新疆东部天山蝶类多样性及其垂直分布

2006-2008年研究了新疆东部天山蝶类多样性和垂直分布.结果表明:研究区域内共记录蝴蝶7科43属63种,占新疆已记录蝶类种数的24.80％,区系组成主要是古北种,占73％;其次是广布种,占27％,没有发现东洋种.其中蛱蝶科的物种数最多,为11属19种,蚬蝶科的物种数最少,只有1属1种.按海拔将生境分为5个垂直自然带,包括低山灌木草原带、山地森林草原带、亚高山草甸带、高山草甸带、垫状植被带.蝶类物种数和个体数排序为亚高山草甸带＞山地森林草原带＞低山灌木草原带＞高山草甸带＞垫状植被带.采用Shannon-Wiener指数和G-F指数对蝶类物种和科、属的多样性进行了分析评价,结果显示亚高山草甸带的蝶类多样性最为丰富,其次是山地森林草原带和低山灌木草原带,而高山草甸带和垫状植被带的蝶类多样性相对较低,物种和科、属多样性分析结果均一致.蝶类垂直分布明显,物种数和个体数随海拔变化的趋势类似,均为先增加后下降.蝶类区系成分随着海拔升高发生改变,广布种的比例逐渐降低,高山草甸带和垫状植被带只有古北种分布.研究结果显示,生境改变对蝴蝶群落影响明显,保护生境是保护蝴蝶生存的最主要措施.     

内蒙古赛罕乌拉自然保护区蝶类群落多样性

为了解赛罕乌拉自然保护区不同生境下蝶类群落多样性及人为干扰对蝶类多样性的影响,2016—2017年在赛罕乌拉国家级自然保护区的山地草原、河流湿地、山地森林、典型草原和湿地草甸5种生境对蝶类多样性进行了调查。共采集记录蝶类1826只71种,隶属5科55属,其中粉蝶科(Pieridae)的个体数最多,蛱蝶科(Nymphalidae)的属数和种数最多。不同生境类型的蝶类群落组成有差异,山地森林的蝶类的属数和种数最多,有47属58种,典型草原最少,有9属10种。对保护区蝶类群落特征分析结果表明,蛱蝶科的Shannon多样性指数(2.93)和Margalef丰富度指数(5.44)最高,弄蝶科(Hesperiidae)的Pielou均匀度指数(0.86)最高,凤蝶科(Papilionidae)的Berger-Parker优势度指数(0.77)最高。各生境蝶类的多样性有明显差异,山地森林的多样性指数最高,典型草原的多样性指数最低。保护区碟类群落多样性指数具明显的时序特征,7月的多样性指数最高,9月的多样性指数最低。通过Jaccard群落相似性系数计算可知,山地草原与湿地草甸的蝶类Jaccard群落相似性系数(0.43)最高。蝶类群落多样性与植被类型有明显的相关性,人为干扰对蝶类群落多样性有破坏作用。     

青海玉树高原不同生境类型蝶类群落结构与多样性

2016年和2017年的5—8月,在玉树市选取森林、灌木、高寒灌丛、高寒草甸草原和裸岩5种生境进行蝴蝶种类资源和群落多样性的调查,共记录到蝶类个体数1580头,62种,隶属于7科40属。其中古北界19种,占总种数的30%,东洋界2种,占总种数的3%,两界共有种(广布种) 41种,占总种数的67%。蛱蝶科(535只)个体数量最多,占蝶类个体总数的34%。计算并分析了5种生境中蝴蝶多样性指数(H')、优势度指数(D)、物种丰富度指数(R)、均匀度指数(J)和相似性系数(I),结果表明:灌木生境具有最高的多样性指数,较高均匀度指数和物种丰富度指数以及最低的优势度指数;高寒草甸草原蝶类的多样性指数、均匀度指数、物种丰富度指数均为最低,而优势度指数最高。     

横断山区蝶类的垂直分布及其多样性

2006年对横断山区蝶类的垂直分布进行了调查,共发现蝴蝶603种,隶属12科229属,其中,蛱蝶科在属数、种类数和个体数量上均为最多,绢蝶科、珍蝶科和喙蝶科种类数量很少,但都是该区域的珍稀蝶类.从山麓到山地上部,沿高程梯度,蝴蝶群落的差异明显,无论是种类组成还是群落多样性特征,蝴蝶群落都呈现出明显的垂直分带;横断山区蝴蝶群落垂直带谱包括低山农田蝴蝶群落(Ⅰ)、山地中亚热带常绿阔叶林蝴蝶群落(Ⅱ)、山地暖温带常绿阔叶与落叶阔叶混交林蝴蝶群落(Ⅲ)、山地温带针阔混交林蝴蝶群落(Ⅳ)、山地寒温带暗针叶林蝴蝶群落(Ⅴ)和高山亚寒带灌丛草甸蝴蝶群落(Ⅵ),群落多样性指数变化趋势为Ⅱ>Ⅰ>Ⅲ>Ⅳ>Ⅴ>Ⅵ;在6个垂直带中,山地中亚热带常绿阔叶林带是地形最复杂、植物种类最丰富的垂直带,其蝶类物种数、个体数量、多样性指数均高于其他垂直带,表明在横断山区的蝴蝶群落垂直带谱中,该带蕴藏了最为丰富的蝶类多样性,因此也是最需要优先保护的生态带.     

陕西太白山南坡蝶类的多样性及区系特征

2009年4—10月,对太白山南坡的蝴蝶进行了系统调查,分析其各科的多样性指数、均匀度指数、优势度指数和物种丰富度.结果表明:太白山南坡有蝴蝶5科77属126种.其中,蛱蝶科的多样性指数和丰富度指数最高,为3.3621和9.9363,粉蝶科的均匀度和优势度指数最高,为0.8352和0.0573.6—8月蝶类属、种数量较多,7月蝴蝶多样性指数最高,为3.4094,8月物种丰富度最高,为10.7.124种蝶类中,广布种最多(51种),占总种数的40.5%;古北种41种,占32.5%;东洋种最少(32种),占25.4%.这反映了该地区古北界和东洋界种类交汇过渡的特点.对比分析太白山南坡和北坡的蝶类种类及区系组成,其共有种为85种,蝶类相似度为62.0%,说明两地虽然地理位置接近,但蝶类仍有一定的差异.     

赛罕乌拉自然保护区蝶类多样性及其影响因素

为了解赛罕乌拉自然保护区蝶类多样性及其影响因素, 我们于2017年5-9月分别对保护区的典型草原、湿地、山地沟谷草甸、退化草原、农田、山地旱生灌丛、山地中生灌丛等7种生境中的蝴蝶进行观测调查。共记录和采集蝴蝶2,290只, 隶属5科42属63种。蛱蝶科的种类数(34种)和个体数(991只)最多。柑橘凤蝶(Papilio xuthus)、云粉蝶(Pontia daplidice)、绢粉蝶(Aporia crataegi)、荨麻蛱蝶(Aglais urticae)、银斑豹蛱蝶(Speyeria aglaja)等5种为保护区的优势种。保护区蝶类群落的种-多度曲线呈正态分布模式, 表明保护区生态环境良好, 生境相互重叠, 蝶类活动范围在不同生境中可以延伸。不同生境中蝶类群落种类及数量存在一定差异, 其中山地中生灌丛蝶类群落的多样性指数最高, 优势度指数最低; 退化草原的多样性指数和物种丰富度指数均为最低, 优势度指数最高; 山地沟谷草甸的科、属、种、个体数最多; 退化草原的科、属、种、个体数都是最少。区系组成分析表明广布种占63.49%, 古北种占36.51%。保护区不同生境中蝶类群落多样性特征指数在各月份间有明显差异, 蝴蝶种类及个体数与温度之间呈显著正相关, 与降雨量无显著相关性。综上, 我们认为适当的干扰有利于蝶类多样性发展, 而强烈的人为干扰会严重破坏草场环境, 影响蝶类生存和繁衍, 降低蝶类多样性。     

宁夏贺兰山自然保护区蝴蝶群落多样性及其环境影响因子

宁夏贺兰山自然保护区蝴蝶群落多样性及其与环境因素的关系,2017年5-9月采用样线法对贺兰山东麓6类生境和不同干扰类型10条样线的蝴蝶群落结构及其多样性季节动态进行调查。共记录蝴蝶5科36属45种,蛱蝶科Nymphalidae的属和物种数最多,为17属19种;凤蝶科Papilionidae最少,仅1属1种。菜粉蝶Pieris rapae、云粉蝶Pontia daplidice、斑缘豆粉蝶Colias erate和小檗绢粉蝶Aporia hippia是该地区的优势种,个体数量分别占总个体数的11.76%、11.63%、11.21%和10.17%。不同生境样线优势类群和常见类群不同。蝴蝶的栖息地偏好与寄主植物有关,蝴蝶的生境分布类型可分为生境广布型、湿润平原型、荒漠半荒漠草原型和山地森林型。蝴蝶群落Shannon-Wiener多样性和丰富度指数以灰榆疏林草地生境最高,优势度最低。各物种在生境内的季节变化趋势与不同生境植被生长季节相关,高峰期为7-8月。不同调查时间蝴蝶的优势种和常见种不同。物种数以7月份调查最多,有33种,占全年调查总物种数的73.33%;5月份调查最少,有20种。蝴蝶群落Shannon-Wiener多样性和丰富度指数以8月份最大,5月份最小。蝴蝶成虫发生类型分为全年发生型、春季型、夏季型和夏秋季型。不同生境和季节发生的优势种可以作为对生境状况进行评估的指示类群。采用CCA分析物种分布与微环境因子的关系,海拔对蝴蝶物种多样性分布格局有显著影响。蝴蝶丰富度与海拔、温度、风速显著正相关。适度干扰有利于蝶类多样性增加,较强的人为干扰会影响蝶类栖息环境,降低蝶类多样性。因此,生境差异性和干扰与蝴蝶群落的物种多样性密切相关,维持贺兰山垂直植被带的生境异质性和保持适度干扰是保护蝴蝶多样性的关键。     

尖峰岭热带山地雨林海南特有木本植物群落结构

以海南尖峰岭4.8 hm ²的热带山地雨林原始林为研究对象, 分析了群落内海南特有乔、灌木植物(以下简称特有种)的物种组成、特有种种群的多度和径级结构特点, 分析了保留和剔除特有种对群落物种多样性指数的影响。结果表明, 在4.8 hm ²样地中, 共记录了胸径≥1.0 cm的个体36481株, 隶属于65科134属247种; 其中, 24种为特有种, 占样地内总种数的9.7%; 大多数特有种多度较小, 在群落发展中居从属地位。多数特有种对生境具有选择性, 分布区域相对狭窄, 种实以动物传播型为主。剔除特有种后, 导致群落的Margalef丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数极显著下降(p < 0.01), 对Simpson和Pielou均匀度指数影响不显著。由此可见, 特有种不仅对维持尖峰岭山地热带山地雨林的物种多样性具有重要的意义, 也具有较高的科学研究价值。     

广西中部7种典型灌丛群落的物种多样性特征

为揭示广西中部典型灌丛群落的结构和物种多样性特征,运用样方法调查分析了广西中部7种典型灌丛群落的物种、区系组成、生活型谱和物种多样性指数。结果表明,7个群落中共有85种灌木,隶属37科68属,以大戟科(Euphorbiaceae)和豆科(Leguminosae)为主,分别有10种和9种,占灌木种数的11.76%和10.59%;还有74种草本植物,隶属35科61属,以禾本科(Gramineae)和菊科(Asteraceae)为主,分别有13种和11种,占草本物种数的17.57%和14.87%。龙须藤(Bauhinia championii)群落的物种丰富度指数(S)、Simpson优势度指数(D)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)均最高,而光荚含羞草(Mimosa sepiaria)、老虎刺(Pterolobium punctatum)、桃金娘(Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)群落的相对较低。由于研究区域地处中亚热带南缘,灌丛群落的区系组成以泛热带分布最多,占43.94%,生活型以高位芽植物为主,占37.50%。因此,广西中部灌丛群落的区系组成和生活型谱的热带性质强于温带性质,且接近于南亚热带植被的组成特征。     

地形对贺兰山步甲群落物种多样性分布格局的影响

【目的】步甲是主要栖息于地表的种类最丰富的昆虫类群之一,它们对生境的变化更为敏感。分析地形因子对贺兰山步甲昆虫群落物种多样性分布格局的影响,以期揭示步甲昆虫物种多样性分布格局形成和稳定的机制。【方法】2015年7-8月选取贺兰山山地针叶林、山地疏林、山地灌丛、山地草原和浅山荒漠5种生境98个样地,用杯诱法对步甲群落物种组成和多样性进行调查,并采用典范对应分析(CCA)分析物种多样性指数和物种分布与地形因子之间的关系,运用广义可加模型(GAM)拟合不同生境步甲群落多样性指数对海拔梯度的响应曲线,探讨贺兰山步甲群落物种多样性的垂直分布格局。【结果】共采集步甲昆虫21属65种10 989头,其中,直角通缘步甲Pterostichus gebleri和径婪步甲Harpalus salinus为优势种,其个体数量分别占总捕获个体数的44.93%和11.33%。山地疏林生境步甲物种丰富度最高,山地针叶林的步甲Shannon-Wiener多样性指数最高,浅山荒漠的步甲均匀度最高。海拔、坡向、坡度、剖面曲率和地形湿度指数的综合作用对步甲物种多样性分布格局有显著影响。其中,海拔对5种生境的步甲分布影响均显著,且解释力度最高;坡向对山地针叶林和浅山荒漠步甲分布影响显著。步甲总体丰富度和个体数量与海拔呈不对称的单峰曲线关系,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数随海拔呈先递增后保持稳定的变化,均匀度指数与海拔呈"V"型变化趋势。【结论】贺兰山山地步甲物种多样性的分布格局受海拔为主的多种地形因子综合作用的影响。     

Vegetation Patterns of the Irano-Turanian Steppe along a 3,000 m Altitudinal Gradient in the Alborz Mountains of Northern Iran

The Irano-Turanian floristic region is a major center of endemism in the Holarctic of Eurasia. The Alborz Mountains of northern Iran are a complex and heterogeneous environmental system with rich water resources and great habitat diversity. We have investigated steppe plant communities along an altitudinal gradient ranging from approximately 1,000 m a.s.l. in the semi-desert steppes near Tehran to a height of 3,966 m a.s.l. at the summit of Mount Tochal. Our two-way indicator species analysis of 1,069 vegetation samples resulted in classification of five major vegetation zones: (1) a semi-desert Artemisia steppe near Tehran, (2) a Stipa grassland in the alluvial undulating hills north and west of Tehran, (3) a submontane and steppe zone, (4) a subalpine cushion formation zone and (5) an alpine meadow and subnival zone of Mount Tochal. Annuals and ephemerals in the semi-desert vegetation decline as altitude increases and almost disappear in the alpine zone. Past human impacts of ancient Persian civilization and a traditional pastoral economy have affected the physiognomy of plant communities; thorny dwarf shrubs now dominate the treeless vegetation of the region. Lower competition for space, different phenology and the presence of edaphic and hydrological layers associated with anthropogenic impacts are major reasons for entanglement of different plant communities in the arid- and semi-arid steppe. The phytogeography of the region changes from omni-Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Sindian transgressive species at lower altitudes to a more limited range of western Irano-Turanian species and local endemics at higher altitudes.     

Influence of altitude on the distribution pattern of flora in a protected area of Western Himalaya

IntroductionDistribution pattern and diversity of flora was compared along an altitudinal gradient using the stratified random sampling design for identifying major plant communities of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of Garhwal Himalaya, India. The reconnaissance of flora is presented, along with the analysis of the distribution of species, genera, and families within five (5) altitudinal zones. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary which is situated in the Indian Himalayas harbours a rich variety of flora and fauna. The Himalayas are recognized for diverse vegetation distributed over a wide range of topographical conditions.ResultsThe analysis of diversity within five (5) altitudinal zones was carried out and a total of 324 plant species, representing 219 genera belonging to 92 families, were found. The dominant family was Asteraceae; the co-dominant family was Rosaceae, followed by Lamiaceae and Ranunculaceae. Eight (8) families were observed in all the altitudinal zones, while forty (40) families were observed in a single altitudinal zone, and the remaining forty-four (44) families were found in more than one (1) altitudinal zone. Most of the tree species were contagiously distributed, but a few of them were randomly distributed in all the altitudinal zones. The shrubs and herbs were contagiously distributed in all the altitudinal zones. The correlation analysis (P < 0.05) between altitude and number of species showed that altitude is negatively correlated with tree (r = −0.96), shrub (r = −0.61), and herb species (r = −0.20). As per the cluster analysis of tree layer, altitudinal zone - III (2450–2650 m) and altitudinal zone - IV (2900–3100 m) were found most similar. Altitudinal zone–V (3350–3550 m) was found to be dissimilar from the other zones for herbs.ConclusionsAlthough species composition varies with altitude, but there is a complex relationship between species richness and altitudinal gradient. A decreasing pattern in both species richness and family richness for trees, shrubs and herbs, was recorded with increasing altitude. The predominant factors underlying this variability in plant species and biogeography appear to be climatic and specific to each taxonomic group.     

三江并流地区干旱河谷植物物种多样性海拔梯度格局比较

在滇西北三江并流地区典型干旱河谷段, 在怒江、澜沧江和金沙江的东、西坡共设置了6条海拔梯度样带, 通过标准样地的植物群落调查, 分析各条样带植物的物种丰富度、物种更替率的海拔梯度格局, 并比较了地理和植被变量对分布格局的解释。干旱河谷植被带位于海拔3,000 m以下, 以灌丛和灌草丛为主, 其在各河谷的分布上限自西向东依次升高。植物物种丰富度的分布主要与海拔、流域、经纬度和植被带有关, 沿纬度和海拔梯度升高而显著增加的格局主要表现在草本层和灌木层, 灌木物种丰富度还呈现自西向东显著增加的趋势。怒江的灌木和草本种物种丰富度显著高于金沙江和澜沧江, 三条江的乔木种丰富度差异则不显著。森林带的样方草本物种丰富度显著低于灌草丛带样方, 并且还拥有后者没有的乔木种。不同样带的植物物种更替速率呈现了不一致的海拔梯度格局, 但均在样带海拔下部的灌草丛群落与海拔上部森林群落之间的交错带出现峰值。森林-灌草丛植被交错带在怒江样带处于海拔1,900-2,100 m处, 在澜沧江河谷位于海拔2,300-2,400 m, 在金沙江河谷位于海拔2,700-2,900 m。所有海拔样带的森林段或灌草丛段相对于同一样带不同植被段之间的物种更替程度为最小, 不仅小于同一流域不同样带相同植被段之间物种更替率的均值, 更小于所有样带相同植被段之间的更替率均值。在三条河流6条海拔样带的12个植被带段之间的物种更替变化中, 空间隔离因素可以解释34.2%, 而植被类型差异仅能解释不到0.5%。本研究结果显示了环境差异对不同植被类型物种丰富度的首要影响, 和各河流之间的空间隔离对植物群落构建和物种构成的主要作用。     

Species richness and phylogenetic diversity of seed plants across vegetation zones of Mount Kenya,East Africa

Mount Kenya is of ecological importance in tropical east Africa due to the dramatic gradient in vegetation types that can be observed from low to high elevation zones. However, species richness and phylogenetic diversity of this mountain have not been well studied. Here, we surveyed distribution patterns for a total of 1,335 seed plants of this mountain and calculated species richness and phylogenetic diversity across seven vegetation zones. We also measured phylogenetic structure using the net relatedness index (NRI) and the nearest species index (NTI). Our results show that lower montane wet forest has the highest level of species richness, density, and phylogenetic diversity of woody plants, while lower montane dry forest has the highest level of species richness, density, and phylogenetic diversity in herbaceous plants. In total plants, NRI and NTI of four forest zones were smaller than three alpine zones. In woody plants, lower montane wet forest and upper montane forest have overdispersed phylogenetic structures. In herbaceous plants, NRI of Afro‐alpine zone and nival zone are smaller than those of bamboo zone, upper montane forest, and heath zone. We suggest that compared to open dry forest, humid forest has fewer herbaceous plants because of the closed canopy of woody plants. Woody plants may have climate‐dominated niches, whereas herbaceous plants may have edaphic and microhabitat‐dominated niches. We also proposed lower and upper montane forests with high species richness or overdispersed phylogenetic structures as the priority areas in conservation of Mount Kenya and other high mountains in the Eastern Afro‐montane biodiversity hotspot regions.     

Floristic richness of three perhumid New Zealand alpine plant communities in comparison with other regions

Abstract Results are presented on vascular species richness in three representative alpine plant communities at 1040–1410 m on Mt Burns in the perhumid Fiordland region, a hotspot of alpine plant diversity, in south‐western South Island, New Zealand. Overall species richness was not dissimilar between the three communities in any of the eight plot sizes (mean values of 20.8–24.4 species in the largest plots of 100 m²), even though coefficients of floristic similarity were small (17.9; 23.5) between both low‐alpine communities (snow tussock‐shrubland and snow tussock grassland) and the high‐alpine cushion fellfield. Vascular species richness was generally similar to that in the few other oceanic New Zealand alpine communities for which data are available. The decline in richness from the low‐alpine to high‐alpine zones, revealed in more comprehensive records from two other regions with generally similar oceanic environments, was not recorded, indeed was reversed, on Mt Burns. Whether the recognized biodiversity hotspot of Fiordland has a generally richer high‐alpine flora than other regions in New Zealand needs further examination. The general pattern of alpine floristic richness in relation to elevation, in New Zealand, also prevails in most alpine regions abroad, usually under much more extreme continental environments. This pattern is usually ascribed to the associated decrease in temperature. Both the small size of the land mass and/or associated environmental conditions may be implicated but clarification awaits further data, preferably collected with standardized procedures.     

兴隆山自然保护区种子植物的垂直分布格局研究

该研究通过对甘肃省兴隆山自然保护区进行野外实地调查和相关文献资料收集,依据海拔梯度将保护区划分为6个植被垂直带[草原带(1800~2000 m)、山地灌丛带(2000~2200 m)、亚高山针叶林带(2200~2900 m)、亚高山矮林带(2900~3000 m)、高山灌丛带(3000~3500 m)、高山草甸带(>3500 m)],在整理6个植被垂直带植物名录的基础上,以种子植物为研究对象,对各植被垂直带的种子植物丰富度、生活型、区系成分和系统发育结构进行分析,探讨植物多样性沿植被垂直带海拔升高的垂直变化规律,以揭示植物对环境的生态适应性,为山地植物多样性保护与开发利用提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)按最新的分类系统划分,兴隆山自然保护区种子植物隶属于87科387属889种,植物科、属、种丰富度随植被垂直带海拔升高呈单峰分布格局,在亚高山针叶林带达到峰值(81科304属661种);各植被垂直带间的Jaccard相似性系数呈中等不相似和极不相似水平,海拔越靠近的植被垂直带间相似性系数越高。(2)保护区内种子植物不同生活型的垂直变化格局存在差异,木本植物所占比例沿植被垂直带海拔升高呈先升后降的变化趋势,而草本植物呈相反的变化格局,且各植被垂直带中草本植物所占比例始终高于木本植物。(3)保护区植物在属水平上,热带成分所占比例随植被带海拔升高呈下降的变化趋势,而温带成分占比呈上升的变化趋势。(4)系统发育结构在中低海拔区域的亚高山针叶林带呈发散型,在高海拔区域(>2900 m)的3个植被带中呈聚集型,说明兴隆山自然保护区非随机分布格局在群落构建机制中发挥主要作用。     

Species richness,abundance, distributional pattern and trait composition of butterfly assemblage change along an altitudinal gradient in the Gulmarg region of Jammu & Kashmir,India

Despite enormous diversity, abundance, and role in ecosystem processes, little is known about how butterflies differ across altitudinal gradients. For this, butterfly communities were investigated along an altitudinal gradient of 2700–3200 m a.s.l, along the Gulmarg region of Jammu & Kashmir, India. We aimed to determine how the altitudinal gradient and environmental factors affect the butterfly diversity and abundance. Our findings indicate that species richness and diversity are mainly affected by the synergism between climate and vegetation. Alpha diversity indices showed that butterfly communities were more diverse at lower elevations and declined significantly with increase in elevation. Overall, butterfly abundance and diversity is stronger at lower elevations and gradually keep dropping towards higher elevations because floristic diversity decreased on which butterflies rely for survival and propagation. A total of 2023 individuals of butterflies were recorded belonging to 40 species, represented by 27 genera and 05 families. Six survey sites (S I- S VI) were assessed for butterfly diversity from 2018 to 2020 in the Gulmarg region of Jammu & Kashmir. Across the survey, Nymphalidae was the most dominant family represented by 16 genera and 23 species, while Papilionidae and Hesperiidae were least dominant represented by 01 genera and 01 species each. Among the six collection sites selected, Site I was most dominant, represented by 16 genera and 21 species, while Site VI was least dominant, represented by 04 genera and 04 species.     

Ecology of pollination in a tropical Venezuelan savanna

Pollination modes ecology of a total of 164 plant species was evaluated according to habitats and plant life forms in the Venezuelan Central Plain. Frequency distribution of nine pollination modes showed that, at the community level bee pollination (38.6%) was dominant. Butterfly (13.9%), fly (12.7%), and wasp (10.8%) pollination were the second most frequent. Moth (6.2%) and wind (10.4%) pollination occurred with similar frequency, and the least common were bird (3.1%), beetle (2.3%) and bat (1.9%) pollination. There was a significant interaction effect indicating that pollination mode was affected by the type of habitat. Bee pollination was the most common pollination mode in all habitats with butterfly, fly and wasp pollination being secondary for forest and forest-savanna transition; and butterfly, wasp, wind and fly pollination being secondary for savanna. Wind, butterfly and fly pollination were found in disturbed areas as secondary pollination modes. Pollination modes were significantly associated and affected by life forms. Bee pollination was dominant in all life forms with wasp, butterfly and fly pollination being the secondary for trees, shrubs, and lianas; and butterfly and wind pollination being the secondary for herbaceous species. The number of pollination modes (richness) among life forms ranged between four and nine for epiphytes and perennial herbs respectively. The highest values of diversity indexes among life forms were found in trees and shrubs. The richness and diversity indices of pollination modes were statistically higher for more structured habitats, forest and forest-savanna transition, than herbaceous habitats, savanna and disturbed areas, which is associated with the highest values of diversity indexes in trees and shrubs. Equitability was higher for forest and disturbed areas than forest-savanna transition and savanna. The results of comparative richness, equitability, diversity indices, and the frequency distribution of pollination modes of 19 samples from tropical and temperate communities indicated that richness of pollination modes may be different between tropical and temperate communities. The proportion of each pollination mode suggests four grouping: (1) rain forests and their strata, (2) grassland savanna, and associated disturbed areas, (3) temperate communities, and (4) the most heterogeneous group, contained mostly neotropical communities, including the four habitats of the Venezuelan Central Plain. The frequency of pollination modes, richness, diversity and equitability of communities, habitats, successional stages, and vegetation strata varies with respect to geography, vegetation structure, and plant species richness.