Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3 (2): 278-285 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Studies on the diversity and habitat preference of JEZS 2015; 3 (2): 278-285 © 2015 JEZS odonates in Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary, Kamrup, Received: 10-01-2015 Assam Accepted: 11-02-2015 Gaurab Jyoti Kalita Gaurab Jyoti Kalita, Swapna Devi Ray Department of Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation, North Orissa University, Odisha Abstract The present study was carried out in Deepor beel bird sanctuary during December 2013 to September Swapna Devi Ray 2014. Deepor beel bird sanctuary lies between 26° 7' 52" N; 91° 38' 70" E in Kamrup district. A total of Life-Science Department, 39 species belonging to 5 families and 22 genera were recorded from Deepor beel bird sanctuary. We Assam University, Silchar also recorded Ceriagrion rubiae and Agriocnemis kalinga, which is the first formal record from Assam. In case of sub order Anisoptera (Dragonflies), family Libellulidae was the most dominant family. In case of sub order Zygoptera (Damselflies) Rhyothemis variegata was the most abundant species in the study area. In case of sub order Zygoptera (Damselflies) Pseudagrion microcephalum was the most abundant species in Deepor beel bird sanctuary. Keywords: Anisoptera, Deepor beel, Habitat, Zygoptera, Assam 1. Introduction The order Odonata is one of the most important and popular groups of insects. Dragonflies and damselflies both are togetherly known as Odonata. Odonata, dragonflies and damselflies, constitute a small, well known order of insects that are widely distributed over the world [15]. They are denizens of many aquatic ecosystems and their distribution covers a great deal of continuum from temporary to permanent water bodies [6]. Their sensitivity to environmental condition makes Odonates excellent biological indicators of environmental condition [16].Fossils have been found that are more than 300 million years old, as the dragonflies lived as long as the dinosaurs; so they must appeared during the Carboniferous era [7]. Odonata holds almost all kinds of habitats; from stagnant water bodies to running water bodies and dry deciduous forest to evergreen forest. Odonate assemblages represent sensitive indicators of environmental conditions including the water environment and forest structure. Odonates are the most dominant invertebrate predator in any ecosystem. Being predators both at nymph and adult stages, they play a very significant role in the ecosystem. They occur almost all over the globe in different habitats. Nowadays, there are approximately 6000 species with 600 genera, 8 super families, 29 families and 58 subfamilies described all over the world [14]. The odonate fauna of India is well studied since late eighteen century. During pre-independence, scientist such as Selys-Longchamps, Laidlaw and Fraser have contributed significantly to the knowledge on Indian Odonata [8]. There are a few papers available on diversity of Odonata in Assam. Odonata study of Assam can be traced back to Laidlaw [2], Fraser [9, 10, 11] Asahina [3], Lahiri [1] and Papori et.al, [4] who have worked on Odonata fauna in the state of Assam. To the best knowledge of the authors, no diversity and habitat preference based research effort on Odonata was carried out in Deepor beel bird Sanctuary. Subsequently, the aim of the present investigation was to carry out the first comprehensive study on Odonates diversity and habitat preference in Deepor beel bird sanctuary, Assam. 2. Materials and Methods The present study was carried out from December 2013 to September 2014. 2.1 Study Area Correspondence: Deepor beel bird sanctuary lies between 26° 7' 52" N; 91° 38' 70" E and located in Kamrup Gaurab Jyoti Kalita Department of Wildlife & district. It is situated on the Southern bank of the river Brahmaputra and Village Maj Jalukbari, Biodiversity Conservation, Paschim Jalukbari, Dharapur and National Highway No.37 lie on the North, Dakhin Jalukbari, North Orissa University, Odisha Tetelia and Pachim Boragoan to the East, Gorbhanga Reserve Forest, Chakardew Hill and ~ 278 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Chilla Hill to the South and the Village Azara and Kahikuchi p.m.as they expose more as the temperature increases. The to the west. Deepor beel occupies an area of 40 km2. Deepor Odonates were categorized on the basis of their abundance in beel bird sanctuary is only Ramsar site in Assam. Deepor beel; VC - very common (> 100 sightings), C - common (50–100 sightings), R - rare (2–15 sightings), VR - 2.2 Study Design very rare (< 2 sightings). Four sites were selected from all around the Deepor beel bird Sanctuary. The sites were selected on the basics of different 2.3 Data collection and identification: habitat, which may be important according to Clark and Visual encounter surveys [17] and opportunistic survey were Samway [4] in influencing the diversity of Odonates. Study area used to study Odonates. During the time of data collection, a (Deepor beel bird sanctuary) was divided into following zones number of trails were randomly made near different possible a. Zone -1 = Khanamukh area Odonates habitats. Most of the species were photographed. b. Zone -2 = Watch tower area Photographs were taken by Sony DSLR camera with macro c. Zone -3 = Near Assam engineering college lens. Doubtful specimens were collected through d. Zone – 4 = Garbage Centre (Boragoan) entomological nets and preserved in alcohol. After that all As Odonates exhibits an interesting response to temperature, specimens were identified with the help of Fraser [9, 10, 11], the time had chosen for survey during 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 Subramanian [7], Nair [12] and Kiran C. G & David V. R [13]. Fig 1: Study area survey map 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Evaluation the abundance of Odonates A total of 39 species belonging to 5 families and 22 genera 3.1. (a) Dragonflies (Anisoptera): 24 species of dragonflies were recorded from Deepor beel bird sanctuary. And out of were recorded in Deepor beel bird sanctuary which belonged these 39 species 2 species (namely Ceriagrion rubiae and to three different families; Gomphidae, Aeshnidae and Agriocnemis kalinga) are the new record for Odonata fauna of Libellulidae. Among the 24 species of dragonflies 8 species Assam. We also photographed and collected Ceriagrion were recorded as very common, 5 species as common, 4 rubiae and Agriocnemis kalinga, which is the first formal species as rare and 7 species as very rare. Table -1, data shows record from Assam. The Odonates of Deepor beel bird that, abundance of the species in different zones. According to sanctuary belonged to following families – Gomphidae following data we found that Rhyothemis variegata was the (7.69%), Aeshnidae (2.56%), Libellulidae (51.28%), most abundant species in Deepor beel bird sanctuary and Coenagrionidae (35.90%) and Platycnemididae (2.56%). In Urothemis signata, Brachydiplax sobrina, Brachydiplax case of sub order Anisoptera, family Libellulidae was the most contaminata, Crocothemis servilia and Orthetrum sabina all dominant family; and in case sub order Zygoptera only two five species were also abundant in study area. families were recorded. ~ 279 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Table 1: Numbers of dragonflies encountered into four different zones Family Scientific Name Zone-1 Zone-2 Zone-3 Zone-4 Total No. No. of sp. sighted in in sighted of sp. No. in sighted of sp. No. in sighted of sp. No. No. of sp. Sighted in in Sighted of sp. No. Gomphidae 1. Ictinogomphus rapax 1 0 2 0 3 2. Paragomphus lineatus 0 0 0 1 1 Aeshnidae 3. Anax guttatus 0 0 1 0 1 4. Acisoma panorpoides 25 12 16 9 62 5. Aethriamanta brevipennis 8 2 12 6 28 6. Brachydiplax chalybea 16 6 20 8 50 7. Brachydiplax sobrina 66 20 71 15 172 8. Brachydiplax farinosa 1 0 1 0 2 9. Brachydiplax contaminata 82 28 158 18 286 10. Bradinopyga geminata 0 0 0 1 1 11. Crocothemis servilia 59 22 76 18 175 12. Diplacodes nebulosa 28 25 25 10 88 13. Diplacodes trivialis 2 0 0 0 2 Libellulidae 14. Neurothemis fulvia 22 12 28 8 70 15. Neurothemis intermedia 0 0 0 6 6 16. Neurothemis tullia 12 0 2 0 14 17. Orthetrum triangulare 0 0 0 1 1 18. Orthetrum pruinosum 26 6 28 8 68 19. Orthetrum sabina 54 25 123 44 246 20. Pantala flavescens 0 0 0 1 1 21. Rhodothemis rufa 0 0 1 0 1 22. Rhyothemis variegata 152 38 239 30 459 23. Trithemis pallidinervis 35 8 29 12 84 24. Urothemis signata 172 66 165 22 425 Fig 2: Species abundance of dragonflies 3.1. (b) Damselflies (Zygoptera): 15 species of damselflies the species in different zones. According to following data we were recorded in Deepor beel bird sanctuary. Which belonged found that Pseudagrion microcephalum was the most to two different families; Coenagrionidae and abundant species in Deepor beel bird sanctuary and Platycnemididae. Among the 15 species of damselflies 4 Onychargia atrocyana was second most abundant species in species were recorded as very common species, 7 common, 1 study area. rare and 3 very rare. Table -2 data shows that, abundance of ~ 280 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Table 2: Numbers of damselflies encountered in four different zones Family Scientific Name Zone-1 Zone-2 Zone-3 Zone-4 Total No. No. of sp. Sighted in in Sighted of sp. No. in Sighted of sp. No. in Sighted of sp. No. in Sighted of sp. No. Aciagrion pallidum 12 5 16 2 35 Agriocnemis lacteola 1 0 2 0 3 Agriocnemis pygmaea 23 12 16 8 59 Agriocnemis kalinga 8 4 12 2 26 Ceriagrion rubiae 0 0 1 0 1 Ceriagrion cerinorubellum 22 12 19 9 62 Ceriagrion coromandelianum 36 18 26 12 92 Coenagrionidae Ceriagrion olivaceum 26 12 18 16 72 Onychargia atrocyana 132 46 111 26 315 Pseudagrion decorum 18 11 12 8 49 Pseudagrion microcephalum 165 76 88 32 361 Pseudagrion rubriceps 26 2 14 0 42 Rhodischnura nursei 15 9 10 2 36 Paracercion malayanum 1 0 0 0 1 Platycnemididae Copera vittata 0 0 1 0 1 Fig 3: Species abundance of damselflies 3.2 Types of habitat occupied by Odonates was observed.