Title: An Integrated Study on Effect of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Visit of Insect Pollinators and the Seed Germination in Clitoria Ternatea, An Ornamental and Medicinal Plant

Author: Girish Kumar. E

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i3.11

Abstract

Clitoria ternatea (Sankhu pushpam, in Malayalam) plant population is dwindling day by day and various anthropogenic pressures like Climate change, Pesticide usage, Urbanization etc. cause their decrease in number. A study was conducted to analyse the biodiversity of insect pollinators of the plant along with a correlation study of insect visit to the day temperature. Keen observation was made on daily basis to selected five flowers for 6 days and the time period of observation was from 6: a.m to 2: p.m. From the primary data the average frequency of visit and time spent within the flower by the pollinator per day per flower is calculated. The study showed that there are 7 insect pollinators mainly and the blue banded bee, Amegilla cingulata, was the most important pollinator. The other insect pollinators were Jamides celano, Xylocopa latipes, Zygaenidae moth, Udaspus folus, Xylocopa aestuans and Spoladea recurvalis. The pollinators included 3 bees, 2 butterflies and 2 moths. The correlation study between insect visit and the day temperature showed a strong negative correlation value    (r = - 0.7097).A comparative study of germination of normal seeds and climate change affected seeds showed a decreased germination percentage of the latter. Climate change induced vivipary was also reported during the study.

Keywords: pollinators, average visit, seed germination, vivipary.

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Corresponding Author

Girish Kumar. E

P.G. Dept. of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Govt. Arts College, Mahe,

U.T. of Puducherry, India