Assessing the potential role of Coleoptera (Insecta) as bioindicators in Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

In this study the suitability of select beetle families as bioindicators to monitor human influence on forest ecosystems was undertaken. Beetles have been used in forest ecosystems where their species number and/or abundances change along a habitat disturbance gradient; a common trend being that large, poorly dispersing specialist species decrease with increased disturbance while small generalist species with good dispersal ability increase. The purpose of this research work is to find out the status of beetles in a biogeographically significant area of Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh in Shivalik Himalaya in north western India; and to assess their potential role to assess the human influence on forest ecosystem on a more local scale. Further, patterns of species biodiversity, taxonomy, and their suitability as bioindicator were explored using a set of standard methods and ecological indexes. The set of methods and indexes used in this work is similar in many ways to the measures used or proposed elsewhere; but the objective is to determine the suitability and application of bioindicators for monitoring and inventorying study at a local scale