Diversity of Odonata in and around the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC), Baragolai, Margherita, Tinsukia district of Assam (India)

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1 International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August Diversity of Odonata in and around the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC), Baragolai, Margherita, Tinsukia district of Assam (India) Sailendra Mohan Das Department of Biology, Guru Teg Bahadur Academy, Tinsukia, Assam, India Abstract- A total of 39 species of Odonates, including 28 species of dragonflies(sub-order: Anisoptera) belong to 3 families and 11 species of damselflies(sub-order: Zygoptera) belonging to 3 families were recorded in and around the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC) Baragolai, Margherita, Tinsukia district of Assam(India) between March, 2015 to June, From the sub-order Anisoptera, Libellulidae was the richest family with 25 species and from the sub-order Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae is the richest family with 9 species. A detail list of odonates recorded from the study area is presented. Index Terms- Odonata,VKV, Margherita, Tinsukia District. T I. INTRODUCTION he order Odonata is one of the ancient groups of insect. These magnificent insects have been around from the Carboniferous era, about 250 million years ago. Odonates have amphibious life history. They are primarily aquatic in their preadult stages, while the adults are aerial. The order Odonata is divided into three groups, viz. Zygoptera (damselflies), Anisozygoptera and Anisoptera (dragonflies) [1]. The Anisozygoptera with four relict species was earlier recognized as a third sub-order of Odonata. However, recent studies on molecular phylogeny of Odonata groups Anisozygoptera with Anisoptera [2]. Dragonflies and damselflies are the prominent and colourfull insects in tropical landscape which are considered as a crucial component of freshwater ecosystem as well as good indicators of ecosystem health [3]. They are also bio-control agents, many species of odonates inhabiting in agro-ecosystems play a crucial role of controlling pest populations [4]. Globally, about 6,000 species and sub-species of Odonata belonging to 677 genera have been documented [5], of which 474 species in 142 genera and 18 families are known from India [6]. The Odonates fauna of India is well studied since late eighteen century. During pre- independence, scientist such as Selys- Longchamps, Laidlaw and Fraser has contributed significantly to the knowledge of Indian Odonata [7]. The Odonate fauna of Assam is not well documented, although a number of studies are in record from North Eastern India [8-12]. Some of the recent studies [13-18] have provided sporadic information regarding the distribution of odonates in different parts of Assam. The aim of the present investigation was to carry out a preliminary study on the diversity of Odonata in and around Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC) Baragolai campus of Margherita sub-division of Tinsukia district. To the best knowledge of the author, no diversity based study on Odonates was carried out in the Tinsukia District of Upper Assam (India). Thus, it will provide relevant information about odonates, which would come out helpful for further studies as well as conservation of the odonate species. II. MATERIAL AND METHODS The present study was carried out in and around the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya(NEC), Baragolai situated at the Coal Queen Margherita of Tinsukia district of Upper Assam, India. This school is a project of North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), Coal India Limited and managed by Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari. The study area is located at 27 17ʹ06ʺ North Latitude and 95 42ʹ47ʺ East Longitude in the foot hills of Patkai Mountain Range at the elevation of 129 meter from the mean sea level. The area is surrounded by small villages, abandon paddy fields and temporary wetlands which are developed during rainy season. The climate of the region is tropical monsoon type. The summer season is from March to May, followed by rainy season from June to September and cool winter from October to February. Visual encounter surveys of adult odonates were carried out from the month of March 2015 to June 2016 randomly in morning 9 am to 12 noon and afternoon from 4pm to 7pm with fine weather conditions. The odonate species were categorized on the basis of their abundance in the study area; VC very common (> 100 sightings), C common ( sightings), O occasional (16-49), R rare (3 15 sightings) and VR very rare (< 3 sightings). Most of the odonates were photographed with Fujiflim Finepix digital still camera. Identification was carried out with the help of standard literatures [19-21]. Systematic arrangement and the taxonomy followed in the checklist are after Subramonian [6]. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Over the entire duration of the present study, a total of 39 species of odonates was recorded in and around the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC), Baragolai of Margherita sub-division of Tinsukia district of Assam, India. The sub-order Anisoptera consists of 28 species belonging to 20 genus and 3 families. From this sub-order, family Libellulidae is dominant by 25 species followed by Aeshnidae with 2 species and Gomphidae with 1 species. The sub-order Zygoptera consists of 11 species belonging to 6 genus and 3 families. Under this sub-order, family Coenagrionidae is dominant by 9 species followed by

2 International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August Calopterygidae and Lestidae with 1 species each. The relative abundance analysis show that 10 species out of 39 were found to be very common, 7 were common, 8 were occasional, 9 rare and 5 were very rare. Out of these 10 very common dragonfly species Brachythemis contaminata is of special interest; because it is an indicator species of highly polluted water, which is not suitable for human consumption. In contrast, Ictinogomphus rapax which is usually preferred unpolluted water was very rarely seen during the study period. Presence or absence of certain groups of species can be looked as a proxy for habitat variables or to assess quality of fresh water habitats [22]. IV. CONCLUSION Odonates are the flagship insect communities. They hold almost all kinds of habitats with high trophic position and diversity. Odonates respond to anthropogenic activities and serve as successful indicators of habitat quality across the world. The rich biodiversity of Margherita of Tinsukia district of Assam (India) is under tremendous anthropogenic pressure, due to opencast coal mining in the last few years. Frequent sighting of some odonate species and becoming very rare some common species, in a particular area, is a matter of concern. The present study has served as the baseline information to odonate diversity of Tinsukia district as well as it contributes to the database of the state. However, further intense investigations are required to understand the habitat and diversity of odonates along with the affect of mining on odonate fauna of the region. REFERENCES [1] Subramonian, K.A., Dragonflies and damselflies of Peninsular India- A Field Guide. Project life scape.indian Academy of Science, Balgalore, India.2005,pp118. [2] Dumont, H.J.,Vierstraete, A., Vanfleteren, J.R.A Molecular Phylogeny of Odonata(Insecta).Syst. Entomol 2010; 35:6 18 [3] Adarsh, C.K., Aneesh, K.S., Nameer, P.O. A Preliminary Checklist of Odonates in Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) Campus,Thrissur District, Kerala, Southern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2014; 6(8) : [4] Tiple, A.D., Khurad, A.M. and Andrew, R.J. Species Diversity of Odonata in and around Nagpur City, Central India. Fraseria 2008; 7: [5] Schorr, M., Paulson,D. World Odonata List, ( sound.edu/academics/ academic-resources/ slatermuseum/)(accessed 16 July,2016). [6] Subramonian, K.A. A Checklist of Odonata(Insecta) of India; Ver2.0; Zoological Survey of India. Kalkata, India 2014; 31. [7] Subramonian, K.A. A Checklist of Odonata(Insecta) of India. Zoological Survey of India. Kalkata, India 2009;36 [8] Laidlaw, F.F.A Zoological Results of Abor Expedition, , XXV, Odonata, Records Indian Museum. 1914; 8: [9] Fraser, F.C. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata vol. III, London: Tailor and Francis, [10] Asahina, S. Assamese and Burmese Coeliccia species in the Collection of Dr. Erich Schmidt (Odonata: Platycnemididae), Transactions Shikoku Entomological Society1984: 16(4): 1-9. [11] Lahiri, A.R. Study on the Odonata Fauna of Meghalaya; Records of Zoological Survey of India. Occasional 1987; 99 : [12] Joshi, S. and Kunte, K. Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Nagaland, with addition to Indian Odonate Fauna. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2014, 6(11): [13] Borah, P., Acherjee,B.K., Das, M. and Saikia, P.K. Diversity and Distribution of Damselflies in Guhati University Campus, Assam,India. NeBIO 2012; 3(2): [14] Barua, C. and Saikia, P.K. Abundance and Distribution of Odonates in Different Habitats of Borpeta District, Assam, India. Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 2015; Vol. 4(9): [15] Basumatary, P., Adhikary, M., Basumatary, N. and Daimary, A. A Preliminary Study on the Diversity of Odonata in Bodoland University, Assam, India. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications 2015; 5(6). [16] Gupta, S. and Veeneela, R. A Preliminary study on Odonata Diversity in Three Divers Landscapes of Cachar District, Assam, India. Curr World Environ 2016; 11(2). [17] Das, B.K., Sharma, U. and Chetia, P. Diversity, Distribution and Abundance of Damselfly (Zygoptera) of Kapla Beel, Wetland of Barpeta District; Assam, India. Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 2015; Vol. 4(4): [18] Kalita, G.J, and Ray, S.D. Studies on the Diversity and Habitat Preference of Odonates in Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary, Kamrup, Assam. Jurnal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(2): [19] Subramanion, K.A. Dragonflies of India A Field Guide. Vigyan Prasar; Department of Science and Technology. A 50, Institutional Area,Sector 62; Noida, UP, [20] Mitra, T.R. Handbook on Common Indian Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata); Zoological Survey of India, [21] Nair, M.V. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Orissa and Eastern India. Wildlife Organisation, Forest and Environment Department, Government of Orissa, [22] Subramonian, K.A., Ali, S.and Ramchandra, T.V. Odonata as indicators of Riparian Ecosystem Health : A Case Study from South Western Karnataka, India. Fraseria 2008;7: AUTHORS First Author Sailendra Mohan Das, Department of Biology, Guru Teg Bahadur Academy, Tinsukia, Assam, E mail: sailenmdas@gmail.com, Mob. No

3 International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August Table: 1, Checklist of Damselflies (Sub-order: Zygoptera) recorded from VKV (NEC) Baragolai and its vicinity, Tinsukia, Assam (India) Sub-Order Family Scientific Name Status Zygoptera Coenagrionide 1. Agriocnemis pieris VC 2. Agriocnemis pigmaea O 3. Agriocnemis spendidissima O 4. Ceriagrion cerinorubellum C 5. Ceriagrion coromandelianum VC 6. Ceriagrion fallax R 7. Ceriagrion olivacem R 8. Ischnura aurora R 9. Onychargia atrocyana O Calopterygidae 10. Vestalis gracilis VR Lestidae 11. Lestes praemorsus VR Table: 2, Checklist of Dragonflies (Sub- order: Anisoptera) recorded from VKV(NEC) Baragolai and its vicinity, Tinsukia, Assam (India) Sub-Order Family Scienlific Name Status Anisoptera Aeshnidae 1. Anax guttatus R 2. Gynacantha bayadera VR Gomphidae 3. Ictinogomphus rapax VR Libellulidae 4. Acisoma panorpoides O 5. Aethriamanta brevipennis O 6. Brachydiplax chalybea O 7. Brachydiplax ferinosa O 8. Brachydiplax sobrina VC 9. Brachythemis contaminata VC 10. Crocothemis servilia C 11. Diplacodes trivialis VC 12. Hydrobasileus croceus R 13. Lathrecista asiatica R 14. Neurothemis fulvia VC 15. Neurothemis intermedia VC 16. Neurothemis tullia C 17. Orthetrum chrysis VC 18. Orthetrum glaucum R 19. Orthetrum pruinosum C 20. Orthetrum sabina VC 21. Palpopleura sexmaculata C 22. Pantala flavescens VC 23. Rhodothemis rufa C 24. Rhyothemis plutonia VR 25. Rhyothemis variegata C 26. Tholymis tillarga R 27. Trithemis aurora O 28. Zyxomma petiolatum R

4 International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August Fig 1:- Odonata diversity in and around the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC), Baragolai, Margherita, Tinsukia district of Assam (India); Family wise record of species. India & Assam Tinsukia District Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (NEC) Baragolai and its vicinity Fig 2:- Location Map of the Study Area (Map is not to scale)

5 International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 8, August

A preliminary study on the diversity of odonata in Bodoland University and its vicinity, Assam, India

International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 5, Issue 6, June 2015 1 A preliminary study on the diversity of odonata in Bodoland University and its vicinity, Assam, India Paris