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Phenology and diversity of necrophagous Diptera in a Hong Kong forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Ping-Man So  and
David Dudgeon
Ping-Man So
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
David Dudgeon
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Abstract

Necrophagous Diptera were sampled in a seasonal tropical mixed forest in Hong Kong from February 1985 to May 1986 using carrion-baited traps. Six families of flies were caught but only Calliphoridae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae were considered. They made up a total of 14,669 flies of 21 species in the sample. Total species abundance followed Fisher's log-series distribution. The commonest five species were calliphorids, constituting 79.44% of the total combined catch. Temperature was apparently the main factor affecting seasonality of necrophagous Diptera in Hong Kong. Fluctuations in total abundance, species richness and H' followed seasonal changes in weekly mean air temperatures.

Keywords

DipteradiversityHong Kongnecrophagousphenology
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , February 1990 , pp. 91 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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