Changing landscapes, ecodiversity and insect faunal dynamics: The Tenmalai (Western Ghats) experience

Substantial changes in vegetation in some areas of the Western Ghats like the Tenmalai region over a considerably long period, have resulted in extensive alterations in landscape profiles leading to changes in insect biodiversity with the loss of specific mix of insect species and their community or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current science (Bangalore) 2000-02, Vol.78 (4), p.387-390
Main Author: Ananthakrishnan, T. N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Forest ecosystems
Forest insects
Forest litter
GENERAL ARTICLE
India
Insect communities
Male animals
Monoculture forests
Plants
Species
Species diversity
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Summary:Substantial changes in vegetation in some areas of the Western Ghats like the Tenmalai region over a considerably long period, have resulted in extensive alterations in landscape profiles leading to changes in insect biodiversity with the loss of specific mix of insect species and their community organization, not to mention about the disappearance of species from the sites where they were once abundant. Heterogeneity of an area is strongly correlated with the number of species of the area and patterns of species diversity are associated with patterns of spatial and temporal variation. Stable ecosystems, diversity of habitats, abundant biomass and diversity of plant and animal species, undoubtedly add to species diversity, and increased denudation of natural forests and replacement by monoculture results in reduced insect abundance and species diversity. The impact of such disturbances in the Tenmalai region of the Western Ghats is examined in relation to the hitherto well-explored thrips faunal complexes as well as of other insects in the forest floor.
ISSN:0011-3891