Collembola Fauna in the Coranation Garden of Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal

Abstract

Collembola (springtails) are small, apterygote, hexapodous arthropod possessing an important ecological role as decomposer. The study was carried out to explore the Collembola fauna in the Coronation Garden of Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. The Coronation Garden was divided on the basis of heterogenous feature into four vegetation categories (near to road, near to water source, invasive plant dominated and non–invasive plant dominated). From each category six sampling plot of 1 m xii 2 quadrat size was randomly selected. Two soil samples were collected from the quadrat and pitfall trap was installed at each sampling point. The study aimed to determine the seasonal diversity of fauna, relation of faunal abundance with respect to soil parameters (pH, moisture and temperature) and to assess species composition across categorized heterogenous environment. The species diversity of Collembola fauna in Coronation Garden was high (H= 2.63, E=0.77). The fauna is represented by 30 species (unidentified) belonging to three order, eight families and 17 genera (Callyntrura, Cyphoderus, Dicranocentroides, Entomobrya, Homidia, Hypogastrura, Isotomiella, Isotomurus, Lepidocyrtus, Procerura, Ptenothrix, Salina, Seira, Sinella, Sminthurus, Stenognathellus, Tomocerina). The genera Homidia, Seira, Salina, Isotomurus and Procerura are new record for Nepal. The dominant family group are Entomobryidae followed by Paronellidae and Isotomidae whereas Hypogastrura, Ptenothrix, Sminthurus and Cyphoderus are the dominant genera. The species richness, abundance and diversity were higher in spring (S= 26, H=2.51, J=0.77) than winter season (S= 19, H= 2.45, J=0.83). The faunal abundance showed highly significant positive relation with respect to the soil pH, temperature and moisture. Across the heterogenous environment within coronation garden, the species diversity and evenness were higher in roadside vegetation though the species abundance was lowest in it whereas the species richness and abundance were highest in vegetation near water suggesting it as more suitable habitat for the fauna. Among 30 species recorded 18 species was observed across all the heterogenous environment category suggesting wide range of habitat preference in most of the species. Hypogastrura species was dominant in all sites except near water vegetation whereas Sminthurus sp.1 (8.03%), Homidia sp.1 (6.64%), Ptenothrix sp.1 (42.05%) and Procerura sp. (17.18%) are the species dominant in invasive, non–invasive, near water and roadside vegetation respectively.