Monitor the rate of scorpion bites using scorpion biodiversity indices in the Shush County, Khuzestan Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

2 Department of Medical Entomology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Annually, numerous scorpion bites are reported in the Shush County due to suitable scorpion habitat. Scientists study new methods in every field of research. In this study, research was conducted to monitor the rate of scorpion bites from April to September 2018 using the estimation of scorpion biodiversity indices. Scorpions were collected and identified in designated areas using an active search method during the day and night. To monitor the rate of scorpion bites, the species composition, abundance, and Shannon, Simpson, and evenness biodiversity indices of scorpions were used for sampling zones, urban and rural areas, and the months of the year. Furthermore, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to identify significant differences between the indices measured. The results for scorpion composition and abundance were different in the areas of study. Seven scorpion species were detected. While there was a difference between the Shannon and Simpson indices in the fields of study, Wilcoxon's analysis showed no significant difference. The evenness index for urban and rural areas was estimated at a similar level, with no significant differences between them. It was different in the sampling areas and months of the year, and a significant difference was found between them. This study was performed for the first time to monitor the level of scorpion stings by estimating the species composition, abundance, Shannon, Simpson, and evenness biodiversity indices of scorpions, and the results were discussed.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Biodiversity and Animal Taxonomy

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 February 2023

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History

  • Receive Date: 11 May 2022
  • Revise Date: 09 August 2022
  • Accept Date: 08 March 2023

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