Insect (Hymenoptera) Biodiversity Across Forest Canopy and Understorey in SE-Asia BIFA5_026

This dataset consists of hymenopteran specimens collected as part of the Sino-SE Asian biodiversity project (funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute) to explore the diversity of forest organisms and functions across latitudes and elevations in South East Asia. We collected specimens using standardized sampling protocols with aerial Malaise traps (SLAM traps) (primary target: beetles), light traps (primary target: moths), and flight interception traps with yellow pan (yellow FIT) (primary target: hymenopterans) from the forest canopy and understory strata within forest dynamic plots located at Mo Singto, Khao Yai NP and Klong Naka Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We chose these two locations as plant diversity has been monitored (as part of the ForestGEO initiative) and we could assess the relationships between insect and plant diversities. At each forest dynamic plot, we have established a total of nine insect sampling points within the ForestGEO vegetation monitoring area. We repeated sampling twice at the beginning and end of wet seasons (June and December 2019 at Khao Yai and March and September 2020 at Klong Naka) to capture seasonal variations in diversity. The biodiversity data derived from this project not only describe occurrence records of insect taxa but will attempt to explain whether forest community assembly is spatially and temporally stratified at various spatial scales. Such data will suggest the vulnerability and resilience of forest biodiversity under local and global-scale anthropogenic disturbances. We have obtained ethics and research permits from NRCT and DNP. Hymenoptera specimens were extracted from yellow FITs and sorted and identified to family, genus, and species (where possible). All specimens were given morphospecies numbers for ecological studies also (please contact us if you require morphospecies data). Taxonomic identification is currently checked by the local taxonomists and we will update the data in due course.