Geographic distributional patterns of the genus Bombus Bombini, Apidae: Hymenoptera in northern Pakistan

Authors : Anjum SUHAİL, Arshed Makhdoom SABİR, Muhammad ASGHAR, Muhammad Ather RAFİ, Abdul QADİR

Pages : 1-9

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Publication Date : 2009-04-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The distributional patterns of the species of genus Bombus were analyzed by using cluster analysis which grouped the sites into three main geographical groups. Cluster 1 comprised of two sites i.e., Samgam and Doarian as these sites were located in the same ecological region i.e., Himalayan moist temperate forest. Cluster 2 consists of Sermik and Rama showing similar patterns of occurrence as dry temperate coniferous and steppic forest adjoin with alpine dry steppe regions while cluster 3 represented by four sites which was further divided into two sub groups viz., Naltar, Gilgit and Darkot, Hunza. Naltar and Gilgit both located in steppic forest and alpine dry steppe. Similarly sub group Darkot, Hunza belong to same ecological region i.e., alpine meadows and sub- alpine scrub. A total of 13 species of genus Bombus were grouped in to three clusters. Cluster 1 was represented by species B. Sibricobombus asiatics Morawitz, B. Bombus tunicatus Smith, B. Pyrobombus subtypicus Skorikov and B. Subterraneobombus melanurus Lepletier . These species were more or less evenly distributed in sampling sites and have wide ecological amplitude. B. Pyrobombus biroi Vogt, B. Bombus lucorum Linnaeus, B. Melanobombus semenovianus Skorikov and B. Mendacibombus marussinus Skorikov formed cluster 2. These species are less evenly distributed while cluster 3 was consisted of five species viz., B. Melanobombus rufofasciatus Smith, B. Alpigenobombus kashmirensis Friese, B. Orientalibombus haemmorrhoidalis Smith, B. Mendacibombus himalayanus Skorikov and B. Mendacibombus avinoviellus Skorikov. These species are moderately distributed in the sampling areas with narrow ecological range as compared to cluster 1. These patterns reflect the complex geographic history of the fauna in the region
Keywords : Cluster analysis, Distributional patterns, Genus Bombus, Geography, Northern Pakistan