Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(4): 467-472

E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Study on the abundance and diversity of and JEZS 2015; 3(4): 467-472 damselflies (Insecta: ) of Corbett Tiger Reserve, © 2015 JEZS Received: 19-06-2015 Uttarakhand, India

Accepted: 21-07-2015

Dayakrishna Dayakrishna, Manoj Kumar Arya Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Zoology, D.S.B. Abstract Campus, Kumaun University, A study on the abundance, richness and diversity of Odonate fauna in and around Corbett Tiger Nainital-263001, Uttarakhand, Reserve was conducted during 2013-2015. A total of 420 individuals of Odonates belonging to 4 families India. and 19 species under two suborders were recorded during the entire study period. Suborder Anisoptera was represented by family and suborder Zygoptera was represented by the families Manoj Kumar Arya Coenagrionidae, Chlorocyphidae and Calopterygidae. Libellulidae was the most dominant family with 15 Insect Biodiversity Laboratory, species constituting 92.14% of the total recorded individuals of Odonates followed by Coenagrionidae Department of Zoology, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, with 2 species and constituting 6.19% of the total recorded individuals, Calopterygidae and Nainital-263001, Uttarakhand, Chlorocyphidae (1 species each), respectively. Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum Rambur was the most India. abundant species constituting 29.76% of the total number of individuals of Odonates followed by brevipennis Rambur (14.52%), Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer) (12.62%) and Crocothemis s. servilia (Drury) (8.80%), respectively. On the other hand, Rhinocypha f. fenestrella Rambur, Palpopleura s. sexmaculata (Fabricius) and Palpopleura sp. were recorded less abundant species during the entire study period. Maximum number of species and individuals of Odonates were recorded during rainy season followed by summer and winter. Similarly, maximum values of species diversity were recorded during the rainy season followed by summer and winter.

Keywords: Abundance, Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), diversity, Odonates, richness, species

1. Introduction

The order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), comprising three suborders Anisoptera, [1] Anisozygoptera and Zygoptera are one of ancient group of and considered as an important link in the food chain of any forest ecosystem [2]. Generally, they are known as “guardians of the watershed” [3] and their rich diversity and habitat specificity make them ideal tools for assessing freshwater ecosystem health [4]. Globally, 5,740 species of Odonates are

known of this 470 species representing 139 genera and 19 families have been reported from [5] India . Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), endowed with unique and exceptionally rich biodiversity, is one of the best suitable habitats for tiger in the world. However, different vertebrates of CTR have been studied for many occasions but a little information is available regarding invertebrates particularly Odonates of CTR [18-20]. Apart from the CTR, various studies have been conducted on Odonates from different parts of the world [1, 2, 4, 6-17].

Therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the abundance, species richness and diversity of Odonates in and around CTR, Uttarakhand, India.

2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study area Corbett Tiger Reserve (29o13’-29o35’ N and 78o33’-79o46’ E) is located in the hilly districts of

Nainital and Pauri Garhwal in the southern part of Uttarakhand, India (Figure 1). With 1318 sq. km, Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) covers a large area including Corbett National Park, Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and an additional reserve forest. The elevation ranges from 400- 1200m. CTR falls in the subtropical climate zone with annual rainfall varying from 1400- 0 0 2800 mm. Temperature of the area varies between 11 C to 41 C. Climatically, the area is Correspondence: unique and has three distinct seasons i.e. winter (November to February), summer (March- Dr. Manoj Kumar Arya June) and rainy (July-October). The CTR mainly supports northern dry deciduous vegetation Insect Biodiversity Laboratory, dominated by Shorea robusta along with its associate species. River Ramganga coursing Department of Zoology, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, sinuously through CTR and with its subsidiary streams is only source of water to the wildlife Nainital-263001, Uttarakhand, of the reserve. To carry out the present study four sites with varied habitat type were selected India. in and around CTR (Table 1). ~ 467 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Fig 1: Map showing different study sites in and around Corbett Tiger Reserve

Table 1: Characteristic features of different study sites in the landscape of Corbett Tiger Reserve

S. N. Study Sites Division Elevation Coordinates Habitat status N 29025.332” 1. Jhirna (Site-1) Corbett 330 m Open, dry and scrubby E 79059.943” N 29033.096” 2. Bijrani (Site-2) Corbett 393 m Moist and riverine E 790 06.576” N29029.708” 3. Garjia (Site-3) Ramnagar 433 m Open, dry and scrubby E 790 08.159” N 29058.472” 4. Mohaan (Site-4) Ramnagar 508 m Moist and riverine E 79008.461”

2.2 Sampling of Odonates 29.76% of the total number of recorded Odonates. Orthetrum Sampling of Odonates was carried out from July 2013 to June pruinosum neglectum (Rambur) was the most abundant 2015 in different study sites selected in and around Corbett species of this family followed by Tiger Reserve (CTR). Random sampling was carried out by (Ramber) (14.52%), Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer) (13.30%) direct searching methods following Sutherland [21] at a thirty and Crocothemis s. servilia (Drury) (8.80%), respectively. days interval during the period of 10:00 to 16:00 hours, Family Coenagrionidae was the second most dominant family because Odonates are found mostly active during midday due and constituted 6.19% of the total individuals of Odonates to their dependence on sunlight directly to regulate their body recorded during the study period. Pseudagrion r. rubriceps temperature [16]. Identification of Odonates was carried out Selys was the most abundant species and accounted for with the help of Odonates identification guide [5, 22- 24]. 61.54% of the total individuals of this family. Family Chlorocyphidae and Calopterygidae, both were represented by 2.3 Data analysis a single species constituting 0.24% and 1.43% of the total In order to compare the diversity of Odonates across the number of individuals of the Odonates, respectively. different sites as well as different seasons various measures of Across the entire study period, Orthetrum pruinosum diversity were calculated by using the program Past 3.4 [25]. neglectum Rambur was the most abundant species constituting 29.76% of the total number of individuals of Odonates 3. Results and Discussion recorded followed by Aethriomanta brevipennis Rambur 3.1 Species composition and abundance: A total of 420 (14.52%), Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer) (12.62%) and individuals of Odonates belonging to 19 species under 4 Crocothemis s. servilia (Drury) (8.80%), respectively. families were recorded during the entire study period (Table Whereas, Rhinocypha f. fenestrella Rambur (0.24% of the total 2). On the basis of total number of species Libellulidae was the Odonates), along with Palpopleura s. sexmaculata (Fabricius) most dominant family with 15 species followed by and Palpopleura sp. (both accounted for 0.47% of the total Coenagrionidae (2 species), Chlorocyphidae and Odonates), was the least abundant species during the entire Calopterygidae (1 species each). study period. On the basis of total number of individuals recorded, Libellulidae was the most dominant family constituting ~ 468 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Table 2: Species composition and relative abundance of different Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Fabricius) and Tholymis species of Odonates recorded from Corbett Tiger Reserve during tillarga (Fabricius) were reported first time from the CTR 2013-15 during the present study period. Relative A total of 420 individuals belonging to 19 species of Odonates Taxonomic Composition Abundance were recorded from different sites of CTR during the present Common Name study period. In comparison, 37 species of Odonates belonging (Order: Odonata) 2013- 2014- to eight families have been reported from Corbett Tiger 14 15 Reserve [18-20]. Similarly, six species belonging to 4 families of Suborder: Zygoptera (Damselflies) Odonates have been reported from Nanda Devi Biosphere Family: Coenagrionidae Reserve, India. Platycnemididae was the most dominant family Ceriagrion with 3 species, followed by Synlestidae, Aeshnidae and Coromandel [6] coromandelianum 2.92 1.65 Cordulegasteridae (1 each) . In addition, 42 species of Marsh Dart (Fabricius, 1798) Odonates with their habitat ecology have been reported from [7] [8] Pseudagrion r. rubriceps Saffron-Faced Sahastradhara (Sulphur springs) of Dehradun . Clausnitzer 4.18 3.31 Selys, 1876 Blue Dart has documented 194 species of Odonates belonging to 11 families from Kenya. Libellulidae, with 75 species, was the Family: Chlorocyphidae dominant family followed by Coenagrionidae (43), Rhinocypha f. fenestrella Peacock Jewel 0.42 - Gomphidae (25), Aeshnidae (15), Lestidae (9), Cordulidae (7), (Rambur, 1842) Chlorocyphidae (7), Protoneuridae (5), Platycnemididae (5), Family: Calopterygidae Calopterygidae (2) and Megapodagrionidae (1). Few workers Neurobasis ch. chinensis have reported 6 species of Odonates under 2 families from Stream Glory 1.25 1.65 (Linnaeus, 1758) Great Himalayan National Park, Western Himalaya. Libellulidae was the most dominant family with 4 species Suborder: Anisoptera (Dragonflies) while aeshnidae was represented by only 2 species [9]. Family: Libellulidae Similarly, 23 species of Odonates under 4 families have been Acisoma p. panorpoides listed from Annamalai University of Tamilnadu. Libellulidae Trumpet Tail 1.67 1.10 Rambur, 1842 (13) was the most dominant family followed by [10] Aethriamanta brevipennis Scarlet Marsh Coenagrionidae (5), Aeshnidae (4) and Gomphidae (1) . 14.64 14.36 (Rambur, 1842) Hawk Some workers have reported 17 species belonging to 4 families of Odonates from Rajaji National Park, India. Brachythemis contaminata Ditch Jewel 2.51 - Libellulidae was the most dominant family with 9 species, (Fabricius, 1793) followed by Coenagrionidae (5), Chlorocyphidae (2) and Crocothemis s. servilia Ruddy Marsh [2] 9.20 8.28 Gomphidae (1) . Few workers have reported 27 species of (Drury, 1770) Skimmer Odonates representing 8 families from a wetland area in Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer, Blue Marsh 12.13 13.25 Hanwella, Sri Lanka. With 11 species Libellulidae was the 1865) Hawk most dominant family followed by Coenagrionidae (7 species), Orthetrum pruinosum Crimson-Tailed Gomphidae (3 species), Protoneuridae (2 species), 27.19 33.14 neglectum (Rambur, 1842) Marsh Hawk Chlorocyphidae, Platycnemididae, Aeshnidae and Cordulidae [15] Orthetrum s. sabina (Drury, Green Marsh (1 species each) . Some workers have reported 58 species of 2.51 6.07 1770) Hawk Odonates representing 37 genera from 9 families in buffer area of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Eastern Ghat, India. Libellulidae Orthetrum taeniolatum Taineolate Marsh 3.76 3.31 (Schneider, 1845) Hawk was the dominant family with 31 species, followed by Coenagrionidae (11), Calopterygidae (3), Platycnemididae (3), Orthetrum t. triangulare Blue-Tailed 4.18 3.86 Protoneuridae (2), Lestidae (2), Chlorocyphidae (2), (Selys, 1878) Forest Hawk Gomphidae (2) and Aeshnidae (2) [13]. Moreover, 58 species of Palpopleura s. sexmaculata Blue-Tailed 0.83 - Odonates under 37 genera and 9 families have been reported (Fabricius, 1787) Yellow Skimmer from Buffer areas of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Eastern Ghat, Palpopleura sp. - 0.83 - India [13]. Similarly, 41 species of Odonate fauna belonging to Pantala flavescens 7 families and 31 genera have documented from three tiger Wandering Glider 1.67 0.55 [16] (Fabricius, 1798) reserves of Madhya Pradesh, Central India . On the other hand, 46 species of dragonflies and damselflies have recorded Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius, Coral-Tailed 2.09 2.76 from Mula and Mutha river basins at Maharastra India [4]. 1798) Cloud Wing More recently, 68 species of Odonates belonging to 44 genera Trithemis festiva (Rambur, Black Stream [1] 5.85 6.62 and 10 families Chhattisgarh, India whereas, 33 species of 1842) Glider dragonflies and damselflies representing 4 families have been Trithemis pallidinervis Long-Legged [17] 2.09 - reported from Umiam, Meghalaya, India . Selys, 1889 Marsh Glider 3.2 Species richness and diversity of Odonates In the present study, site no.4 supported the maximum number During the study period Simpson, Shannon, Margalef, Fisher- of Odonates species (17) followed by site no. 3 (15 species), alpha and Berger-Parker indices were calculated as a measure site no. 2 (13 species) and site no. 1 (12 species), respectively. of diversity of Odonates in different study sites as well as Five species were common in all the four study sites, while different seasons. Maximum species richness was recorded site no. 1 and 3 had one common species. On the other hand, during the rainy season (18 species), followed by winter (14 site no 3 and 4 supported 2 common species. During the entire species) and summer (11species). Eight species were common study period Rhinocypha f. fenestrella Rambur was recorded during all the three season. Among the total species of from site-1only. Among the 19 species of Odonates Odonates 3 species were common during the summer and ~ 469 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

rainy season, while 9 species were common in rainy and Odonates in this site (Jhirna) indicates that Odonates winter. profoundly rely on aquatic habitat for survival. Similarly, Across the different study sites species richness was higher in across the study sites, maximum values of species diversity site-4 (17 species) which was characterized by marshy riverine was recorded from site-4 (Mohaan) followed by site-3 habitat and dense sal forest. However, during the second year (Bijrani), site- 2 (Garjia) and site-1(Jhirna), respectively of study, this site was represented by only 13 species of (Figure-2). Odonates. Decline of species richness in this site during the During both the years of study and across the different season, second year of the study was possibly due to habitat maximum values of species richness, abundance and different destruction by various development activities. Site-1 (Jhirna) diversity indices of Odonates was observed during the rainy was represented by 12 and 7 species only during 2013-14 and season followed by winter and summer, respectively (Table 3). 2014-15, respectively. Thus lower species richness of

Fig 2: Diversity indices calculated for the Odonates in different study sites in and around CTR during 2013-14 and 2014-15.

During the present study, maximum value of species richness present study reveals that the CTR with its adjacent landscape and diversity of Odonates were recorded during the rainy harbours rich diversity of Odonates. However, inside the CTR season supporting the earlier observation [2]. On the other various anthropogenic activities have been restricted except hand, species diversity declined with increase in dryness of eco-tourism but destruction of suitable habitats of Odonate environmental conditions, as in summer season. It is believed fauna around CTR by local villagers is a matter of concern. that scarcity of water during the summer season creates a Therefore, public awareness is necessary to conserve the challenge to the survival of Odonates because their life cycle suitable habitats of these economically important invertebrate mainly depends upon aquatic environment [16]. Thus the organisms.

Table 3: Community structure of Odonates across different seasons in and around CTR during 2013-15

2013-14 2014-15 Diversity Indices Summer Rainy Winter Summer Rainy Winter Species Richness 11 18 14 10 13 11 Individuals 36 120 83 48 81 52 Dominance- D 0.13 0.12 0.15 0.18 0.15 0.19 Simpson 1-D 0.86 0.87 0.85 0.82 0.84 0.81 Shannon –H 2.18 2.41 2.23 1.97 2.17 1.98 Margalef 2.79 3.55 2.94 2.35 2.73 2.53 Fisher-alpha 5.40 5.87 4.82 3.84 4.37 4.26 Berger-Parker 0.22 0.31 0.26 0.33 0.31 0.36

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4. Acknowledgments Damselflies) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Zoology, (ICAR), Research Complex for NEH Region Campus, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, for providing Umiam, Meghalaya, India. Journal of Entomology and necessary facilities. Sincere thanks to Director, Corbett Tiger Zoology Studies. 2014; 2(6):16-21. Reserve, D.F.O., Ramnagar Forest Division, for permission 18. Singh A, Prasad M. Odonata (Insecta) of Corbett National and cooperation to carry out the present study. Financial Park (Uttar Pradesh, India). Journal of Bombay Natural assistance provided by University Grant Commission, New History Society. 1977; 73:419-421. Delhi during the study period is gratefully acknowledged. 19. Singh A, Prasad M. Odonata in: Fauna of Corbett National Park by Lamba BS, Bhatnagar RK. Cheetal 5. References 1979; 21:43-44. 1. Dawn P, Chandra K. Dragonflies and Damselflies of 20. Khanna V. Zoological Survey of India, Fauna of Corbett Chhattisgarh, India. Check List 2014; 10(5):1104-1109. Tiger Reserve, Conservation Area Series, 2008; 35:195- 2. Vashishth N, Joshi PC, Singh A. Odonata community 203. dynamics in Rajaji National Park, India. Fraseria (N.S.) 21. Sutherland WJ. Ecological Census Techniques. 2002; 7:21-25. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996, 450. 3. Clausnitzer V, Dijkstra KDB, Koch R, Boudot JP, 22. Fraser FC. The Fauna of British- India including Ceylon Darwall WRT, Kipping J et al. Focus on African and Burma, Odonata. Vol. I. London: Taylor and Francis freshwaters: hotspots of diversity and Ltd, 1933, 436. conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the 23. Fraser FC. The Fauna of British- India including Ceylon Environment 2012; 13(3):129-134. and Burma, Odonata. Vol. II. London: Taylor and Francis 4. Kulkarni AS, Subramanian KA. Habitat and seasonal Ltd, 1934, 442. distribution of Odonata (Insecta) of Mula and Mutha river 24. Fraser FC. The fauna of British- India including Ceylon basins, Maharastra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa. and Burma, Odonata. Vol. III. London: Taylor and Francis 2013; 5(7):4084-4095. Ltd, 1936, 448.

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