RELATION BETWEEN BIOMASS AND DIVERSITY OF INSECTS: A STUDY USING LIGHT TRAPPED INSECTS
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Date
2016-09-01
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UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES GKVK, BENGALURU
Abstract
A study was conducted to explore the seasonal variation in the abundance and
diversity of insects attracted to light trap, and the relationship between biomass and
diversity of insect. The study was conducted at GKVK campus, Bengaluru for twelve
months (May, 2015 to April, 2016) at an interval of 21 days. A total of 16 samples
throughout the year yielded 65,469 insects belonging to 639 OTUs. Species richness
peaked during early rains (May-June) and during post monsoon (August-September).
Abundance as well as total weight of insects sampled were high during May-June
corresponding to early rains in Bengaluru. Body size parameters viz., body length, width
and size revealed a positively skewed frequency distribution whereas, body dry weight
showed a normal distribution. Inter-relationship among these body size parameters were
best explained by power functions. Temporal patterns of body size and body dry weight
revealed a high abundance of small insects during monsoon and post monsoon and of
large insects during winter and summer (November to June). Rainfall received on or
before the sampling significantly reduced the insects trapped and their diversity.
However, time lag correlation studies revealed that rainfall received in a three day
window before 7th and 8th day of sampling had a positive impact on the diversity and
abundance of insects. Temporal variation in ecosystem productivity indicated two peaks
viz., during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period; diversity and abundance were found
to be negatively correlated with ecosystem productivity.
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