IMPACT OF LAND USE SYSTEMS ON SOIL MACROFAUNA DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN NJALA, SIERRA LEONE.
Journal Title: International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR) - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 5
Abstract
The study presents data on the diversity and abundance of soil macrofauna in Njala, Sierra Leone. Four different land use systems, including secondary forests, polyculture farms, oil palm plantations, and annual crop fields, were sampled for soil macrofauna using three different sampling methods: soil monoliths, line-transect protocols, and pit-fall traps. Earthworms, termites, and ants together made up nearly 94% of all soil macrofauna collected. The diversity and distribution of these three ecologically distinct groups of soil macrofauna were compared. Estimated species richness (diversity) was highest in the oil palm plantation (p<0.001) as compared to the other three land uses. The number of individual macrofauna collected (out of 1728 total) was highest in the secondary forest (215 ? 0.18, p<0.001) than in the oil palm plantation (163 ? 0.18), the polyculture farmland (113 ? 0.86), and the annual maize plantation (86 ? 0.65). For the various macrofauna species recorded, there were significantly more earthworms (Oligocheate) (0.6864 ? 0.21 individuals/m2, p<0.001) than termites, especially Amitermes hastatus (0.4032 ? 0.11 individuals/m2), Macrotermes mossambicus (0.3648 ? 0.04 individuals/m2), Macrotermes natalensis (0.3552 ? 0.25 individuals/m2), and Microhodotermes viator (0.3024 ? 0.29 individuals/m2). Besides secondary forests, monoculture plantations would be better areas for conservation of not only of aboveground biodiversity, but also of belowground biodiversity.
Authors and Affiliations
Prince Tongor-Mabey, Abu James Sundufu.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP295991
- DOI 10.21474/IJAR01/7056
- Views 56
- Downloads 0
PROBE OF PLASMA ASTROPHYSICS IN TRIPLE STAR SYSTEM
When we consider universe, the most objects which are bound by gravity is the galaxy clusters. Intracluster medium forms the major component of space plasma. Most of the astronomical objects are build with matters which...
VIOLENCE, A SOCIAL DANGER.
The modern civilization feels satisfied by adopting several masking habits to hide their originalities. Along with some good practices, the entire time generally indulged themselves in the destructing habits in an enormo...
MOLECULAR SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF TWO SOLANACEOUS GENERA DATURA L. AND BRUGMANSIA PERS. BASED ON ITS SEQUENCES OF NRDNA.
Phylogenetic analysis was performed based on ITS 1 and 2 sequences to determine monophyly of Datura and Brugmansia and to understand their relationships. The results support the splitting of Datura and Brugmansia into tw...
SYNTHESIS AND SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC STUDIES OF SOME NEW COUMARINDERIVATIVES.
The current study was designed to investigate the reactivity of 3-acetyl-6-bromocoumarintowards a variety of electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents such as aromatic aldehydes to give 3-cinnamoyl coumarins 2a,b. The reac...
IS THE INSULIN RESISTANCE A REGULATOR ON THE LEVELS OF INSULIN AND TESTOSTERONE IN SEMINAL PLASMA IN MEN WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME.
Introduction: The morbidly weight gain is associated with multiple hormonal interactions with potential negative effect on male fertility. It is not clearly understood if visceral adiposity or Insulin Resistance (IR), or...