Diversity of canopy beetles of schima wallichii in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park and Naudhara Community Forest

Abstract

The study aimed at exploring the diversity of canopy beetles associated with Schima wallichii was carried out from June 2014 to March 2015 in Naudhara Community Forest (NCF) and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP). Sampling of beetles was done by using flight interception trap (60 × 40 cm). In the study, 237 beetle samples were collected with scarabaeidae present in dominating numbers at each site: NCF (109) and SNNP (76). Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index was found highest in June followed by August and March and least in October. The diversity was found positively correlated to the change in temperatures. NCF (140) contributed more number of beetles than SNNP (97). Abundance of canopy beetles showed no significant difference with tree DBH (NCF: p= 0.35, SNNP: p=0.81), tree height (m) (NCF: p= 0.39, SNNP: p=0.47), age of tree (years) (NCF: p= 0.46, SNNP: p=0.13), size of tree crown (NCF: p= 0.48, SNNP: p=0.10), and canopy cover (NCF: p= 0.71, SNNP: p=0.41) of the tree. The abundance was found significantly variable with change in months in SNNP (p=1.14E-05, p<0.001) and NCF (p=5.52E-08, p<0.001). With respect to the environmental treatments (natural state, fern removed, orchid removed), abundance showed significant difference only in NCF (p=0.045, p<0.05). Fern removal was found to be the most effective environmental treatment in both the sites.