity in different seasons and effect by biotic factor and abiotic factor. Materials and Methods Caterpillars collecting and rearing The line transects walk modified from Pollard (1977). In different elevation, total 12 line transect are setting in every 100 meters above mean sea level (=MMSL) from 100 – 1,200 MMSL. Every line transects are 500 meters length and 5 meters width each both side along the transect. The transect walked is starting monthly from January – June 2017. Caterpillars are sampled from every line transect by visual searching from ground surface up to 2 meters on the host plant. The individual caterpillars are put in the plastic box. The caterpillar food plants were cut and put in the plastic bag. The food plants were used for feed caterpillar and another purpose was for plant identified. After field surveys, caterpillars will be moved to a bigger container. Leaves are changed and clean the container every day along the development from larva to pupa. After pupation, the pupa are transferred into other plastic boxes separately for rearing until adult emerge. Specimens preservation and identification Specimens are pinned and preserved on the setting board. After that, the setting boards were moved to a hot air oven with 50 o C for two weeks. The specimens are moved to the insect boxes with code number and insect’s information label. Then all of the specimens were identified by All specimens are identified by Cerny and Pinratana (2009), Ek-Amnuay (2012), Holloway (1983; 1985; 1986; 1987; 1988a; 1988b; 1989; 1993; 1996; 1997; 1999; 2003; 2005), Inoue et al. (1997), Khanal and Smith (1997), Kononenko and Pinratana (2005), Pinratana (1981; 1983; 1985),Pinratana and Eliot (1992; 1996), Robinson et al. (1994),Schintlmeister and Pinratana (2007),Smith (1997), Solovyev (2008) Tan and Khoon (2012) and Zolotuhin and Pinratana (2005) Proceedings of International Conference on Biodiversity: IBD2019 on 22nd - 24th May 2019 102 at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand Caterpillar diversity calculation Caterpillar diversities are calculated by diversity indexes such as Shannon index, Simpson index, evenness index and Similarity index as follows: where H' = Shannon Index pi = The proportion abundance of the i species i = number of i species individual ln = Natural logarithm Simpson’s index 2 Simpson’s index = 1- pi where pi = The proportion abundance of the i species i = number of i species individual Shannon species evenness index J' = H'/Hmax where Hmax = ln S J' = H'/ ln S H' = Shannon Index ln = Natural logarithm S = Number of species at each site Result & Discussion Total 3,434 individuals were collected and divide by 19 Family, 55 genera, 86 species and 37 morphospecies of caterpillars. The most diverse species were Noctuidae and Pyralidae (15 species). In each elevation, The highest number of individual was found in 1,000 MMSL (n=1,280) (figure 1). The most abundance was found in 500 MMSL (figure 1.) and the highest diversity was found in 500 meters above mean sea level (H'= 2.66) (table 1.) consist with McCoy (1990) studied on The distribution of insects include butterflies and moths along elevational gradients. He reported that the highest species richness does frequently occur among insect in mid-elevation. In 800, 900 and 1,000 MMSL, we found that elevations were very high number of individual but their Shannon index values were quite low (H' = 0.842, 1.135 and 0.460 respectively) and considered with Shannon species evenness index values were low too (J' = 0.311, 0.367 and 0.237 respectively) (table 1). The Shannon index and Shannon species evenness index values can reveal that some dominat species can be found. The highest individual of caterpillar species was Eurema blanda (figure). A total 1,280 individuals were found and 788 individual were found in 1000 MMSL. The similarity of caterpillar that occurred in different elevation represented by similarity index value. The similarity measures between each elevation and another elevation were quite low (similarity index > 0.5), some were absolutely different (similarity index = 0). It was because of the hostplant that occurred in each elevation were different (table 2.) Conclusion Khao Yai National Park has a richness and high diversity of caterpillar. A total of 3,434 individuals were identified into 19 Family, 55 genera, 86 species and 37 morphospecies. The most diverse species were Noctuidae and Pyralidae. The dominant species was Eurema blanda. The highest species diversity was found in 500 MMSL. The similarity measures between each elevation and another elevation is quite low, some were absolutely different. 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