Evaluation of Arthropod Diversity and Abundance in Contrasting Habitat, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the abundance and diversity of soil arthropods in Anua and Ekpri Nsukara farmland communities, Uyo, Nigeria from September to November, 2012. Soil arthropods were sampled using pitfall trap. A total of 707 Individuals of soil arthropods were encountered during the study period. Of the total number, 203 individuals were encountered in Anua while 504 in Ekpri Nsukara. Hymenoptera were the dominant taxa while the least was Blattodea in the two communities. Higher Shannon diversity index 1.3 was recorded in Anua while lower diversity index 0.86 was recorded in Ekpri Nsukara. Evenness ranged from 0.006 to 0.80 in Ekpri Nsukara and 0.02 to 0.61 in Anua. The lower abundance of soil arthropod in Anua community as compared to Ekpri Nsukara could be attributed to the partially open vegetation which exposes the arthropods to avoidable predators. © JASEM