Distribution Patterns of Insect Pollinator Assemblages at Deva Vatala National Park, Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Distribution Patterns of Insect Pollinator Assemblages at Deva Vatala National Park, Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Mubashar Hussain1,2*, Hifza Liaqat1, Muhammad Faheem Malik1,
Kiran Aftab1, Moazama Batool3, Razia Iqbal1 and Somia Liaqat1
ABSTRACT
Diversity and distribution patterns of pollinator assemblages were explored at Deva Vatala National Park (DVNP), Bhimber, AJK, Pakistan. Sampling was recorded fortnightly by using pan traps, sweep nets, and handpicking. A one-year survey of pollinator fauna was recorded from selected locales of DVNP from October 2019 to September 2020. We observed the same species richness in all three study sites, but a great difference was observed in species abundance. A total of 5565 individuals of 58 species belonging to 23 families and four orders were collected from DVNP. Barmala was reported as the highest abundant site (2815 individuals), followed by the Vatala (1832 individuals) and Deva (918 individuals). SIMPER analysis indicated an overall dissimilarity of Deva-Vatala (18.88%), Deva-Barmala (29.12%), and Vatala-Barmala (10.84%). The biological dissimilarity was evaluated and based on insect taxonomy indicated that Coccinella septempunctata, Sceliphron madraspatanum, Aedes albopictus, Eristalis tenax, Crambus albellus, Zonitoschema melanarthra, Zonitoschema gibdoana, Camponotus vagus, Polistes carolira, and Episyrphus viridaureus were the main contributing species in the community dissimilarity. Results showed significant differences between Vatala - Deva with higher Shannon value in Vatala (H’ = 4.03) than Deva (H’ = 3.92), Deva-Barmala with higher Shannon index in Barmala (H’ = 4.05) than Deva (H’ = 3.92) and Vatala-Barmala have a higher average value of Shannon diversity in Barmala (H’ = 4.05) than Vatala (H’ = 4.03). DVNP offers habitat and plentiful resources for the insect pollinator assemblages of four major insect orders, viz. Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera. We detected variations in the abundance of different insect groups (orders, families, and species) during different seasons and study sites within DVNP. This study emphasizes the conduct of research work based on more explorative surveys in association with vegetation types.
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