Asar Khan
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan
Title: Biodiversity of dragonflies and their life threatening factors in tehsil Chamla and Daggar, district Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Biography
Biography: Asar Khan
Abstract
The survey was conducted from May to October, 2013 to determine species composition, relative abundance and habitat preference of Dragonfly in Dagger and Chamla subdivision of Buner district. Dragonflies were collected from different sites such as streams, rivers, springs, ponds and crops fields in two selected tehsil. The analysis was carried out on adult dragonflies. Eleven species belonging to seven genera; Trithemis, Orthetrum, Symptom, Onychogomphus, Palpopleura, Pantala and Anax were identified. The species were Trithemis festiva (20%), Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum (16.66%), Trithemis aurora (15%), Orthetrum anceps (9.33%), Symptom Commixta (8.33%), Orthetrum triangulare triangulare (9.33%), Onychogomphus bistrigatus (7%), Palpopleura sexmaculata (4.66%), Pantala flavescens (4%), Anax immaculifrons (3.33%) and Orthetrum Sabin (2.33%). Three species, Trithemis festiva, Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum, Trithemis aurora were constant, three moderate, two infrequent and the latter two sporadic. Rivers were the richest habitats inhabited by 4 species followed by streams (3 species) and springs (2 species) of dragonfly. The lowest species diversity (1 species) was recorded from crop fields and ponds. The highest (n=119) dragonfly density was observed in July and lowest (n=7) in October. The aquatic and air pollution of huge number (600) of marble factories (Daggar) and more use of pesticides (Chamla) were observed to have drastic effects on the biodiversity of dragonfly in the region. The current study thirsts for the conservation of fauna (Odonates) in the form of a separate treatment of the marble factories wastes.