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Diversity of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in a Deciduous Forest of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India

Received: 16 May 2016    Accepted:     Published: 19 May 2016
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Abstract

The study of Odonata communities along deciduous forest requires the basic understanding of the abundance, distribution and number of species present. As habitat conditions change, they also exhibit changes in their diversity and distribution. The present study was carried out in Kuthiraimozhi theri deciduous forest located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India during July 2009 to June 2010 to assess the diversity of odonates. The forest is open, sandy, low tree lands with predominance of thorny, usually hard wood species. Observations were carried out twice in a month during morning, and evening times. A total of 958 dragonflies belonging to 20 species (2 species unidentified) belonging to 16 genera and 4 families were recorded. The family Libellulidae (15 species) was found to be dominant in the study region, followed by families Aeshnidae, Chlorogomphidae and Gomphidae, which were represented by a single species. The data was analyzed for Species richness, Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s index. Maximum number (237) of dragonflies was collected during December 2009 and the highest Species richness (2.35) and Shannon’s diversity index (2.08) was recorded during June 2010. This study has shown that, Odonata diversities along the Kuthiraimozhi theri deciduous forest vary hence these populations can be monitored, related and used as indicators of the physical structure of the deciduous forest and its surrounding ecotones. This inventory has served as the baseline for Odonata communities in the deciduous forest hence can be a measure of monitoring in the near future. Finally, there must be an increase in education on the importance of using local insect species as first level indicators of environmental health which when improved upon can save the nation a lot of money otherwise used in the chemical evaluation and monitoring of environment.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13
Page(s) 58-63
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Odonata, Diversity, Deciduous Forest

References
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    Anita Kannagi, V. Sivakumar, V. Santhi. (2016). Diversity of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in a Deciduous Forest of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 4(3), 58-63. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13

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    Anita Kannagi; V. Sivakumar; V. Santhi. Diversity of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in a Deciduous Forest of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2016, 4(3), 58-63. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13

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    AMA Style

    Anita Kannagi, V. Sivakumar, V. Santhi. Diversity of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in a Deciduous Forest of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2016;4(3):58-63. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13,
      author = {Anita Kannagi and V. Sivakumar and V. Santhi},
      title = {Diversity of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in a Deciduous Forest of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3},
      pages = {58-63},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20160403.13},
      abstract = {The study of Odonata communities along deciduous forest requires the basic understanding of the abundance, distribution and number of species present. As habitat conditions change, they also exhibit changes in their diversity and distribution. The present study was carried out in Kuthiraimozhi theri deciduous forest located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India during July 2009 to June 2010 to assess the diversity of odonates. The forest is open, sandy, low tree lands with predominance of thorny, usually hard wood species. Observations were carried out twice in a month during morning, and evening times. A total of 958 dragonflies belonging to 20 species (2 species unidentified) belonging to 16 genera and 4 families were recorded. The family Libellulidae (15 species) was found to be dominant in the study region, followed by families Aeshnidae, Chlorogomphidae and Gomphidae, which were represented by a single species. The data was analyzed for Species richness, Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s index. Maximum number (237) of dragonflies was collected during December 2009 and the highest Species richness (2.35) and Shannon’s diversity index (2.08) was recorded during June 2010. This study has shown that, Odonata diversities along the Kuthiraimozhi theri deciduous forest vary hence these populations can be monitored, related and used as indicators of the physical structure of the deciduous forest and its surrounding ecotones. This inventory has served as the baseline for Odonata communities in the deciduous forest hence can be a measure of monitoring in the near future. Finally, there must be an increase in education on the importance of using local insect species as first level indicators of environmental health which when improved upon can save the nation a lot of money otherwise used in the chemical evaluation and monitoring of environment.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Diversity of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in a Deciduous Forest of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India
    AU  - Anita Kannagi
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160403.13
    AB  - The study of Odonata communities along deciduous forest requires the basic understanding of the abundance, distribution and number of species present. As habitat conditions change, they also exhibit changes in their diversity and distribution. The present study was carried out in Kuthiraimozhi theri deciduous forest located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, South India during July 2009 to June 2010 to assess the diversity of odonates. The forest is open, sandy, low tree lands with predominance of thorny, usually hard wood species. Observations were carried out twice in a month during morning, and evening times. A total of 958 dragonflies belonging to 20 species (2 species unidentified) belonging to 16 genera and 4 families were recorded. The family Libellulidae (15 species) was found to be dominant in the study region, followed by families Aeshnidae, Chlorogomphidae and Gomphidae, which were represented by a single species. The data was analyzed for Species richness, Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s index. Maximum number (237) of dragonflies was collected during December 2009 and the highest Species richness (2.35) and Shannon’s diversity index (2.08) was recorded during June 2010. This study has shown that, Odonata diversities along the Kuthiraimozhi theri deciduous forest vary hence these populations can be monitored, related and used as indicators of the physical structure of the deciduous forest and its surrounding ecotones. This inventory has served as the baseline for Odonata communities in the deciduous forest hence can be a measure of monitoring in the near future. Finally, there must be an increase in education on the importance of using local insect species as first level indicators of environmental health which when improved upon can save the nation a lot of money otherwise used in the chemical evaluation and monitoring of environment.
    VL  - 4
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Author Information
  • Research Centre of Zoology, Jayaraj Annapackiam College for Women (Autonomous), Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu, India

  • Department of Zoology, VOC College, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India

  • Research Centre of Zoology, Jayaraj Annapackiam College for Women (Autonomous), Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu, India

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