Soil arthropod biodiversity of selected pre-and post-land conversion ecosystems in the Philippines

Issue Date

10-2008

Abstract

Samples of soil arthropods were collected in areas representing various natural and man-made ecosystems, including areas adjacent to converted lands that are either perceived or actually known to represent their preceding ecosystems. These ecosystems include primary forests, kaingin areas and agricultural lands on Polillo Island, Quezon; abandoned farms and bamboo plantation in Bay, Laguna; insular grassland in Batanes; vicinity of coal-fired power plant in Quezon; agricultural lands and molave forest in Pagbilao and Atimonan, Quezon; secondary grassland and a housing project in Sta.Rosa, Laguna; beach vegetation and a golf course in Pagbilao, Quezon; sugarcane fields and diversified farms in Nasugbu, Batangas. Specimens have been extracted from the samples and slide mounts were prepared. Initial results from sorting, identification of specimens and gathering of raw data on diversity indicate a predominance of soil mites (Acari) and springtails (Collembola) for nearly all types of pre-and post-land conversion ecosystems. The differences between the values obtained are apparently greatly influenced by the existing or resulting vegetation cover in each ecosystem. Hence, the less diverse the vegetation cover, the more pauperate the soil arthropod fauna in an ecosystem. Species diversity was highest in forest ecosystems and lowest in the landscape area of housing project. The species collected from all ecosystems include new species and new records, especially among mites.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

22

Issue

2

Page

218

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

ARTHROPODA; BIODIVERSITY; FOREST ECOSYSTEMS; ECOSYSTEMS; PHILIPPINES

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