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Variations in the Abundance and Diversity of Insects in Apple Orchards of Kumaun, Western Himalaya, India


Affiliations
1 Biodiversity Conservation and Management, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, India
 

Availability of pollinators in a landscape plays a significant role in pollination success, which is essentially important for crops like apple with high dependence on animal-mediated pollination. Realizing this, to estimate the availability (diversity and density) of insect visitors, including pollinators, the present study included pan trap experiments and transect walks for assessment of foraging resources across eight apple orchards in Kumaun, Western Himalaya, India. It was observed that insects were attracted more towards yellow traps, and availability was highest in summer season. Apple mass flowering during summer, in spite of lower diversity of other foraging resource, helps in maintaining availability of insect groups.

Keywords

Apple Orchards, Insect Diversity, Landscape, Pollinator Abundance.
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  • Variations in the Abundance and Diversity of Insects in Apple Orchards of Kumaun, Western Himalaya, India

Abstract Views: 353  |  PDF Views: 142

Authors

Bhawana Kapkoti
Biodiversity Conservation and Management, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, India
Ravindra K. Joshi
Biodiversity Conservation and Management, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, India
Ranbeer S. Rawal
Biodiversity Conservation and Management, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, India

Abstract


Availability of pollinators in a landscape plays a significant role in pollination success, which is essentially important for crops like apple with high dependence on animal-mediated pollination. Realizing this, to estimate the availability (diversity and density) of insect visitors, including pollinators, the present study included pan trap experiments and transect walks for assessment of foraging resources across eight apple orchards in Kumaun, Western Himalaya, India. It was observed that insects were attracted more towards yellow traps, and availability was highest in summer season. Apple mass flowering during summer, in spite of lower diversity of other foraging resource, helps in maintaining availability of insect groups.

Keywords


Apple Orchards, Insect Diversity, Landscape, Pollinator Abundance.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv110%2Fi3%2F438-443