Bee Flora of Kashmir: the Himalayan Received: 16-01-2019 Accepted: 20-02-2019 Biodiversity Hotspot
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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(2): 2172-2181 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2019; 8(2): 2172-2181 Bee flora of Kashmir: The Himalayan Received: 16-01-2019 Accepted: 20-02-2019 biodiversity hotspot Shoukat Ara Sher-e- Kashmir University of Shoukat Ara, Zubair Ahmad Rather, Manzoor Ahmad Paray, Rizwana Agricultural Science and Khursheed and Munaza Yaqoob Technology of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India Abstract Zubair Ahmad Rather The Kashmir Himalaya, nestled in the north-western side of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, Sher-e- Kashmir University of possesses a rich biodiversity of immense potential. Plethora of anthropogenic activities during last few Agricultural Science and decades has deleteriously affected the biodiversity of this fragile mountain ecosystem, thereby Technology of Kashmir, Jammu threatening its bio-security. Contextually, conservation of the biota assumes vital importance, for which and Kashmir, India inventorization and documentation of the biota is essential. Though some work has been done on different aspects of the flora but not on the bee flora of the area. Present study documents the diversity of Manzoor Ahmad Paray bee flora from this biodiversity-rich part of the Himalaya. Systematic survey and field observation Sher-e- Kashmir University of approach has been used to document the diversity of foraging plants of bees. During the present study, a Agricultural Science and total 228 plant species belonging to 182 genera and 58 families were recorded, which serve as food Technology of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India source for bees. Overall 77 foraging species were found frequently visited by bees. Annual herbs were found as potential source of pollen and nectar. Majority of plant species were both pollen and nectar- Rizwana Khursheed producing and grow as wild in this Himalayan region. A total 37 bee species belonging to 15 genera and Sher-e- Kashmir University of 6 families were found visiting the documented flowering plants for their food. Family Apidae was found Agricultural Science and to be dominant group of bees. Technology of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India Keywords: bee flora, Kashmir, Himalaya, biodiversity, bees, foraging plants Munaza Yaqoob Introduction Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and The Himalaya- one of the world’s tallest ranges of mountains, located in the Indian Technology of Kashmir, Jammu subcontinent is one of the global biodiversity hotspots, harbouring in precious biological and Kashmir, India wealth of great economic value and scientific interest. Lying in its north-western part is the Kashmir Himalaya, which is celebrated for its natural landscape. Beset with considerable topographical, altitudinal and climatic variation, this area depicts great habitat diversity and harbours in rich biodiversity of intangible benefits. The region with its unique environ is an ideal home for vide variety of fauna including diverse insects which are responsible for sustenance and maintaining quality of natural and manmade ecosystems by providing pollination services. In the study area, bees have significance over other insects by way of being abundant and dominating the area in providing the pollination services. Sustenance of this entomo-faunal group depends fully on angiosperms. Angiospermic component of the [8] flora, accounting for 2000 species (Dar et al., 2002) blooms in different seasons of the year and provide food for insects including bees. The plant species that provide food to bees constitute bee flora. Research investigations related to taxonomic diversity of bee flora have been carried out in different parts of the world. Ramalho et al. (1990) [15] reported 288 plant species which act as pollen and nectar producing plants for stingless bees and “Africanized” [1] honey bees in the Brazilian Neo-tropics. Abdullahi et al. (2011) reported 103 potential foraging plants for honeybees from the tropical African country of Nigeria. Bhalchandra et al. (2014) [6] recorded 52 plant species, including 29 agricultural crops and 23 wild plants, from the biodiversity hotpot region of Western Ghats, India, that were useful to honey bees. Though, number of references are available on different aspects of flora of Kashmir (Dar and [9] [4] [3] [8] [5] Khuroo, 2013 ; Ara, 2011 ; Anzar et al., 2007 ; Dar et al., 2002 ), Ara et al., 2018) , no extensive work has been done till date on bee flora of Kashmir. Hence the present study. Materials and Methods Correspondence Study area Shoukat Ara Lying between 33° 20′ to 34° 54′ N latitudes and 73° 55′ to 75° 35′ E longitudes, Kashmir Sher-e- Kashmir University of Himalaya represents a biotic province in the bio-geographic zone of the North-Western Agricultural Science and Himalaya in India. Technology of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India ~ 2172 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry The region mainly comprises of intermountain Kashmir 1872 [11]; Nasir and Ali, 1970 [13]) and further validated with valley with predominantly temperate climate with wet and expert determination. The bees collected by nets were killed cold winters and relatively dry and moderately warm in ethyl acetate solution, stretched and pinned. Labels summers. The area marked by well-defined seasonality, containing field information were appended to each sample. winter (December-February), spring (March-May), summer The labeled samples were placed in the boxes specially (June-August) and autumn (September-November) inhabits designed for the purpose and identified following Michener wide variety of flowers interacting with different flower (2007) [12] and further validated with expert determination by visitors including bees. Ghorpede Dharwad Agricultural University Bangalore and Alain Pauly Royl Belgian Institute, Belgium. Nectar content Systematic surveys and field observations of frequently visited plants was determined by Micro capillary Systematic surveys and field observations were carried out method following Abrol (1992) [2]. Flowers about to bloom during 2012- 2017 in Kashmir Himalaya to record data were bagged before 24 hours to avoid pollinators visit and regarding pollen and nectar producing plants and bees visiting nectar quantity was measured by calibrated micro capillary them. Field observations were keenly recorded on the basis of tubes. Nectar sugar content was recorded by digital visitation rate of flower visitors on the flowers of a particular refrectometer and final values were calculated from Brixs plant. conversion table. All the samples of plants and identified The type of foraging plant was recognized on the basis of insect pollinators have been housed in Research and Training foraging behaviour of the bees. If the bee stayed at a Centre for Pollinators, Pollinizers and Pollination particular position on a flower especially at the base of petal/ Management, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural tepal and pierced its proboscis towards position of nectary, the Science and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and plant was categorized as the nectar producing. If the flower Kashmir (India). visitor roamed around the flower display near the anthers in different patterns, especially in a ring pattern in bowl-shaped Results and Discussion flowers, the plant was categorized as pollen producing plant. During the present study 227 flowering and one non When both the foraging behaviours of insect visitors were flowering plant species belonging to 182 genera and 58 observed for the flowers of a particular plant, the plant was families were recorded as potential foraging plants (Table 1). categorized as pollen-nectar producing plant. The fact was These species include 178 herbs, 28 shrubs and 22 tree confirmed by consulting the literature as well. Plant species, contributing about 78, 12 and 10% respectively to specimens were collected and processed using standard foraging plants (Fig 1). Asteraceae contributed largest number herbarium methodology (Bridson and Forman, 1998) [7] and (35) of species, followed by Rosaceae and Lamiaceae with 24 identified on the basis of relevant taxonomic literature (Hook, and 15 species respectively. On the other hand. Table 1: Diversity of bee flora in Kashmir Himalaya S. No. Plant species Family English name Purpose Bee visitor genus Reward 1. Abelia grandiflora Rehd. Caprifolaceae Glossy abelia Ornamental Apis, Bombus, Xylocopa PN Abelmoschu s esculentus 2. Malvaceae Ladies Finger Olericulture Apis, Bombus, Xylocopa PN Moench Grape-leaved 3. Aconitum laeve Royle Ranunculacea e Wild Apis, Bombus PN Monkshood 4. Aconogonu m molle Hara Polygonaceae Sikkim Knotweed Wild Apis PL Actinidia deliciosa Liang Horticulture/ 5. Actinidiaceae Kiwi Apis PN and Ferguson. Ornamental Indian horse 6. Aesculus indica Hook. Sapindaceae Wild Apis PN Chestnut Ageratum houstonianu m 7. Asteraceae Floss Flower Ornamental Apis, Bombus, Athalia PL Mill. 8. Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Rosaceae Hairy Agrimony Wild Apis, Lasioglossum PN Scrophulariac 9. Ailanthus altissima Swingle Tree of Heaven Social Forestry Apis PL eae 10. Albizia julibrissin Durazz. Fabaceae Silk tree mimosa Landscape Apis, PL 11. Alcea rosea L. Malvaceae Hollyhock Ornamental Apis, Bombus PN Apis, Ceratina, Lasioglossum, 12. Allium cepa L. Alliaceae Onion Agriculture PL Halictus, Megachile 13. Allium sativum L. Alliaceae Garlic Agriculture Apis, Ceratina. Lasioglossum, PL Halictus, Megachile 14. Anaphalis busua DC., Asteraceae Wild Apis PL 15. Anemone obtusiloba Don Ranunculacea e Himalayan thimble weed Wild Apis, Lasioglossum PN