1. SOIL MACRO INVERTEBRATS OFSOIL MACRO INVERTEBRATS OF
BAGROT VALLEY INBAGROT VALLEY IN
CENTRAL KARAKORAM NATIONALCENTRAL KARAKORAM NATIONAL
PARKPARK
GILGIT-BALTISTANGILGIT-BALTISTAN
Rasheed AhmedRasheed Ahmed
KARAKORAM INTERNATIONALKARAKORAM INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY,GILGITUNIVERSITY,GILGIT

2. SUPERVISOR:SUPERVISOR:
Mrs.Jamila BaigMrs.Jamila Baig
CO-SUPERVISOR:CO-SUPERVISOR:
Dr. Leonardo LatellaDr. Leonardo Latella
((The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of VeronaThe Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of Verona
(MCSNV) Italy)(MCSNV) Italy)
Department of Biological SciencesDepartment of Biological Sciences
KARAKORAM INTERNATIONALKARAKORAM INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY
Gilgit - BaltistanGilgit - Baltistan

3. IntroductionIntroduction
 Biological diversityBiological diversity
biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earthbiodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth
 Soil biodiversitySoil biodiversity
Soil is the most biologically diverse part of earth.Soil is the most biologically diverse part of earth.
The soil food web includes beetles, mites,The soil food web includes beetles, mites,
warms, spiders, ants, nematodes, fungi, bacteria,warms, spiders, ants, nematodes, fungi, bacteria,
and other organismsand other organisms

4. CENTRAL KARAKORAMCENTRAL KARAKORAM
NATIONAL PARKNATIONAL PARK
 The Karakoram (Black Rock Mountains) is oneThe Karakoram (Black Rock Mountains) is one
of the important mountain ranges of the world.of the important mountain ranges of the world.
 The Northern Areas administration has notifiedThe Northern Areas administration has notified
CKNP as National Park in 1993.The originalCKNP as National Park in 1993.The original
Central Karakoram National Park is theCentral Karakoram National Park is the
Pakistan’s largest protected area (PA),Pakistan’s largest protected area (PA),
 CKNP falls into the administrative districts ofCKNP falls into the administrative districts of
Gilgit, Skardu and GhancheGilgit, Skardu and Ghanche

5. BAGROT VALLEYBAGROT VALLEY
 situated within the Karakoram Range ofsituated within the Karakoram Range of
northern Pakistan and 40 km from the town ofnorthern Pakistan and 40 km from the town of
GilgitGilgit
 Around the Valley, three Great Mountains ofAround the Valley, three Great Mountains of
Karakorum region, Rakaposhi peak, Diran peakKarakorum region, Rakaposhi peak, Diran peak
and Dubani, peak existsand Dubani, peak exists

7. Objectives of the studyObjectives of the study
 To identify the soil macro-invertebrate’sTo identify the soil macro-invertebrate’s
biodiversity of Bagrot valley of Centralbiodiversity of Bagrot valley of Central
Karakoram National Park (CKNP).Karakoram National Park (CKNP).
 Identify the variation among invertebrate’s taxa.Identify the variation among invertebrate’s taxa.
 To identify the main factors affecting onTo identify the main factors affecting on
invertebrate’s community.invertebrate’s community.
 Identify the diverse area of invertebrates inIdentify the diverse area of invertebrates in
Bagrot valley.Bagrot valley.

8. MATERIALS & METHODSMATERIALS & METHODS

9. Pitfall trapsPitfall traps

10. Manual collectionManual collection

11. Malaise trapsMalaise traps

12. RESULTSRESULTS
 Only Arthropods were caught with the pitfallOnly Arthropods were caught with the pitfall
traps.traps.
 Within them, the insect order of Coleoptera wasWithin them, the insect order of Coleoptera was
always the dominant taxon.always the dominant taxon.
 Different community composition wasDifferent community composition was
observed among the six sitesobserved among the six sites

13. Site 1 (Near the Hinarche glacier snout)Site 1 (Near the Hinarche glacier snout)
 Araneae 4%;Araneae 4%;
 Homoptera 4%Homoptera 4%
 Coleoptera 70%Coleoptera 70%
 Diptera 22%Diptera 22%
 Total number of specimens (Site 1) = 500Total number of specimens (Site 1) = 500
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Araneae
Coleoptera
Diptera
Homoptera

14. Site 2 (250 meters below theSite 2 (250 meters below the
Hinarche glacier snout)Hinarche glacier snout)
 Chilopoda 9%;Chilopoda 9%;
 Acari 18 %Acari 18 %
 Coleoptera 64%Coleoptera 64%
 Hymenoptera 9%Hymenoptera 9%
 Total number of specimens (Site 2) = 870Total number of specimens (Site 2) = 870
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Chilopoda
Acraci
Coleoptera
Hymenoptera

15. Site 3 (300 mSite 3 (300 m the Hinarche glacierthe Hinarche glacier
snoutsnout))
 Diptera 5%;Diptera 5%;
 Hymenoptera 95%Hymenoptera 95%
 Total number of specimens (Site 3) = 1056Total number of specimens (Site 3) = 1056
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Hymeptera
Diptera

16. Site 4 (500 mSite 4 (500 m the Hinarche glacierthe Hinarche glacier
snoutsnout))
 Neuroptera 10%;Neuroptera 10%;
 Diptera 20%;Diptera 20%;
 Hymenoptera 70%Hymenoptera 70%
 Total number of specimens (Site 4) = 1500Total number of specimens (Site 4) = 1500
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Hymeptera
Neuroptera
Diptera

17. Site 5 (Under deciduous trees)Site 5 (Under deciduous trees)
 Araneae 8%;Araneae 8%;
 Coleoptera 77%;Coleoptera 77%;
 Diptera 15%Diptera 15%
 Total number of specimens (Site 5) = 2010Total number of specimens (Site 5) = 2010
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
Araneae
Coleptera
Diptera

18. Site 6 (Under deciduous trees near aSite 6 (Under deciduous trees near a
stream)stream)
 Araneae 4%;Araneae 4%;
 Acari 4%;Acari 4%;
 Coleoptera 77%;Coleoptera 77%;
 Diptera 15%Diptera 15%
 Total number of specimens (Site 6) = 2470Total number of specimens (Site 6) = 2470
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
Araneae
Acari
Coleoptera
Diptera

19. Different community composition observed among the 6 siteDifferent community composition observed among the 6 site
in Numberin Number
Community
Community
composition in
number
Community
composition in
Percentage %
Coleoptera 4358 51.80%
Diptera 1135 13.50%
Araneae 279 3.30%
Hymoptera 2151 25.60%
Chilopoda 78 0.90%
Acari 255 3%
Neuroptera 150 1.80%

20. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
 Total 8604 invertebrates collected in the fieldTotal 8604 invertebrates collected in the field
 The low level of soil invertebrates diversity,The low level of soil invertebrates diversity,
observed during this study, mainly the snoutobserved during this study, mainly the snout
glacier and near the glacier snout (sites 1 and 2)glacier and near the glacier snout (sites 1 and 2)
due the harsh environment.due the harsh environment.
 The forested area in fact, is heavily exploited andThe forested area in fact, is heavily exploited and
altered by local people. Diversity of plants,altered by local people. Diversity of plants,
which influences soil arthropod abundance andwhich influences soil arthropod abundance and
diversitydiversity

21. I am grateful to
 Mrs.Jamila Baig (Supervisor)
 Dr. Leonardo LatellaDr. Leonardo Latella (Co-Supervisor)
((The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of VeronaThe Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of Verona
(MCSNV) Italy)(MCSNV) Italy)

22. THANKTHANK
YOUYOU