Density, diversity and herbivory of aboveground insects in a grassland community of central Himalayan tarai region.

摘要

Species richness, density, biomass and herbivory of aboveground insects were studied in a grassland community of central Himalayan tarai region from April 1999 to March 2001. A total of 31 plant species were recorded in the grassland and mean aboveground net primary production was 2815 KJ m-2 yr-1. Fifty-nine insect species belonging 8 insect orders were recorded in the grassland. Most of these individuals were herbivores. The maximum density of insects was 7.4 m-2 and the maximum biomass 1295 mg m-2. The Shanon-Wiener diversity index H' ranged from 1.32 to 1.44. Mean secondary net production due to herbivores was 47.9 KJ m-2 yr-1. Herbivores consumed an average of 12.8% of the above ground primary production.