Diversity of epigeic Collembola of Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (India)

Abstract

The present survey was carried out to explore the diversity of Collembola in the Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sanctuary, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal on 17 December, 2008. More than 104 individuals of Collembola were collected by Aspirator only. The results revealed that 16 species belonging to 10 genera of 6 subfamilies of Entomobryidae were identified. Out of that Entomobrya marginata (Tullberg, 1871) firstly recorded from India, Procerura indica Baijal, 1958 from West Bengal and 9 species namely, Xenylla sp, Ceratophysella indovaria (Salmon, 1970), Entomobrya nivalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Agren, 1904, Lepidocyrtus curvicolis Bourlet, 1839, L. indicus Handschin, 1929, L. magnijicus Carpenter. 1917, L. orientalis Handschin, 1929, L. heterolepis Yosii, 1959, Callyntrura lineata (Parona, 1892) Yosii, 1961 and Salina montana (Imms, 1912) from Bibhutibhusan Wildlife Sancttuary Parmadan, W.B. The study revealed that Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 was the numerically dominating genera with 5 species were reported. There was first time different ecological measurements like, Simpson index of diversity (D), Shannon’s diversity index (H), Pielou evenness index (J) and Margalef’s richness index (Dmg) were 0.90, 1.64, 0.59, and 3.23 respectively, were calculated from the North 24 Parganas (WB) for the Collembola. The indices indicate fair Collembola diversity and richness were there.