Proc.Zool.Soc.. 16 (1) : 7-14 : (2017) ISSN 0972 - 6683 : INDEXED AND ABSTRACTED 2 IMPACT OF OPENCAST COAL MINING ON SOIL ENVIRONMENT WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO BIO-DIVERSITY OF SOIL INSECTS IN COALFIELD, OF , . NILESH KUMAR SINGH*, L.B.SINGH** AND S.K.SINHA** *Research Scholar, P.K.R.M. College, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India **Associate Professor, Deptt. Of Zoology, P.K.R.M. College, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India [email protected] Received - 13.12.2016 Accepted - 25.02.2017 ABSTRACT Jharia coalfield is one of the most important coalfields in India. The extraction of this specific coalfield is to obtain prime cocking coal which is the great source of energy. Opencast mining is one of the essential and vital mining method which involves various activities due to which the ecological changes and environmental degradation occur. When opencast mining is done, the soils found on upper most layer get severely damaged due to blasting and drilling etc. The opencast mining causes harmful effects on the insects living in the soils. As the nutrient quality and microbial activities of the soil system get disturbed hence the bio-diversity of soil insects of concerning mining areas gets disturbed badly. The living conditions of many insects get changed. This paper presents the result of the study carried out in mining areas i.e. and Bastacola of Jharia coalfield. The selected soil insects were collected from five different sites of Lodna and Bastacola for study in mining areas and from and for the study of non-mining areas. The obtained results are very useful to understand the mining impact on selected soil insects. KEYWORDS: Opencast mining, Top soil, Microbial activities, Bio-diversity. INTRODUCTION Mining activity in Jharia coaleld started in 1895. In Jharia coaleld due to multi seam occurrence opencast mining being preferred. With the help of opencast mining better quality of coal is being obtained hence opencast mining activities rapidly increased. In Jharia coaleld coal was also exploited by the local or private owners in an unscientic manner due to which serious problems arose, for example loss of habitats for many plants and animals species, severe threat to human health and re problems etc. All such problems are existing in throughout the Jharia coaleld but the eastern side of Jharia coaleld like Lodna and Bastacola and Kustaur areas are heavily disturbed. During opencast mining, the overlying soil is removed and the fragmented rock is heaped in the form of overburden dumps (Ghosh,2002). The composition and the properties of topmost soils get changed. The surface topography and surface drainage system changed due to subsidence movements (Saxena et.al. 1995). The overburden dumps found in mining areas change the natural land topography, affect the drainage system and prevent natural succession of plant growth (Bradshaw and Chadwick 1980; Wali 1987) resulting in acute problems of soil erosion and environmental pollution (Fox, 1930, Borror et al, 1989; Gill, 2010; Jackson, 1967; Jha and Singh, 1993; Roy et al. 1995 and 2003; Sharma, 2005; Singh et al, 2002 and Subrameniyam, 2007) MATERIALS AND METHODS STUDY AREA Jharia coaleld covers an area of about 72 sq. km sq. It is located in of Jharkhand between latitude 23. 39'to 23 48' N and longitude 86 11' to 86 27' E. Jharia coaleld is sickle shaped coaleld which is about 40 kms. in length and approx. 12kms in width stretches from West to East and nally turns Southward covering an area of about 450 Sq Kms.

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FIG. NO. 1. (Important mining sites of Jharia coal eld) To study the impact of opencast mining on soil environment with particular reference to bio-diversity of soil insects, soil samples have been collected from Lodna and Bastacola areas of Jharia coaleld. From Lodna and Bastacola ve different sites have been selected to study the impact of opencast mining. The opencast mining activities are responsible for loss of soil organic matter, plant nutrients and exposure of subsoil materials with low fertility and high acidity. The top soil insects from affected mining areas (i.e. Lodna and Bastacola ) were collected. Soil insects were also collected from non-mining areas (i.e. Baliapur and Sindri) to study its bio-diversity. COLLECTION OF SOIL INSECTS In order to collect the soil insects from mining and non-mining areas the various habitats were visited in xed interval of time so that the effective observations can be made with keen eyes. Some insects were collected by simply catching with the help of our hands. The insects were also collected by a net and placed into the jar. The collection of day and night insects were with different instruments needed for its collection. It is quite impossible to collect all types of insects on a single collecting outing. Therefore the study areas were visited frequently in day and night. INSTRUMENTS USED FOR INSECT COLLECTION: 1. Collecting bag or other container 09. Bai t 2. Insect nets 10. Hatchet, knife, small garden shovel or other tools 3. collecting jars (killing jars/alcohol vials) 11. Permanent ink pen and label paper 4. Envelopes 12. Log book 5. Forceps 13. GPS unit/maps 6. Beat sheet 14. Camera (digital or lm) 7. Aspirator 15. Sunscreen 8. Sifter/pan (for leaf litter) 16. Repellant DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAPS 1. Pitfall traps 2. Malaise traps 3. Flight interception traps (also called Barrier traps) 4. Lindgren funnel traps 5. Bait traps (various types) 6. Japanese beetle traps 7. Blacklight traps 8. Pan traps 9. Berlese Funnel

(8) PROC. ZOOL. SOC. INDIA MEASURING BIO-DIVERSITY Simpson's index (D) is a measure of diversity, which takes into account both species richness, and an evenness of abundance among the species present. In essence it measures the probability that two individuals randomly selected from an area will belong to the same species. The formula for calculating D is presented as:

nini 1 D   NN 1 where ni = the total number of organisms of each individual species N = the total number of organisms of all species The value of D ranges from 0 to 1. With this index, 0 represents innite diversity and, 1, no diversity. That is, the bigger the value the lower the diversity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Ants - Order Formicidae: Ants are relatively small in size, and make nests that are visible on the soil surface. Ants are present in large numbers on the soil surface and are common predators of caterpillars and other insects. Many ants are carnivorous, while some prefer to feed on plant sap, nectar, honeydew, or on fungi. Ants like to tend or feed on sucking insects such as aphids, thrips, and whiteies. Ants are quite common when weeds and vegetation are present that harbor these small sucking insects. The non-mining areas (i.e. Baliapur and Sindri) provide more favorable condition for the ants in comparison to the mining areas (i.e. Lodna and Bastacola).

FIG.2.(Ants feeding on grasshopper.) Springtails - Order Collembola : Springtails are very small-sized microscopic insects. They are very numerous on the soil surface, in soil debris, and in litter. Most soil-inhibiting springtails species feed on fungi associated with decaying vegetation, while some are omnivorous. They are important in the decomposition of organic matter and are common in organic mulches. The present study shows that Springtails are numerous in number in non-mining areas (i.e. Baliapur and Sindri) because of ideal habitat whereas in mining areas (i.e. Lodna and Bastacola) it is found in less number.

FIG.3.(Springtails, Order Collembola) Beetles - Order Coleoptera: Many different kinds of beetles are active on the soil surface. They vary in size, and some feed on plants while others are predators. Some of the more common beetles on the soil surface are: rove beetles (Staphylinidae), ground beetles (Carabidae), and tiger beetles (Cicindellidae), which are predators that feed on other insects. Click beetles (Elateridae) and leaf-feeding beetles (Chrysomelidae), feed on vegetation. Many different species are present within these families. Chrysomelid beetles may be found on the soil surface around the base of plants, where they may have fallen from vegetation. Higher numbers of Staphylinidae and Carabidae were found in un-mulched plots than in mulched plots, possibly because it was easier for them to move around to hunt and locate prey.Various species of ground beetles are found under debris, in soil cracks or moving along the ground.

(9) SINGH ET AL. Immature stages are distinctly different from adults and more often are found within the top few inches of soil. Ground beetles are general feeders with powerful jaws. Almost any garden pest that spends part or all of its life on the soil surface may be prey for these insects. The non-mining areas show ideal habitat for Beetles whereas the soils of mining areas do not show the ideal conditions; thus the mining areas show the decrease in population of Beetles and non-mining areas showing increase in population count.

FIG.4. (Rove beetle, Family Staphylinidae.) FIG.5.(Ground beetle feeding on caterpillar, Family Carabidae.)

FIG.06. (Tiger beetle, Family Cicindellidae.) FIG.07.(Click beetle, Family Elateridae) FIG.08.(Leaf feeding ea beetle, Family Chrysomelidae.)

Figure 09. (Two spotted lady bird beetle laying eggs) Figure 10. (Typical lady bird beetle larva) Lady bird Beetles : Figure 09. (Two spotted lady bird beetle laying eggs) Figure 10. (Typical lady bird beetle larva) Often called ladybugs, lady beetles are the most familiar insect predator. Most adult lady beetles are round to oval, brightly colored and often spotted. The immature or larvae stages, however, look very different and often are overlooked or misidentied. Lady beetle larvae are elongated, usually dark colored, and ecked with orange or yellow. Adult and larvae feed on large numbers of small, soft-bodied insects such as aphids. One group of small, black lady beetles (Stethorus) is important in controlling spider mites and others specialize in scale insects. Lady beetles can rapidly control many developing insect problems, particularly if temperatures are warm. Earwigs - Order Dermaptera: Earwigs are nocturnal, medium-sized insects that prefer to feed mainly on dead and decaying vegetable matter. Some feed on living plants and a few are predaceous. Earwigs hide in dark places such as cracks, crevices, under bark, and in plant debris, and therefore are easily collected under wooden board traps. Earwigs are primarily feeding at night. They are scavengers, eating primarily dead insects and decomposing plant materials. Some species are attracted to lights. During the day, they will seek shelter under organic matter such as mulch, pine straw, leaf litter, and other debris. They prefer dark and damp areas like under sidewalks and stones. Earwigs are insects which have six legs. Earwigs also have pincers. The pincers are used for many things such as climbing. They are found in homes and can get in through entry points like doors and windows, and by going up the foundation. They produce large populations rather quickly and are often a major problem in new subdivisions. When in a home, they have an uncanny ability to seek out moisture. Home owners can reduce their activity by keeping damp laundry and wet towels off the oor. Remove anything that retains moisture away from the home, such as leaf litter, garbage bags, children's toys, and potted plants. An outside perimeter treatment will take care of most of the problem, but for heavier infestations, some inside treatment may need to be done. The soils of non mining areas have ideal conditions for such insects whereas the soils of mining areas do not show great adaptability. (10) PROC. ZOOL. SOC. INDIA

Fig. 11 (Earaigs, Order Dermastera) (Earnings eat roots, leaves and dead ereatures.) Earwigs are elongate, slender, attened insects with a dark body and prominent forceps-like cerci at the end of the abdomen. Some earwigs have short, leathery front wings under which transparent hind wings are hidden, other are wingless. Earwigs are omnivorous, feeding on all sorts of dead plant and animal matter, as well as on small invertebrates. Female earwigs show parental care, guarding their eggs in an underground nest. Earwigs have incomplete metamorphosis, so the juvenile earwigs look like miniature adults. Earwigs do not bite, and do not enter people's ears, but may pinch the nger with their cerci. Termites - Order Isoptera: Termites are soft-bodied, light-coloured social insects, which live in colonies in dead wood - often in rotting tree stumps or in decaying logs and branches on the ground. The colony is made of numerous sterile workers and soldiers (5-8 mm in length), and a reproducing pair, the queen (female) and the king (male). The males and females have eyes and when young, possess wings (four soft, equally-sized wings), which are shed soon after swarming. The workers and soldiers are wingless and blind. The termites feed on dead wood, digesting cellulose with the help of symbiotic micro-organisms in their guts. The soils of mining areas do not show much adaptability for such insects whereas the soils of non-mining areas show ideal habitat. TABLE SHOWING THE COLLECTION OF INSECTS SAMPLES Table 1. showing the percentage of collected insects from non-mining areas : Percentage of selected Name of Insects insects collected Springtails 76.4 Flies 6.2 Ants 5 Beetles 4 Leafhoppers 3 Aphids, thrips, and whiteies 2 Grasshoppers and eld crickets 3 Spiders 1

Graph showing the population status of selected soil insects in non-mining area

(11) SINGH ET AL. Table 2. showing the percentage of collected insects from mining areas :

Percentage of selected Name of Insects insects collected Springtails 35 Flies 5 Ants 3 Beetles 2 Leafhoppers 1.2 Aphids, thrips, and whiteies 1.3 Grasshoppers and eld crickets 0.78 Spiders 0.42 Table 2. (Data Collected from mining area)

Graph showing the population status of selected soil insects in mining area COMPONENTS AND STRUCTURE OF SOIL It would be very wrong to think of soils as just a collection of ne mineral particles. Soil also contains air, water, dead organic matter, and various types of living organisms. Generally, the soils of non-mining areas contain four basic components: mineral particles, water, air, and organic matter very appropriately. Organic matter can be further sub-divided into humus, roots, and living organisms. The soils of mining areas have less organic matter in comparision to soils of non-mining areas. The soils of mining areas are generally poorly structured soils due to which ideal condition for plants and soil insects remain unavailable. Our present ndiing is comistent with the nding of Borror et al, 1989, Gill, 2010 ; Rao et al; 1995; Roy etal. 2003; Singh et al, 2002, Subrameniyams, 2007 and Mishra and Singh, 2016).

FIG. 12. (Components of soil in non-mining areas) (12) PROC. ZOOL. SOC. INDIA

FIG.13. (A. Well structured soil of non-mining area B. Poorly structured soil of mining area.) CONCLUSION The impact of open cast coal mining can be concluded as such: a. The environment is adversely affected due to opencast mining activities which lead to affect the air, soil and water pollution of the concerned areas and the loss of biota as well therefore environmental impacts of coal mining must be assessed periodically. b. The soil of non-mining areas (i.e. Baliapur and Sindri) are rich in nutrients necessary for basic plant nourishment. The nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, whereas in the soils of mining areas (i.e. Lodna and Bastacola) these elements are poorly available. c. The soils of non-mining areas are generally having boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, sulphur and zinc in adequate quantity which promote plant nutrition and ideal habitats for many insects whereas in mining areas these elements are poorly available. d. The soils of non-mining areas have soil organic matter in appropriate amount that ultimately improve the structure of the soil. It also enables soils of non-mining areas to retain more moisture whereas in mining areas the soils have less organic matter due to which the ideal structure of the soils get completely hampered and as a result of this the soil fails to retain more moisture. e. The pH of soils found in non-mining areas are alkaline in nature whereas the soils of mining areas are acidic in nature. f. The soils of non-mining areas support ideal conditions for plant growth therefore varieties of micro- organisms are found in excellent condition but in mining areas the soils permit very selected micro- organisms to grow. g. The top soils of non-mining areas are having all the essential ingredients or elements to support the ideal growth of plants and many insects but in mining areas selected plants and insects get success to grow. h. Loss of soil fertility takes place in mining areas very severely due to the impact of dangerous open cast mining activities. i. Removal of earth crust of several feet depths causing a huge overburden dump which include stones, particles, sand, pebble and coarse soil materials in mining areas. j. Less microbial activities are found in the soils of mining areas in comparision with the soils of non- mining areas . k. The habitats of soil insects get damaged in mining areas whereas it is ideal in non-mining areas. l. The insects living under the soil of mining areas (i.e. Bastacola and Lodna ) are in danger due to loss of their natural habitat and shortage of vegetation and organic matter in the soil. Whereas in non-mining areas (i.e. Baliapur and Sindri) due to ideal natural habitat and suitable vegetation, and better availability of organic matter in soil insects show normal development, population growth and density. m. The total population count in mining areas (i.e. Bastacola and Lodna) basically showing a shortage in population of herbivorous insects and also the predator insects due to loss of their prime prey insects, whereas in non-mining areas (i.e. Baliapur and Sindri) the total population increased.

(13) SINGH ET AL. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors are highly grateful to the Director, B.I.T., Sindri, Dhanbad, Jharkhand for providing laboratory facility to carry out the research study. The authors also thank to General Manager, BCCL who allowed to visit the study areas at reguar interval of time. The Deptt. Of Zoology, P.K.Roy, College, Dhanbad, Jharkhand , also provided all the facilities so authors are also very thankful to the Honorable Principal and the faculty members. REFERENCES Borror, D.J., C.A. Triplehorn, and N.F. Johnson. 1989. An introduction to the study of insects. 6th (ed.), Saunders College Publishing, Chicago, IL. Bradshaw, A D and Chadwick, M J., 1980. The Restoration of Land, Blackwell, Oxford. Coleman, D.C., and D.A. Crossley Jr. 1996. Fundamentals of soil ecology. Academic press, San Diego, C.A. Fox, CS., 1930. The Jharia Coaleld, Geological Survey of India, Bangalore, India. Ghosh, R 2002. Land use areas of India, envis monograf no. 09, ISSN-0972,2002. Gill, H.K. 2010. Integrated impack of organic mulching and soil solarization on soil surface arthropods and weeds. PhD Dissertation, Department of Entomology and Nematology. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Jackson, M.L. 1967. Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA. Jha, A.K. & J.S. Singh 1993. Rehabilitation of mine Ltd., Bhubaneswar, India. Rao, JK and Shantaram, MV., 1995. Effect of the application of garbage on the soil plant system A review. Agric, Rev., 16:pp105116. Roy, M.P., Roy, S.K. and Singh, Dr.P.K., 2003 Impact of Mining on Environment An Appraisal, The Indian Mining and Engineering Journal, Volume 42, pp. 11-12. Saxena N.C. 1995 Environment aspects of mine re proceedings or national seminar on mine re BHU, Varanasi, 1995. 101-106. Sharma, G.P., A.S. Raghubanshi & J.S. Singh. 2005. Lantana invasion : An overview. Weed Biology and Management 5: 157-165. Singh, A.N., A.S. Raghubanshi & J.S. Singh 2002. Plantations as a tool for mine spoil restoration. Current Science 82: 1436-1441. Subraminiyam, S., 2007. National policies and practices for eco regeneration and sustainable livelihood security in mining areas, First International Conference on MSECCMI, New Delhi, India, pp 649 - 652. Mishra, Amita and L.B. Singh 2016. Distribution and diversity of aquatic irsects of fresh waer ponds viz, pampoo talab, and Bekarbandh talab of Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. Proc. Zool. Soc. India 15 (1) 59-65

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