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Seasonal inventory and status of flying insects, in Kihansi Gorge, Tanzania
Author(s) -
Msyani Edward K.,
Lazaro Johanna,
Castor Oliver Nyakunga,
Chambegga Omoury Amiri
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00907.x
Subject(s) - abundance (ecology) , netting , dry season , ecology , wetland , wet season , biological dispersal , biology , odonata , population , demography , sociology , political science , law
Sampling of flying insects in Kihansi Gorge was conducted in six micro‐habitats namely Lower, Upper, Main, Mid‐Gorge and Mhalala Spray Wetlands and adjacent forest. The four traps used were, malaise, pitfall, light and artificial substrate sampler, besides sweep netting and beating. In the wet season, 65,549 flying insects (65.13%) were recorded when compared to 35,633 flying insects (34.87%) in dry season. At its peak, 29,783 flying insects (29.15%) were recorded at the start of wet season (December 2004). The abundance value was significant ( χ 2 = 1794.98, d.f. = 5, P ≤ 0.001). The favourable weather condition at the beginning of the wet season might have triggered emergence of high numbers of winged insects like ants, to facilitate migration through dispersal and reproduction, and some aquatic insects (Plecoptera, Odonata and Trichoptera) moulted and entered into terrestrial life to raise terrestrial abundance. No association was recorded between abundance of flying insects and amphibians (Kihansi Spray Toad; Nectophynoides asperginis ), for Mid‐Gorge and Main Spray Wetlands (r = −0.71, n = 4, P = 0.147 and r = −0.69, n = 5, P = 0.201) respectively.