Halter6, \rol,1, No.l, 2009

Diversity and Abundance of along an elevational gradient in Jamm.u- Kashmir HimalaYa - |

Himender Bharti# and Yash Paul Sharma

Department of Zoology, Puniabi lJniversity, Patiala (Pb.) lndia-l47002. (#e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]) (www. antd iversityindia. com)

Abstract

in case of speciallsts resembles stlngly, the of species almost same at both the elevations.

Keywords: Ants, diversity, species nbtriiess, spgz'es abundance, elevational gradient, estimation indices, Jammu-Kashmir Himalaya.

lntroduction Since the origin of Biogeography, many for generations of scientists; Van Humboldt important studies have been carried on diversity (1849), Danvin (1839, 1859), Wallace (1876, of along elevational gradients. But 1878) and Whittaker (1960) to mention a few. among insects, ants have been used more Wheeler (1917), Weber (1 943) and Gregg (1963) frequently by various workers in recent times' observed ants at high elevations above 2000 Himalaya is listed as one of the meters in mountains of North America, biodiversity hotspots, harbours a number of and Colorado respectively. According tq endemic species since its origin in Paleogene Hutchinson (1959), Preston (1962a and 1962 period about 70 million years ago (Bharti, 2008). b), Connell and Orians (1964), MacArthur (1965, Within the Himalayan range, the area of Jammu- 1969 and1972), Brown and Lomolino (1998) and Kashmir is biogeographically most complex and Sanders (2002) there are two general predictions diverse. of how species richness and elevation are Since the recognition of elevational related; either species richness decreases gradients by Linnaeus, these continued to serve monotonically with increasing elevation or as a heuristic tool and natural experimental site richness peaks at mid elevations due to Dive6lty and Abundance of ants along an elevatlonal gradlent in Jammu-Kashmir Himalaya ' I increase in productivity. Rahbek (1995), while observed communities and their species studying the elevational gradients of species diversity with altitudinal zonation on west and richness emphasized on the importance to east slope of Gaoligongshan Mountain in China. discriminate between patterns reflecting recent Watt ef al. (2002) worked on the etfect of diversification and those reflecting long term diversity and abundance of ants in relation to accumulation of species. forestdisturbances in Cameroon and supported During extensive studies on elevational the view that deforestation can reduce gradients in , Fisher (1996a and species richness. 1996b, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004) Araujo and Fernandes (2003) monitered concluded that species richness is peaked at the distribution of ants along altitudinalgradients mid-elevation and emphasized that it could be from 800m to 1500m, while Robinson ef a/. the result of the mixing of two distinct, lower (2003) studied wood ant (Formica lugubris) and montane forest ant assemblages. Samson population in Upper Dearne Woodlands, to et al. (19971suryeyed ant communities along investigate relationship between ant activity and an elevational gradient in the Philippines factors such as light level, slope and vegetation. extending from lowland dipterocarp forest Schonberg et al. (2004) analysed arboreal ant (250m) elevation to mossy forest (1750m) and species richness in primary forest, secondary found thatvery fewants occurat high elevations forest and pasture habitat of a tropical Montane in the tropics. From Sabah, Borneo, Bruhl ef Landscape. a/. (1998) studied stratification of ants in a More recently, Gunawardene ef a/. primary rain forest. They observed dominance (2008), Kumar and Mishra (2008), Malsch ef of Myrmicinae (39.9%) followed by a/. (2008) and Sabu et al. (2008) monitored ant (31.5%), Ponerinae (11.5%) and Dolichoderinae species richness along elevational gradient, in (1O.2Yo). Later, Bruhl et a/. (1999) monitored lowland forests and in agroecosystems. In one altitudinal distribution of leaf litter ants along a - of the significant contributions, Nogues-Bravo transect in primary rain forest on Mount etal. (2008) assessed scale effects and human Kinabalu. The number of ant species depreased impact on the elevational species richness exponentially without evidence of a peak in gradients. From Himalaya, Bharti (2008) species richness at mid-elevation. analysed altitudinal diversity of ants and found Gunsalam (1999),Yamane and that about 45o/o of Himalayan ant fauna is Hashimoto (1999), Noon-anant (2003) and endemic to this region. The present study is Watanasit (2003), found that a combination of the first contribution dealing with diversity and various ant sampling methods yield better abundance of ants from HimalaYa. results in the evaluation of ant species. The role of scale and species richness in defining the Materials and Methods hierarchical theory of species diversity was The sampling sites for the study were discussed by Whittaker et al. (2001). Lomolino spaced by an altitude of 1000 meters, since a (2001), Sanders et al. (2003) discussed the shift in an altitude of 1000 meters in Himalayan patterns of ant species richness along region has pronounced etfect on temperature, elevationalgradients in an arid ecosystem and precipitation, humidity, decomposition, role of area, geometry and Rapoport's rule in vegetation etc. (Mani, 1962). Forthis study, the species richness. While, Xu ef al. (2001) sampling was carried using standard protocols Halteres, Vol.1, No.l, 2009

for ant collection along an elevational gradient Results and Discussion following Fisher (2004). At each elevation, 50 A total of 1,446 ants belonging to 19 pitfalltraps and 50 leaf litter samples (winkle/s) species were collected. Ponerinae and were used in parallel lines, 10 meters apartalong Dolichoderinae are represented by single genera 250 meter transect. The site for each transect each, while Myrmicinae and Formicinae by 5 was chosen in the interior of forest with the intent genera each. More than half of the species ' of samplin g representative microhabitats found belong to subfamily Myrmicinae (66%), followed at each o/o), elevation. by Form ici na e (26.8 1 Pone ri nae (4.84o/o) and Leaf litter samples were sifted in a 1 m x 1 m Dolichoderin ae (2.35o/o). Hand collection yielded quadrant, every 5 meteralong the transect using maximum number of specimens (45.27o/o) a litter sifter (Bestelmeyer ef a/., 2000) through followed by Winkler's (28.81%) and Pitfail Trap a wire sieve with square holes of 1 cm x 1 cm. (25.92o/o). Anb and otherinvertebrateswere extracted from At 1000mhs (Table -1, Graph-1, Pichart- the sifted litter during a 48-hour period in mini- | & lll) subfamily Myrmicinae was found to be winkler sacks (Fisher, 1999, 2004). The litter maximum (49.96%). Genus Crematogaster samples were shaken with the help of machete represents 47.560/0 of the total catch and to agitate the invertebrates, hence increasing majority of the specimens were collected by the potential for furthei collection from the litter. hand picking method followed by winkler's and The pitfall traps consisted of test tubes pitfall. Su bfa m ily Form icinae represents U, 40% with an 18mm internal diameter and 150mm with genus Camponotus forming the bulk with long, partly filled to a depth of about 50 mm 37.560/o, again hand picking method was found with soapy water and 5o/o ethylene glycol to be most effective followed by winkler's and solution, inserted into PVC sleeves and buried pitfall. Subfamily Dolichoderinae and Ponerinae with the rim flush with the soilsurface, provided are represented by single genus. But in case with a lid to prevent rainfall from flooding the GfPonerinae maximum catch was found to be traps. Materialwas collected after48 hours and in winkler's collection and in terms of number stored in 70o/o ethanol. In addition to above of specimens, Ponerinae out numbered mentioned methods, ants were also collected Dolichoderinae. This fact could be attributed to by hand picking method. Ants were then the humidity present in leaf litter. separated from other invertebrates, pin-mounted At 2000mtrs (Table-2, Graph-2, Pi chart- and identified to species level. ll & lV) subfamily Myrmicinae represents 79.640/o, genus Myrmica as the dominant one Data analysis with 88.10%. Subfamily Formicinae (20.30o/o) Data was analysed by lncidence-based is mainly represented by Formica (72.32yo). coverage estimator (lCE), species observed Two species of Camponotus, one each of (MaoTau) Chao 1, Chao2and boobtrap mean. Formica and have been found at both Species richness and Alpha diversity was the altitudes. At 1000 mtrs, the average estimated by using Shannon wiener, and temperature was 22"C and relative humidity Simpson's D diversity indices. The program 52%. The total catch in terms of number of EstimateS (Colwell, 2006) was used to specimens was 665 (Table-1), while with calculate these standard estimators. temperature 13.7"C and relative humidity45%, Dlversity and Abundance of ants along an elevauonal gradient In Jammu-Kashmlr Hlmalaya . t the total catch has been found to be 781 at Myrmicinae as cold specialist Formica 2000 mtrs. increases in abundance. But interestingly, the Species richness by different indices overall abundance increases from 1000mtrs to have been depicted in table-S and species 2000mtrs with number of species almost same abundance and effectiveness of sampling at both the elevations. At this point of time, it is methods by Sobs (species observed) Mao Tau difficult to conclude that with more increase in (Graph-S) while Alpha diversity indices have altitude, the numberof species and abundance been depicted in Table-6. The data generated would increase, but Bharti (2008) has observed reflects that with decrease in temperature and thatwith increase in altitude in Himalaya, genera humidity, composition of species changes ;as like Myrmica, Lasius, Aphaenogasfer and in case of Myrmicinae the generalist species Temnothorax gradually dominate the ant fauna are replaced by more high altitude specialists and are represented by maximum number of like Myrmica and Aphaenogaster.In case of endemic species, with Myrmicinae most Formicinae the interpretation resembles speciose subfamily followed by Formicinae.

T.Uo-l: (Showlng d.t at lO0O mt|l

Subfamlly Sp€clo. Hrnd Plfall Totd Tood 'hgpwllhln collocdon tlp U,lnklo/l 1619o $Sfadly

Myrmicins C'€/?l€togag9/. sub,t-fu n 3 a 427% 16.75% subflr@ lllayr

Crernabg ader sagei saga Fqd 6 2 3 6'l 9.17% 15.37% c/Emaaogas'er twe/lho'9n o 12 Q. 63616 12.65% rcganholeriltayr q M e ss I h im a I ay an u s (F all 6 a 15 n 10'l2% 21 69c/6

Pheidole indi@Mayr s zO 6 1@. 15.34% T.72%

Total t3E e ts 332 10(I00i6 '19.96t6 Fomicinae Campddus @rlyBssus dnpr€ssrJs (Fabricius) 6 1 7 34 511% 14.85%

C a m pon otu s t h otacic u s ( Fabricic) p. 18 & 7.W 2.71% ICampor'toaus dhdnorrs Androl

P ol y rh ac hE I acleipe n ni s I adeio€/ n n is Smith. F 6 t3 s 5.71% 16.5996

Fombhun@fln Uwrdum (Fabricius) [For?r,,ba trunciuld t2 4 A 4 6696 17J7% Ny'anderl

Lepisbla capersir capersb (Mayr) 17 19 a 6 9.7W 28.38%

Total t12 6 91 D u.M lCD% Tqitpngn@um t5 10 9 511% Dolichoderins€ nelanephdun (Fatukius) u

Odonlopnera lrans r€lsa kansyersa Pmsime 2. B E 10 53% (Smith, F.) n

Grand Total al 14 a 65 lwa Halt€ra3, lrol.l, No.l, 2009

N o

I Hand collection

r Pitfall trap

tWinkler's

Graph-l : (Showlng the no. of specimens per species at 1000mtrs) Dlverslty and Abundanc€ ot ants along an devadonal g|adlent In Jammu-Kashmlr Hlmalaya - |

Table.2: (Showlng data at 2000 mtrs)

Subfamlly Specles Hand Pltfa!l Wlnkler's Total Total %age wlthln collectlon trap o/cA!!Q subfamlly Aphaenogaste r smythiesii Myrmicinae smythiesii (Forcl) 65 5 4 74 9.48o/o 11.90%

Myrmica smythiesii 100 71 46 217 27.78o/o 34.89% smythiesii Forel

Myrmica sp. 57 128 111 296 37.9O/o 47.58%

Myrmica rugosa Mayr 12 12 11 35 4.48V" 5.63%

Total 234 216 172 622 79.64ch 100.00% Camponotus thoracicus Formicinae (Fabricius) 10 10 1.28o/o 6.29o/o lCamponot us dichrous Andrel

Camponotus comprcssus 3 3 0.38% 1.89% compressus Fabricius

Formica truncorum truncorum (Fabricius) 90 7 15 l't2 14.39o/o 70.43/o lFo m ica tru nc icol a Nylanderl

Formica sanguinea Latreille 2 2 0.267" 1.26o/"

Formica fusca lusca Linnaeus 1 1 0.13"/o 0,63o/o

Lasius alienus (Foerster) 28 28 3.54o/o 17.6'-1o/o Lepisiota capensis capensis (Mayr) 3 3 0.38% 1.89%

Total 133 11 15 159 n.wh lOOo/o

Grand Total 367 227 187 781 100% Hdt3c, \,bl.l, Nol,2OOg

Graph-2: (showlng the no. of speclmens per specles collected from 2000mtrs) Olversity and Abundance of ants along an elevational gradient in Jammu-Kashmir Himalaya - |

Table-3: (Showing combined data at both elevations) Hand Prttail Total Subfamily Genus Species Total collectior trap Y"age Crematogaster subnuda Crematogaster Myrmicinae subnuda Mayr 20 3 32 55 3.80% Crematogaster sagei 26 2 33 sagei Forel 61 4.22o/o (5 Genera, 9 cre marcga ster rcgennoErt 30 12 42 2 90o/o species) rogenhoferi Mayr Aphaenogastet Aph ae nog aste r sm yth ie si i 65 5 4 74 5.11o/o smyfhiesii (Forel) Myrmica smythiesii Myrmica 100 71 46 217 15.00% smythiesii Forel

Myrmica sp. 57 128 111 291 2O.52o/o

Mymica rugosa Mayr 12 12 11 35 2.420/o Pheidole Pheidole indica Mayr 37 40 25 102 7.05o/o

Messor Messor himalayanus (Forel) 25 32 15 72 4.98o/o

Total 372 305 277 954 66.00% L;amponous noractcus Formicinae Camponotus (Fabricius) 42 2 18 62 4.28o/o loan,onotusddr,ous ,{],lf'l vamponotus compressus cornpressus (Fabricius) 26 4 7 37 2.560/o Formica truncorum Formica truncorum (Flbricius) 102 11 39 152 10.50% lFormnta bw:Ei(dd NvtanOeO !r (5 Genera,8 Formica sanguinea Latreille species) 2 2 O.14o/o Formica fusca 0.07o/o fusca Linnaeus 1

Lasius Lasius alienus (Foerster) 28 28 1.940/o Lepisiota capensis Lepisiota capensis (Mayr) 20 19 29 68 4.70o/o

ro t yt u acr,,s tacrerper r r, t s 25 13 38 2.63% Polyrhachis lacteipennis Smith, F. Total 245 373 106 388 26.81o/o

Tapinoma tap,noma me,anocepnatum Dolichoderinar 't0 2.35o/o mel anocephalurn (Fabricius) 15 I 34 O do ntopone ra fransyersa Ponerinae Odontoponera 22 23 25 70 4.84% transversa (Smith, F.)

Grand Total 654 375 417 14/,6 lOOo/o H.h!rr., l,bl.l, No.t, 2009

140

N t2o o

100 o t

t

P r60 c I rn 40 a n 20 3

0

gggig'e;s€[ryglIg!f

'Eg 'EgE 'gi,,5 5= -!E 6

Eo

Graph-3: (Showlng Abundance and effectlveness of collectlon methods at both the elevaflonas comblned) Dlversity and Abundance of ants along an eleyaoonal gradlent In Jammu{a3hmlr Hlmalaya - I

Table.4: (Showlng relative humldity and average temporature at both elevaflons)

Altitude 1000 mtrs 2000 mtrs Temperature 2"C 13.7'C

Relative Humidig 52o/o 4Qo/o

Specimens 665 781

-{-1000mfs

{-2000mU$

Tempurture Relativehumidity Spedment

Graph'4: (Showing correlatlon of temperature and humidity wlth species abundance) Hslter$, \bl.l, No.l, 2009

Table-S: (Showing the species richness by different indices)

Sobs Sobs 1 Samples hrdividuals rcE EE Chao ?hao 2 Jack 1 Jack 2 Bootstrap (Mao icomputed) Mean Itlean Mean Mean Vlean Mean Mean Mean Tau) (runs)

Hand collection 406.67 17.67 L9 19.6 133 l9 133 L9 0 t9 Pitfall trap 81333 t9 79 t9 19.56 t9 79 r9.5 19.5 t9x Winkler's 1220 t9 l9 t9 t9 t9 l9 1,9 18.33 t9.15

7G,0

n 600 o -

400 *-abundance s p e 300 c I zoo m e n 100 5

rl Hand collectlon Pltfall trap Winkler's

Graph -5: (Showing the species abundance and effectiveness of sampling method by Sobs (Mao Tao))

Table-6: (Showing Alpha diversity indices)

Samples Winkle/s Alpha SD (analytical) Shannon Mean Simpson Mean

Hand collection 5.26 07 2.77 15.75 Pitfall trap 345 034 2.79 1425 Winkle/s 3.19 03 271 12.25 Diverslty and Abundance of ants along an elevatonal gradlent in Jammu-Kashmir Himalaya - t

Percentageof Subfamilies at lfll0mtrs . Effectiveness of collection methods at 1000mtrs !UFr*i|r

Itoflddme

r Do$drorbinae

llone|har

Pi chartJ Pi chart-lll

-....-'..: Percentage of Subfamilies at 2000mtrs Effectivenesofcollectionmethodsat i 2000mtrs i i3 I

lMpmidna :

lFonnicime :

Pi chart-ll Pi chart-lV 2 Haltet€s, \b1.1 , No.1 , AlO9

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