Diversity of Pollinators in Drumstick, Moringa Oleifera Lam. Ecosystem

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Diversity of Pollinators in Drumstick, Moringa Oleifera Lam. Ecosystem Madras Agric. J., 105 (4-6): 186-190, June 2018 Diversity of Pollinators in Drumstick, Moringa oleifera Lam. Ecosystem C. Sowmiya*, M.R. Srinivasan and P.A. Saravanan Department of Agricultural Entomology Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003. A study was conducted to assess the diversity of pollinators indrumstick, Moringa oleifera Lam. orchardat Oddanchatram, Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 27 species of pollinators were recorded including 13 species of Hymenopterans, 7 species of Dipterans and Lepidopterans each. Apis cerana indica F. was the dominant pollinator followed by Amegillazonata L. and Apisdorsata F. Among the Dipterans, Episyrphus sp. was dominant followed by Sarcophaga sp. and Lucilia sp. Among the Lepidopterans, Oriensgoloides M. was found to be the maximum followed by Papiliopolytes L. and Danaus chrysippus L. Simpson’s D was the highest at 14.00 to 15.00 h. Simpson’s E ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 with maximum evenness at 06.00 to 07.00 h. Pollination Efficiency Index was found to be the highest in case ofXylocopa sp. followed by A.cerana indica F. and A. dorsata F. results indicatedMaterialMaterial that and A.cerena.indica methods F. was the most abundant pollinator but Xylocopa sp. was the most efficientMaterial pollinator and methodsin drumstick ecosystem. o A drumstick orchard with Kappalpatti local variety in Oddanchatram(10(10o50’N andand Key words: Pollinators, Hymenopterans, Dipterans, Drumstick, Species diversity o o A drumstick orchard with Kappalpatti local variety in Oddanchatram(10 50’N and 7777o83’S)83’S),, DindigulDindigul district of Tamil Nadu was selected for studying the diversity ofof 77o83’S), Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu was selected for studying the diversity of pollinatorspollinators during February 2018.In the orchard, five randomly selected trees were marked. InIn Moringa oleifera Lam.is nativeto India. Thepollinators tree duringeach February tree, five 2018.In inflorescences the orchard, (totalfive randomly 25 inflorescences selected trees were marked. In is not only grown in India but also widelyeacheach grown tree,tree, fiveinfive inflorescencesin 5 trees) (total were 25selected inflorescences (FAO, 2008). in 5 trees) Population were selectedof (FAO,(FAO, 2008)2008).. each tree, five inflorescences (total 25 inflorescences in 5 trees) were selected (FAO, 2008). different countries (Fahey, 2005). In India,PopulationPopulation drumstick of insectinsect visitors visitors were wererecorded recorded by visual by visual observation observation for aa periodperiod ofof 1010 daysdays trees grown in about 40,000 ha (India Agristat, 2018).Population of forinsect a period visitors of were 10 days recorded during by peakvisual flowering observation (after for a period of 10 days during peak flowering (after 20% of flowering).Insects were collected using aerial net and Major cultivation occurs in Tamil Nadu, duringKarnataka,during peak floweringpeak flowering20% (after of flowering).Insects (after 20% 20% of flowering). of flowering). wereInsects Insectscollected were were usingcollected collected aerial using using aerial aerial netnet andand Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, it is net and preserved it in 100% ethyl alcohol. Collected preservedpreservedpreserved it in 100% it in 100% ethyl ethylalcohol. alcohol. Collected Collected insect insect specimens specimens were were photogr photographedaphed in inin ssstereotereotereo-- grown in 7,500 ha in Dindigul, Thoothukudi, Karur and insect specimens were photographed in stereo-zoom Erode districts. It is a drought-tolerant, fast-growing,zoomzoom microscopemicroscopezoom microscope (LEICAmicroscope (LEICA M205A). M205A). (LEICA M205A). multi-purpose and one of the most useful trees due Diversity indices to medicinal and nutritional properties henceDiversityDiversity calledDiversity indices indices as‘miracle tree’ (Fuglie, 2005; Rashid et. al., 2008). (a) Shannon’s diversity index (H) (a)(a) Shannon’sShannon’s(a) Shannon’s diversity diversity index index (H) (H) Drumstick is a crop that flowers for about six The proportion of species i relative to the total months in a year and hence serves as pasturageThe for proportion The proportionnumber of species ofof species species i relative i relative (p toi) wasthe to thetotal calculated total number number ofand ofspecies specieswas (p(p (pii))i )waswas was calculated calculatedcalculated different types of pollinators and flower visitors from summed across species and multiplied by -1(Davilla andand waswasand summedsummed was summed across across species species and multipliedand multiplied by -by1( Davilla-1(Davilla et etal. al., 2012, 2012).. ) . various insect orders. It is highly cross pollinated et al., 2012). and entomophilous,bees were major pollinators. H = H- = - Besides Xylocopa sp. different types of thrips, Apis =0 sp., Amegilla and some members of Lepidoptera The total number of species in the=∑0 community ln known as species richness (S) was The total numberThe of totalspecies number in the of∑ community species ln in knownthe community as species richness (S) waswas visit flowers to nourish them. The carpenterfound bees out. Shanon’sknown equality as species (EH) was richness calculated (S) by wasdividing found H by out. Hmax (here Hmax = lnS). (Xylocopa latipes D.) and (Xylocopa foundfoundpubescens out.out. Shanon’sShanon’s equality (EH) was calculated by dividing H by Hmax (here(here HHmax = lnS).lnS). Equality assumesShanon’s a value equalitybetween 0(E andH) was1 being calculated complete by evenness. dividing H L.) have been found the most reliableEqualityEquality pollinator assumes a valueby H between (here H0 and = 1lnS). being Equality complete assumes evenness. a value (Pushpalatha and Hariprasad, 2015). Sunbirds have max max between 0 and 1 beingEH complete= = evenness. also been observed as active pollinators.With this EH = = background information, a field survey was conducted ln () in a farmer’s holding to find out the diversity of (b)insect Simpson’s diversity index (b) Simpson’s diversity index ln () pollinators in drumstick ecosystem in Tamil(b)(b) Simpson’sSimpson’s Nadu, diversitydiversity index The proportion of species I relative to the number of species (pi) was calculated and India. The proportion of species I relative to the number squared.The proportion The squaredof speciesof species proportions (pi I) relativewas for calculated all to thethe speciesnumber and were squared.of species summed The(pi and)) waswas the ccreciprocalalculated andwasand Material and Methods squared.squared.taken. TheThe squaredsquaredsquared proportions proportions for all for the all speciesthe species were were summed summed and the reciprocalreciprocal waswas A drumstick orchard with Kappalpatti local variety and the reciprocal was taken. taken.taken. in Oddanchatram(10o50’N and 77o83’S), Dindigul D = 1 district of Tamil Nadu was selected for studying the diversity of pollinators during February 2018.In the D = ∑=1 2 EquitabilityEquitability (ED) was calculated (ED) wasby1 taking calculated Simpson’s by index taking (D) and it as a proportion orchard, five randomly selected trees were marked. In Simpson’s index (D)∑ =and1 2 it as a proportion of ofEquitability maximum value(ED) Dwas could calculated assume byif indivi takingduals Simpson’s in the community index (D) were and itcompletely as a proportion evenly *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] maximum value D could assume if individuals in the ofof maximummaximumdistributed value (D maxD )could which assume equals S.if indivi duals in the community were completely evenlyevenly distributeddistributed (Dmax)) whichwhich equals S. ED = ED = Material and methods A drumstick orchard with Kappalpatti local variety in Oddanchatram(10o50’N and 77o83’S), Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu was selected for studying the diversity of pollinators during February 2018.In the orchard, five randomly selected trees were marked. In each tree, five inflorescences (total 25 inflorescences in 5 trees) were selected (FAO, 2008). Population of insect visitors were recorded by visual observation for a period of 10 days during peak flowering (after 20% of flowering).Insects were collected using aerial net and preserved it in 100% ethyl alcohol. Collected insect specimens were photographed in stereo- zoom microscope (LEICA M205A). Diversity indices (a) Shannon’s diversity index (H) The proportion of species i relative to the total number of species (pi) was calculated and was summed across species and multiplied by -1(Davilla et al., 2012). H = - =0 The total number of species in the∑ community ln known as species richness (S) was found out. Shanon’s equality (EH) was calculated by dividing H by Hmax (here Hmax = lnS). Equality assumes a value between 0 and 1 being complete evenness. EH = = ln () (b) Simpson’s diversity index The proportion of species I relative to the number of species (pi) was calculated and squared. The squared proportions for all the species were summed and the reciprocal was taken. D = 1 ∑=1 2 Equitability (ED) was calculated by taking Simpson’s index (D) and it as a proportion 187 of maximum value D could assume if individuals in the community were completely evenly community were completely evenly distributed (D ) Among them 13 belonged to Hymenoptera, seven distributed (Dmax) which equals S. max which equals S. each to Diptera and Lepidoptera. In Hymenoptera, Apidae was the dominant family followed by Vespidae, ED = Scolidae, Sphecidae ,Megachillidae,
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