author(s)
Vidyashree AS, CM Kalleshwaraswamy and Sharanabasappa

abstract
A comparative study of termite diversity in different ecosystem (forest, pasture and Teak plantation) was carried out in Western Ghats of Karnataka to understand the influence of varied climate and human activities on the termite species richness and diversity. A standard belt transect method was used for sampling termites and was done at bi-monthly interval from July-2015 to May-2016. Totally 17 species were recorded which belongs to five sub families viz., Macrotermitinae, Heterotermitinae, Amitermitinae, Nasutitermitinae, Termitinae. Species richness varied across the habitats. A total of seven, 10 and 12 species were recorded in pasture, plantation and forest ecosystem respectively. The highest species richness was observed in forest area and least in pasture habitat. Shannon diversity index in pasture habitat, showed less values (1.66) compared to plantation (2.12) and forest (2.26). The influence of anthropogenic activities, Topography and bioclimatic factors is discussed.