Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal
The species composition of bumblebees (Bombus species) across the elevation gradients in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) was studied from April to November 2019. We performed opportunistic surveys to collect the bumblebee specimens. The walking transects were followed in the accessible places alo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023042846 |
| _version_ | 1827928978393923584 |
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| author | Kishor Chandra Ghimire Anjeela Pandey Ichha Roka Jagan Nath Adhikari Daya Ram Bhusal |
| author_facet | Kishor Chandra Ghimire Anjeela Pandey Ichha Roka Jagan Nath Adhikari Daya Ram Bhusal |
| author_sort | Kishor Chandra Ghimire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The species composition of bumblebees (Bombus species) across the elevation gradients in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) was studied from April to November 2019. We performed opportunistic surveys to collect the bumblebee specimens. The walking transects were followed in the accessible places along the Kaligandaki, Marshyandi, and Budhigandaki river basins in different habitats (e.g., agricultural, forest, grassland and home garden). We identified 16 Bombus species from the sampling areas. The highest relative abundance was of B. haemorrhoidalis (20%), followed by B. festivus (20%) and B. eximius (19%). The least abundant species were B. branickii, B. miniatus, B. novus, and B. pressus with 1% relative abundance of each. We examined the effects of elevation on bumblebee richness and found a significant relationship. The Highest species richness was detected in the mid-elevation. Likewise, the highest species richness and diversity were found in the forest habitat in Gorkha site (n = 12, Shannon index H’ = 2.18) followed by the grassland habitat of the Mustang site (n = 11, Shannon index H’ = 2.10). Whereas, comparatively, species diversity was higher in habitats of the Gorkha site comparing Manang and Mustang. The elevation gradients create immense variations in microclimatic conditions and vegetation dynamics, which influence bumblebee abundance, species richness and diversities in different habitats in the study area. The mid-elevation range (2000–3000 m asl) of CHAL exhibited the highest species richness probably due to the higher availability of pollinator-dependent flowering plants in this range. The landcover composition and anthropogenic activities along the elevation gradient is the governing factor for the species composition, distribution and diversity of bumblebees in CHAL. We recommend to decision-makers for formulating their conservation strategies under a socio-ecological framework. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:16:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c44895417484e75b95786850fcc8aa0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:16:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c44895417484e75b95786850fcc8aa02023-06-11T04:14:48ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-06-0196e17076Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, NepalKishor Chandra Ghimire0Anjeela Pandey1Ichha Roka2Jagan Nath Adhikari3Daya Ram Bhusal4Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal; Birendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur, Chitwan, NepalCentral Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, NepalCentral Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, NepalCentral Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal; Birendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur, Chitwan, NepalCentral Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal; Corresponding author.The species composition of bumblebees (Bombus species) across the elevation gradients in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) was studied from April to November 2019. We performed opportunistic surveys to collect the bumblebee specimens. The walking transects were followed in the accessible places along the Kaligandaki, Marshyandi, and Budhigandaki river basins in different habitats (e.g., agricultural, forest, grassland and home garden). We identified 16 Bombus species from the sampling areas. The highest relative abundance was of B. haemorrhoidalis (20%), followed by B. festivus (20%) and B. eximius (19%). The least abundant species were B. branickii, B. miniatus, B. novus, and B. pressus with 1% relative abundance of each. We examined the effects of elevation on bumblebee richness and found a significant relationship. The Highest species richness was detected in the mid-elevation. Likewise, the highest species richness and diversity were found in the forest habitat in Gorkha site (n = 12, Shannon index H’ = 2.18) followed by the grassland habitat of the Mustang site (n = 11, Shannon index H’ = 2.10). Whereas, comparatively, species diversity was higher in habitats of the Gorkha site comparing Manang and Mustang. The elevation gradients create immense variations in microclimatic conditions and vegetation dynamics, which influence bumblebee abundance, species richness and diversities in different habitats in the study area. The mid-elevation range (2000–3000 m asl) of CHAL exhibited the highest species richness probably due to the higher availability of pollinator-dependent flowering plants in this range. The landcover composition and anthropogenic activities along the elevation gradient is the governing factor for the species composition, distribution and diversity of bumblebees in CHAL. We recommend to decision-makers for formulating their conservation strategies under a socio-ecological framework.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023042846Bombus spp.GorkhaHabitatsPollinatorsSpecies diversity |
| spellingShingle | Kishor Chandra Ghimire Anjeela Pandey Ichha Roka Jagan Nath Adhikari Daya Ram Bhusal Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal Heliyon Bombus spp. Gorkha Habitats Pollinators Species diversity |
| title | Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal |
| title_full | Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal |
| title_short | Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal |
| title_sort | community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in chitwan annapurna landscape nepal |
| topic | Bombus spp. Gorkha Habitats Pollinators Species diversity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023042846 |
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