Epigeal Macroinvertebrate diversity in different microhabitats of the Sonamarg hill resort (Kashmir, India)

Present study was an attempt to assess and evaluate the distribution, diversity and occurrence of epigeal invertebrate fauna in the different microhabitats of Sonamarg (34.33°N 75.33°E), Kashmir, India. Six different sites were selected for the study named as site 1, site 2, site 3, site 4, site 5 and site 6. Standard protocol was used to collect epigeal invertebrate fauna and total of 34 species belonging to 11 different orders were reported during the study. The maximum diversity pertained to order Ceoleoptera (10 species) followed by Araneida (5 species) and Hymenoptera (5 species), Hemiptera (3 species), Dermoptera, Diptera, Oligochaeta and Scolopendramorpha (2 species each), Dictyoptera, Juliformia and Orthoptera (1 specie each).The evaluation of various relative parameters such as density, relative density, frequency, relative frequency, abundance, relative abundance and importance value index were also calculated. From the study it was concluded that the maximum abundance and diversity pertains to the habitat rich in organic matter followed by the forest area. The epigeal fauna exhibited fairly good degree of variation at different sites.