Ant Diversity in Forested and Human Disturbed Varying Elevational Habitats of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India with Landscape Analysis Using QGIS

Authors

  • Merin Elizabeth George
     PhD Scholar, Department of Zoology, University of Kerala
  • G Prasad
     Professor and Head, Department of Zoology, University of Kerala

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v123/i2S/2023/172531

Keywords:

Ants, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Landscape Analysis, Formicidae

Abstract

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Agasthyamalai Hills of Southern Western Ghats, Southern India. Despite being in a biodiversity hotspot, there has been no study of ants from this region to date which makes it difficult to monitor any need for conservation efforts. The present study aims to make a comparison between the Forested and Disturbed Habitats of the Sanctuary. The study was done from March 2021 to February 2022 spanning four seasons. Two Forested and two disturbed habitats were selected in two elevations (500m and 1100 m). Three 20x20 m quadrats were selected in each habitat. The ants were collected using standard protocol. The diversity of the sites was analysed and compared to understand the impact of disturbance on ant assemblages. From all sites, soil samples were collected. The samples were analysed for pH, Organic Carbon, Moisture, and Temperature. It was noticed that forested regions had a better diversity and lesser dominance compared to Disturbed Habitats. In addition, landscape pattern was analysed using QGIS to understand the landscape pattern and disturbance.

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Published

2023-07-01

How to Cite

George, M. E., & Prasad, G. (2023). Ant Diversity in Forested and Human Disturbed Varying Elevational Habitats of Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India with Landscape Analysis Using QGIS. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 123(2S), 379–388. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v123/i2S/2023/172531

Issue

Volume 123, Issue 2S, Special Issue 2023

Section

Articles
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