Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

A Survey of Roadside Soil Arthropod Communities from Three Elevations in Mauritius

Zaynab Jawaheer, Harinder Rai Singh and Seelavarn Ganeshan

This study was carried out in Mauritius during summer from November 2012 to April 2013. The objectives of this study were to quantify the species richness and diversity, abundance and biomass of soil arthropod from roadside trees found at three different elevations in Mauritius. Soil arthropods were collected utilizing pitfall traps made of plastic cups at three different elevations (Flic en Flac, 5 m; Rose-Hill, 221 m; and Mare aux Vacoas, 569 m). Traps were placed among Casuarina equisetifolia (5 m), Dictyosperma album (221 m) and Pinus sylvestris (569 m) trees. A total of 18422 arthropods were sampled of which 10681 individuals were sampled at 5 m, 5216 individuals at 221 m and 2525 individuals at 569 m. The abundant soil arthropods were Hymenoptera (Formicidae) (54.0%) and Coleoptera (Nitidulidae) (32.7%). The alpha diversity of soil arthropods varied between elevations [(5 m, 0.907), (221 m, 0.727), (569 m, 1.54). Soil arthropod species evenness was highest at 221m (0.77) followed by 5 m (0.69) and lowest at 569 m (0.53). Formicidae was abundant at 221 m (91.4%) while Anisolabidae (38.6%) was abundant at 569 m. Significant difference in weight between elevation (p<0.05) and significant differences in weight and abundance with bait types (p<0.05) was observed. This study can be useful in determining soil arthropods and their plant host specificity as such data has implications for biological control as well as for collection of specific insects. Moreover, this study also has implications for town planners with respect to planting roadside trees and their ensuing edaphic communities for managing insect pests.