Preliminary Assessment of Arthropod Diversity of the Rock-Cut Caves of Satara District, Maharashtra, India

Authors

  • Pooja Kumar Misal
     Shivaji University, Vidyanagar, Kolhapur- 416 004, Maharashtra
  • Aparna Sureshchandra Kalawate
     Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Vidya Nagar, Sector-29, P.C.N.T. (PO), Rawet Road, Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra 411044

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v123/i2S/2023/172536

Keywords:

Palpeshwar, Rock-cut caves, Arthropods, Diversity, Satara

Abstract

Palpeshwar caves are located near Lohare village,Wai in Satara district. These caves are situated in the Northern Western Ghat’s, Maharashtra. These are rock-cut caves and never been explored for their assessment of biodiversity, particularly arthropod fauna. Today, the need of the hour is to document the cave fauna before its extinction due to anthropogenic pressure. Consequently, an attempt has been made to document the preliminary arthropod diversity of the Lohare, Palpeshwar cave. The two exploratory surveys were conducted for two months to investigate arthropod diversity in the study area. The results of the two surveys revealed that a total of six different orders representing 21 species of the phylum Arthropoda were recorded in different microhabitats of rock-cut cave. Among these orders, Lepidoptera shows its dominance over other species of arthropodan fauna. For a proper assessment of the arthropod diversity of the cave, more extensive surveys will be undertaken seasonally.

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Published

2023-07-01

How to Cite

Kumar Misal, P., & Sureshchandra Kalawate, A. (2023). Preliminary Assessment of Arthropod Diversity of the Rock-Cut Caves of Satara District, Maharashtra, India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 123(2S), 447–452. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v123/i2S/2023/172536

Issue

Volume 123, Issue 2S, Special Issue 2023

Section

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