For a better tomorrow for all Japan International Cooperation Agency

Presented byPresented by T. YasunagaT. Yasunaga &&

Supported by PBI Supported by PBI Project Project US National US National Science FoundationScience Foundation

Ram Keshari DuwalRam Keshari Duwal

Nat. Hist. Mus. Tribhuvan Nat. Hist. Mus. Tribhuvan Univ., Univ., Kathmandu, NEPALKathmandu, NEPAL

Endangered in NepalEndangered in Nepal

Biodiversity of the Orthotylinae Biodiversity of the Orthotylinae and Phylinae in Nepaland Phylinae in Nepal

Main aim of this presentation

Continuing Survey in Nepal, as JICA Senior Volunteer Continuing Survey in Nepal, as JICA Senior Volunteer (ODA) Program, from Apr. 2005 to Mar. 2007(ODA) Program, from Apr. 2005 to Mar. 2007

Species Diversity of the Miridae in Nepal, with Species Diversity of the Miridae in Nepal, with Emphasis on Orthotyline and Phyline Faunal Research Emphasis on Orthotyline and Phyline Faunal Research Linked with Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) Linked with Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) ProjectProject

Characteristics of Nepali Faunal CompositionCharacteristics of Nepali Faunal Composition New Findings of Unique TaxaNew Findings of Unique Taxa Current Natural Condition of NepalCurrent Natural Condition of Nepal Further Research Plan and IssuesFurther Research Plan and Issues

Cold temperate to boreal

Temperate to subtropics

Subtropics or tropics

Zoogeographical maps for Nepal

Investigation Sites in Nepal

Temperate ～ warm temperate zones: Kathmandu Valley (A) [1,400-2,000 m]Warm temperate ～ subtropics: Pokhara Valley (B) [600-1,200 m]Temperate ～ boreal: Sagarmatha (C); Langtang (D); Mustang (E) [1,600-5,000 m]Subtropics ～ tropics: Chitwan (F) [100-300 m]

(Top 10 summits of the world)

1. Everest (Sagarmatha): 8,848 m 2. K2: 8,611 m

3. Kanchenjunga: 8,586 m 4. Lhotse: 8,516 m

5. Makalu: 8,463 m 6. Cho-Oyu: 8,201 m

7. Dhaulagiri: 8,167 m 8. Manaslu: 8,163 m

9. Nanga Parbat: 8,125 m 10. Annapurna: 8,091 m

Nepali Natural Environ I: Nepali Natural Environ I: Subboreal & Alpine zonesSubboreal & Alpine zones

Yak, most common Yak, most common mammal in Himal alpine mammal in Himal alpine

zone, very harmful to zone, very harmful to mirids!mirids!

Tibet-like mountain Tibet-like mountain step, Mustang Himal step, Mustang Himal

(3,600m)(3,600m)

Typical Himalayan glacier and Typical Himalayan glacier and glacier lake, Langtang Nat’l Park glacier lake, Langtang Nat’l Park

(3,900m)(3,900m)

Subboreal conifer/deciduous forests Subboreal conifer/deciduous forests in Sagarmatha Nat’l Park (3,500-in Sagarmatha Nat’l Park (3,500-

4,000m)4,000m)

Nepali Natural Environ II: Nepali Natural Environ II: Temperate & Warm Temperate zonesTemperate & Warm Temperate zones

Deciduous Deciduous forests, with forests, with

Quercus, Alnus, Quercus, Alnus, AcerAcer, sometimes , sometimes

with with PinusPinus or or evergreen evergreen

broadleavesbroadleaves

Langtang Himal (2,600m)Langtang Himal (2,600m)

Kathmandu Valley (1,600m)Kathmandu Valley (1,600m)

Evergreen Evergreen broadleaf broadleaf

forests, with forests, with Castanopsis, Castanopsis,

MallotusMallotus, , some tropical some tropical

herbages, herbages, Pokhara (600-Pokhara (600-

700m)700m) Castanopsis inflorescences, Castanopsis inflorescences, with Annapurna Himal viewwith Annapurna Himal viewBegnas LakeBegnas Lake

Nepali Natural Environ III: Nepali Natural Environ III: Subtropics & TropicsSubtropics & Tropics

Savanna-like vegetation of Chitwan Savanna-like vegetation of Chitwan Nat’l Park (<120m), with view of Nat’l Park (<120m), with view of

Manaslu RangeManaslu Range

Subtropical Subtropical vegetation near vegetation near

Trisuli (400-500 m)Trisuli (400-500 m)

Tropical forests Tropical forests found along found along Indian border; Indian border; daily maximum daily maximum temperature temperature often over 40 often over 40 centigrade in centigrade in summersummer

Characteristics of Nepali fauna

• Altitude gap effecting isolation and distribution• Derived from various origins —

Palearctic + Old World (sub)tropical species

• Species from different origins often co-inhabiting (particularly in mid-hill area, 500-1,500 m alt.)

• Three faunal zones recognizable, basically differentiated by climate & altitude

Natural condition now modified rapidly — Alpine fauna (especially, herb-inhabitants) nearly being exterminated by limitless pasturage of ‘Yak’ ; also, temperate forests seriously endangered

Example I:Example I: Vertical distribution pattern of Vertical distribution pattern of BryocorisBryocoris spp. spp. along Langtang Himal trekking routealong Langtang Himal trekking route

B. sp. b: 1,600-2,400 m

B. sp. c: 1,700 m >

B. sp. a:

2,200-3,000 m

Example II: Occurrence of two Mecomma spp. in Langtang National Park

Mirid species found in Nepal Mirid species found in Nepal from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006

N: Total number of species found A: Previously recorded from NEP B: Described but unrecorded species C: Undescribed or undetermined

* * Record of 3/8 species apparently based on misidentificationRecord of 3/8 species apparently based on misidentification

Genera N A B C______________________________________________Isometopinae 6 1 5Psallopinae - Cylapinae 2 1 1Orthotylinae 22 1 3 18Phylinae 45 17 27Bryocorinae 22 1 3 18Deraeocorinae 16 2 14Mirinae 66 8* 18 40 _______________________________________________

Total 179 10 45 123

Orthotylines found in Nepal from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006

Genera N A B C______________________________________________________Coridromius 2 2Cyrtorhinus 1 1Mecomma 2 2Pseudoloxops [sensu lato] 3 3Zanchius [sensu lato] 13 1 12Genus (tribe) undetermined 1 1______________________________________________________

Total 22 1 3 18

N: Total number of species found A: Previously recorded from NEP B: Described but unrecorded species C: Undescribed or undetermined

CyrtorhinusCyrtorhinus lividipennislividipennis

Phylines found in Nepal from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006

Genera N A B______________________________________Hallodapus 2 2Gen. I (Leucophoropterini) 1 1Bilirania 1 1Druthmarus 1 1 Pilophorus 3 1 2Sthenaridea 1 1Atractotomoidea 2 2Campylomma 5 2 3Decomia 2 2 Europiella 2 2Lasiolabops 2 1 1Moissonia 3 1 2Opuna 3 2Rubrocuneocoris 1 1Sejanus 4 2 2Tytthus 1 1Gen. II 2 2Gen. III 2 2Gen. IV (nr Psallus) 1 1 Gen. V (nr Pityopsallus) 1 1 Gen. VI 4 4Gen. VII (nr Plagiognathus) 1 1_______________________________________

Total 45 17 27

N: Total number of species foundA: Described but not previously recorded from NepalB: Undescribed or undetermined*No reliable record currently available from Nepal

DecomiaDecomia near near okutoshiiokutoshii

Members of this group found to be most diverse, ranging from tropical forests to subboreal Betula (4,000m)

Most species likely to be undescribed; identity of only one species (Z. annulatus) determined

Associated principally with homopteran leafhoppers

Like Pseudoloxops-Aretus complex, required a critical re-evaluation for generic as well as tribal revel classification

Species diversity found in Zanchius [s. lato] in Nepal

Unique Phylines Newly Discovered - Species of an undetermined genus -

Only a female currently available…

Sp. 1: Castanopsis inhabitant (1,400-1,800 m)

Sp. 2: Quercus inhabitant (2,300-3,000 m)

Sp. 4: Quercus inhabitant (1,800m)

Sp. 3: Rosaceous broadleaf inhabitant Sp. 3: Rosaceous broadleaf inhabitant (2,300-2,600 m)(2,300-2,600 m)

Further Work Further Work Plan in NepalPlan in Nepal

• Continuing effort to clarify whole fauna as basic Continuing effort to clarify whole fauna as basic approach for further conservation of endangered approach for further conservation of endangered environment (for Nepalese Nature)environment (for Nepalese Nature)

• Properly educating and fostering young Nepalese Properly educating and fostering young Nepalese researchers (heteropterists)researchers (heteropterists)

• Research on pest and predaceous species in agro-Research on pest and predaceous species in agro-ecosystem to limit the excess use of pesticides (for ecosystem to limit the excess use of pesticides (for Nepalese human life)Nepalese human life)

• Many other things…in quite limited period…Many other things…in quite limited period…

Nilgiri Himal