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Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod biodiversity under different grassland ecosystems in El-Fara'a area (Palestine).

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The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. The impact of grazing on natural plant biodiversity in Al’Fara’a area Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 19

Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod biodiversity under different grassland ecosystems in El- Fara'a area (Palestine)

Mohammed S. Ali-Shtayeh1,2, *, Wasef M. Deeb Ali3, Rana M. Jamous2 1Biology and Biotechnology Department, An-Najah University, Nablus, Palestine. 2Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center, BERC, Til, Nablus, Palestine. 3Faculty of Higher Studies, An-Najah University, Nablus, Palestine. *Corresponding Author. Article info ABSTRACT Article history: Ali-Shtayeh, M. S., Ali, W. M. D., Jamous, R. M. (2010). Ecological investigations on terrestrial Received:2 November 2009 Received in revised form: arthropod biodiversity under different grassland ecosystems in el-Fara'a area (Palestine). 21March 2010 Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series, 5 (1), 19-34. Accepted: 17 April 2010

Despite the importance of arthropods in grassland ecosystems, few studies have examined how grassland arthropods have been impacted by disturbances especially in the Wadi Alfara’a area,

Keywords: Wadi AlFara’a, West Bank. This work was aimed at studying the effects of animal grazing on arthropod diversity, grazing, arthropods, diversity, including species composition, species richness and species diversity, in a semi-arid Mediterranean grass land, seasonal variation, insects, bioindicators, climate grassland ecosystem at Alfara'a area in the Palestinian West Bank. The field work was conducted change, Carbus impressus, at the Tallouza village, located in the north-eastern part of the West-Bank. The experiment was ecological disturbance. established in 2006 in an area of about 2000 donums of a mainly grassland ecosystem usually used

for grazing sheep and goats herds, under different land use management systems: recently fenced grassland, undisturbed natural grassland, and recently reclaimed agricultural land. Terrestrial arthropod communities were sampled seasonally at the three sites using pitfall traps, over the period of Apr 2006 to Apr 2007. Arthropods communities were found to be sensitive to livestock grazing. Overall population levels of arthropods were highest in the undisturbed natural grassland, followed by grazed grasslands, and the recently fenced grassland. Certain insect orders (Coleoptera and Hymenoptera) were generally, negatively impacted by livestock grazing. However, members of the family (Carabidea, ground beetles) (order Coleoptera) especially Carabus impressus, were richer in grazed sites. On the other hand families of Hymenoptera like (Sphegidae, Cephidea and Apiddae) were not detected in the grazed grassland. On the other hand the unidentified species (Form 5) of the family (Formicidae) found only in the grazed grassland. A significant seasonal variation pattern was detected for total arthropod populations (P<0.05) at the different study sites, with the highest population levels detected in summer and early autumn, and lowest population levels detected in winter. The fluctuation patterns were comparable in the three sites. Comparable fluctuation patterns were also found for Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. Higher arthropod population levels in summer months coincided with higher air temperatures and lower soil moisture content, whereas, lower arthropod population levels in winter, coincided with lower temperatures and higher soil moisture content. Grazing has a considerable impact on the biodiversity of grassland arthropods in Alfara’a area. Some of the insect components, especially Carbus impressus, are well adapted to grazing disturbance, and therefore can be used as bioindicators of habitat disturbance such as grazing. Introduction Coleman & Hendrix, 2000). They are known for their overall success at proliferating into available Arthropods can be used to show the niches. Also, they have a main role in food webs developed changes of ecosystem because they are which affects the ecosystem function (Erwin, very sensitive to ecosystem change (Holloway & 1982; Niemelä et al., 1993; Kremen et al., 1993; Stork, 1991). Some react very fast to Colwell and Coddington, 1994; McGeoch, 1998). environmental changes and are ideally suited to act as bioindicators. Arthropods can therefore act Arthropods are usually efficiently used in as bioindicators of habitat disturbance such as aquatic ecosystems to produce data on pollution and climate change (Hawksworth & environmental quality (Kremen et al., 1993). The Ritchie, 1993). Arthropods are abundant and easy importance of arthropod species as indicators for to sample, and so, they give more information per ecosystem monitoring control is that their huge unit sample time (Hill, 1995). ecological diversity supplies a wide choice for designing suitable assessment programs (Kremen Ecologically, invertebrates including et al., 1993) which can be for both short-term and arthropods have a great functional importance, long-term control. and main component within most ecosystems (Wilson, 1987; Samways, 1994; Hill, 1995;

20 Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) Arthropods are simply, quickly, and cheaply composition, species richness and species sampled, therefore giving aids to get timely, cost- diversity, in a semi-arid Mediterranean grassland effective ecosystem data. Detailed sampling ecosystem at Alfara'a area in the Palestinian West systems are available for practically all groups of Bank. arthropods in habitats levels from soils in forest canopies to deep groundwater fauna (Marshall et Materials and Methods al., 1994). Study area. The field work was conducted at Species identification of arthropods is not Tallouza village, located in the north-eastern part usually a difficult job compared with fungi or of the West-Bank (latitude 32.27N, longitude bacteria which needs DNA analysis and fatty acid 35.31E, altitude) (Figure 1). profiles (Marshall et al., 1994). Tallouza village is located in Wadi El-Fara’a The arthropods are very important in area which extends about 30 km from Nablus in the West, to the Jordan River in the east, with an grassland ecosystems, but few studies have 2 examined how grassland arthropods have been area of 345 Km . The stream Wadi El-Far’a is a impacted by disturbances, such as, overgrazing tributary of the Jordan River, and is considered and reclamation. one of the most important wetlands in the West Bank. Topography is a unique factor in Wadi El- Both plant and animal biodiversity depends Far’a which ranges from 1000 m above sea level critically upon the level of grazing. Overgrazing in Nablus Mountains in the west to about 250 m may often lead to land degradation and the loss of below sea level at the point where Wadi El-Far’a biodiversity, while too little grazing may lead to meets the Jordan River. These factors have succession from grassland to woodland and the contributed to the high and unique biodiversity, loss of the grassland habitat (Watkinson & especially endemic plant species, of the region’s Ormerod, 2001). Not only is the level of grazing ecosystems. important, but also the timing and the animals species involved. The experiment was established in 2006 in an area of about 2000 donums of a mainly grassland There has been also an increasing concern ecosystem, under different land use management Figure 1. Map of the West Bank showing the Study area (Environment Quality Authority, 2004). that the loss of biodiversity caused by intensive systems: grazing systems land, recently fenced practices disturbs ecosystem functioning and grazing land, natural non- grazed grassland, and sustainability of grazing systems (Reid, 2006). recently agricultural land. Therefore management practices that modify Experimental design. Within this area, three Arthropods sampling. The activity and invertebrate assemblages also risk interfering with The topography is hilly, with slopes generally sites (2000m² each) with similar topographic and population dynamics of arthropods were recorded these essential ecosystem processes and the less than 10%. Soils are brown with variable edaphic features were selected to study the effect of using pitfall traps (Ruesink & Kogan, 1994; Hinds sustainability of further production. depth, but rarely deeper than 60 cm, and with a land use management practices on arthropods & Rickard 1973). rock cover of about 30 %. The area has a diversity including species composition, species Pitfall Traps were made of about 450 ml plastic The high grazing levels have been reported to Mediterranean climate, characterized by wet and richness and species diversity. containers with 2 containers for each trap placed negatively affected the abundance and diversity of mild winters. The average seasonal rainfall is 550 one in the other (Figure 3). Site 1 was previously part of a grassland suffering beetles (Mysterud & Austrheim, 2005), but did mm, falling mostly in winter. The rainy season from grazing by mainly sheep and goats herds. In One container is placed within another and not affect the abundance and species richness of begins in October – November and ends in April. October 2005 the land was fenced and protected removed and replaced by a new one at the end of Diptera or Hemiptera. Summers are dry and hot. At least 5 months of from any agricultural practices or grazing (Figure the sampling session. The pitfall traps containing dry weather characterizes this area. The growing Carabidae (ground beetles) and 2A). ethylene-glycol (to preserve the specimens trapped) season of the vegetation is closely associated with Staphylinadae (rove beetles) were considered by will be dug and placed into the ground so that the some investigators (Byers et al., 2000) as the distribution of rainfall. Germination of Site 2 was under grazing (mainly by sheep and lip of the trap was flushed with the ground surface, indicators of habitat disturbances, such as annuals and regrowth of most perennials happen goats herds) for the last 25 years (Figure 2B). 4 in each plot. soon after the first rains. Growth is rather slow drainage of wetlands, or grassland for grazing Site 3 was natural grassland where no human during the winter months of December-January, The pitfall traps were opened for two animals, and that their monitoring could provide activities, agricultural practices or grazing had but the vegetation is usually well-established by consecutive weeks (day and night) during every one measure of ecosystem sustainability if taken place for the last 5 years. This site was mid-end January. Growth is rapid in spring and season (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn ) in intensive grazing management systems expand or considered as the control treatment (Figure 2C). intensify in the future. peak growth, coincided with seed set, occurrs in order to trap beetles, spiders, and scorpions. After March-April. By mid-May, most of the Three 250m² (10 x 25 m) sampling plots one week the containers were removed and This present work was therefore, aimed at herbaceous vegetation is dry and most seeds have (replicates) were selected at each site (land use replaced by new containers. studying the effects of animal grazing on treatment). been disappeared. The forage quality decreases at arthropod diversity, including species the beginning of the long dry summer.

Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 21 Arthropods are simply, quickly, and cheaply composition, species richness and species sampled, therefore giving aids to get timely, cost- diversity, in a semi-arid Mediterranean grassland effective ecosystem data. Detailed sampling ecosystem at Alfara'a area in the Palestinian West systems are available for practically all groups of Bank. arthropods in habitats levels from soils in forest canopies to deep groundwater fauna (Marshall et Materials and Methods al., 1994). Study area. The field work was conducted at Species identification of arthropods is not Tallouza village, located in the north-eastern part usually a difficult job compared with fungi or of the West-Bank (latitude 32.27N, longitude bacteria which needs DNA analysis and fatty acid 35.31E, altitude) (Figure 1). profiles (Marshall et al., 1994). Tallouza village is located in Wadi El-Fara’a The arthropods are very important in area which extends about 30 km from Nablus in the West, to the Jordan River in the east, with an grassland ecosystems, but few studies have 2 examined how grassland arthropods have been area of 345 Km . The stream Wadi El-Far’a is a impacted by disturbances, such as, overgrazing tributary of the Jordan River, and is considered and reclamation. one of the most important wetlands in the West Bank. Topography is a unique factor in Wadi El- Both plant and animal biodiversity depends Far’a which ranges from 1000 m above sea level critically upon the level of grazing. Overgrazing in Nablus Mountains in the west to about 250 m may often lead to land degradation and the loss of below sea level at the point where Wadi El-Far’a biodiversity, while too little grazing may lead to meets the Jordan River. These factors have succession from grassland to woodland and the contributed to the high and unique biodiversity, loss of the grassland habitat (Watkinson & especially endemic plant species, of the region’s Ormerod, 2001). Not only is the level of grazing ecosystems. important, but also the timing and the animals species involved. The experiment was established in 2006 in an area of about 2000 donums of a mainly grassland There has been also an increasing concern ecosystem, under different land use management Figure 1. Map of the West Bank showing the Study area (Environment Quality Authority, 2004). that the loss of biodiversity caused by intensive systems: grazing systems land, recently fenced practices disturbs ecosystem functioning and grazing land, natural non- grazed grassland, and sustainability of grazing systems (Reid, 2006). recently agricultural land. Therefore management practices that modify Experimental design. Within this area, three Arthropods sampling. The activity and invertebrate assemblages also risk interfering with The topography is hilly, with slopes generally sites (2000m² each) with similar topographic and population dynamics of arthropods were recorded these essential ecosystem processes and the less than 10%. Soils are brown with variable edaphic features were selected to study the effect of using pitfall traps (Ruesink & Kogan, 1994; Hinds sustainability of further production. depth, but rarely deeper than 60 cm, and with a land use management practices on arthropods & Rickard 1973). rock cover of about 30 %. The area has a diversity including species composition, species Pitfall Traps were made of about 450 ml plastic The high grazing levels have been reported to Mediterranean climate, characterized by wet and richness and species diversity. containers with 2 containers for each trap placed negatively affected the abundance and diversity of mild winters. The average seasonal rainfall is 550 one in the other (Figure 3). Site 1 was previously part of a grassland suffering beetles (Mysterud & Austrheim, 2005), but did mm, falling mostly in winter. The rainy season from grazing by mainly sheep and goats herds. In One container is placed within another and not affect the abundance and species richness of begins in October – November and ends in April. October 2005 the land was fenced and protected removed and replaced by a new one at the end of Diptera or Hemiptera. Summers are dry and hot. At least 5 months of from any agricultural practices or grazing (Figure the sampling session. The pitfall traps containing dry weather characterizes this area. The growing Carabidae (ground beetles) and 2A). ethylene-glycol (to preserve the specimens trapped) season of the vegetation is closely associated with Staphylinadae (rove beetles) were considered by will be dug and placed into the ground so that the some investigators (Byers et al., 2000) as the distribution of rainfall. Germination of Site 2 was under grazing (mainly by sheep and lip of the trap was flushed with the ground surface, indicators of habitat disturbances, such as annuals and regrowth of most perennials happen goats herds) for the last 25 years (Figure 2B). 4 in each plot. soon after the first rains. Growth is rather slow drainage of wetlands, or grassland for grazing Site 3 was natural grassland where no human during the winter months of December-January, The pitfall traps were opened for two animals, and that their monitoring could provide activities, agricultural practices or grazing had but the vegetation is usually well-established by consecutive weeks (day and night) during every one measure of ecosystem sustainability if taken place for the last 5 years. This site was mid-end January. Growth is rapid in spring and season (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn ) in intensive grazing management systems expand or considered as the control treatment (Figure 2C). intensify in the future. peak growth, coincided with seed set, occurrs in order to trap beetles, spiders, and scorpions. After March-April. By mid-May, most of the Three 250m² (10 x 25 m) sampling plots one week the containers were removed and This present work was therefore, aimed at herbaceous vegetation is dry and most seeds have (replicates) were selected at each site (land use replaced by new containers. studying the effects of animal grazing on treatment). been disappeared. The forage quality decreases at arthropod diversity, including species the beginning of the long dry summer.

22 Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) Processing of samples. After removal of Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, pitfall, the arthropods captured were stored in 70% means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the

A ethanol. The catch from each trap was calculated two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, from the total numbers of arthropods of each group nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. for each 7-day period. These groups were based on Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., Statistical analysis. A one-way ANOVA was broad taxonomic divisions except for the millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall used to test for differences in abundance and commonest, for which specific determinations were (Figure 4). species richness with land use. made whenever possible. The number of individuals captured of both Cluster analysis was performed to assist in Samples were washed through a fine aquarium orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices throughout the three sites. sieve in the laboratory and the invertebrates were in the natural grass land than in the in the other extracted, arthropod catch size per pitfall recorded Single regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most and preserved in ethyl alcohol (70% for pitfall ). carried out using MTP11, the independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / being climatic factors, and the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grassland 435 / Extracted specimens were stored in 70% ethyl being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). alcohol. Each sample of Arthropods was sorted Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were using a dissecting microscope. Individuals were B Results and Discussion found to be higher in the natural grass land then identified to the order level and in case of (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and Coleoptera and Hymenoptera insects where Arthropods abundance and diversity: recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). identified using taxonomic keys and monographs Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and (e.g., Borradaile et al., 1961; Borror et al., 1981). counted during the period of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detected in the fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack Species were initially assigned to arthropods catch was highest in natural grassland, of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of morphospecies with a code number for each followed by grazing grassland and lowest in the dung and low vegetation cover. morphospecies and later identified, where possible, recently fenced grassland (Table 1). This pattern was largely attributed to the most common orders, to species using available keys and insect In this study high grazing levels were found to collections. particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised have negatively affected the abundance and more than 87% of the total catch in all three sites. diversity of beetles, our results are therefore, in Soil sampling and chemical analysis. Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also agreement with those of Mysterud & Austrheim Composite soil samples were collected at the three showed similar pattern. (2005). On the other hand species belonging to study sites in mid April 2006 and 2007. At each other arthropods including other insects were more C study site, 2–3 kg composite soil samples at 0–15 Average arthropods catch throughout the study common in the under grazing than in the other land cm depth were collected randomly with an auger period was 436/ pitfall in the sites under different sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect from four different location withen the site. Soil land use types. Arthropods were distributed across the abundance and species richness of Diptera or samples were air dried, grounded, sieved with 2 three groups: insects 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems mm mesh sieves and stored in plastic bags at room and other arthropods 1/ pitfall. Population level for to render accesible to insect larvae (Evans et al., tempreture for chemical analysis. Composite soil arthropods varied considerably between sites 2005). samples were analyzed for texture, soil moisture (p=0.951). The Hymenoptera was found to be the

content, pH and soil organic matter. Table 1. Average number of arthropods catches per pitfall Soil texture was determined for each soil Grazed Natural sample using a hydrometeric method as described Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise (G) (N) comparisons by Day (1965). Mean ±SE between seasons sites Mean± SE Mean± SE Abundance F G N Figure 2. Study sites: A. General view of the recently Soil moisture content was determined by gravimetric techniques (Hesse, 1971). Total 382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.951 N>G>F fenced non- grazed grassland site. B. General view of the Aranaea 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N under grazing grassland site. C. General view of the Soil pH was determined on a suspension of 10 Total insects 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F natural reserved grassland site. g air dry soil and 10 mL 0.01 M CaCl2 by using a Coleoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F pH-meter (Mclean, 1982). Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F Soil organic matter was determined by Other Insects 36.16 ± 8.71 39.8 ± 20 32.4 ± 11.7 0.371 0.001 0.060 0.932 G>F>N Other reduction of potassium dichromate by organic 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F Arthropods carbon compounds and subsequent determination of unreduced dichromate by oxidation-reduction titration with ferrous ammonium sulfate method The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were (FAO, 1974), and later converted to soil organic order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher carbon using a factor of 0.58 (Wang & Zhou, showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland 1999). beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2). Figure 3.Pitfall trap

Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 23 Processing of samples. After removal of Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, pitfall, the arthropods captured were stored in 70% means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the ethanol. The catch from each trap was calculated two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, from the total numbers of arthropods of each group nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. for each 7-day period. These groups were based on Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., Statistical analysis. A one-way ANOVA was broad taxonomic divisions except for the millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall used to test for differences in abundance and commonest, for which specific determinations were (Figure 4). species richness with land use. made whenever possible. The number of individuals captured of both Cluster analysis was performed to assist in Samples were washed through a fine aquarium orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices throughout the three sites. sieve in the laboratory and the invertebrates were in the natural grass land than in the in the other extracted, arthropod catch size per pitfall recorded Single regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most and preserved in ethyl alcohol (70% for pitfall ). carried out using MTP11, the independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / being climatic factors, and the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grassland 435 / Extracted specimens were stored in 70% ethyl being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). alcohol. Each sample of Arthropods was sorted Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were using a dissecting microscope. Individuals were Results and Discussion found to be higher in the natural grass land then identified to the order level and in case of (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and Coleoptera and Hymenoptera insects where Arthropods abundance and diversity: recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). identified using taxonomic keys and monographs Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and (e.g., Borradaile et al., 1961; Borror et al., 1981). counted during the period of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detected in the fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack Species were initially assigned to arthropods catch was highest in natural grassland, of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of morphospecies with a code number for each followed by grazing grassland and lowest in the dung and low vegetation cover. morphospecies and later identified, where possible, recently fenced grassland (Table 1). This pattern was largely attributed to the most common orders, to species using available keys and insect In this study high grazing levels were found to collections. particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised have negatively affected the abundance and more than 87% of the total catch in all three sites. diversity of beetles, our results are therefore, in Soil sampling and chemical analysis. Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also agreement with those of Mysterud & Austrheim Composite soil samples were collected at the three showed similar pattern. (2005). On the other hand species belonging to study sites in mid April 2006 and 2007. At each other arthropods including other insects were more study site, 2–3 kg composite soil samples at 0–15 Average arthropods catch throughout the study common in the under grazing than in the other land cm depth were collected randomly with an auger period was 436/ pitfall in the sites under different sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect from four different location withen the site. Soil land use types. Arthropods were distributed across the abundance and species richness of Diptera or samples were air dried, grounded, sieved with 2 three groups: insects 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems mm mesh sieves and stored in plastic bags at room and other arthropods 1/ pitfall. Population level for to render accesible to insect larvae (Evans et al., tempreture for chemical analysis. Composite soil arthropods varied considerably between sites 2005). samples were analyzed for texture, soil moisture (p=0.951). The Hymenoptera was found to be the content, pH and soil organic matter. Table 1. Average number of arthropods catches per pitfall Soil texture was determined for each soil Grazed Natural sample using a hydrometeric method as described Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise (G) (N) comparisons by Day (1965). Mean ±SE between seasons sites Mean± SE Mean± SE Abundance F G N Figure 2. Study sites: A. General view of the recently Soil moisture content was determined by gravimetric techniques (Hesse, 1971). Total 382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.951 N>G>F fenced non- grazed grassland site. B. General view of the Aranaea 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N under grazing grassland site. C. General view of the Soil pH was determined on a suspension of 10 Total insects 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F natural reserved grassland site. g air dry soil and 10 mL 0.01 M CaCl2 by using a Coleoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F pH-meter (Mclean, 1982). Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F Soil organic matter was determined by Other Insects 36.16 ± 8.71 39.8 ± 20 32.4 ± 11.7 0.371 0.001 0.060 0.932 G>F>N Other reduction of potassium dichromate by organic 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F Arthropods carbon compounds and subsequent determination of unreduced dichromate by oxidation-reduction titration with ferrous ammonium sulfate method The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were (FAO, 1974), and later converted to soil organic order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher carbon using a factor of 0.58 (Wang & Zhou, showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland 1999). beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2). Figure 3.Pitfall trap

24 Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Ecological investigations on terrestrial Biodiversity arthropod & Environmental diversity Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, Table 2. Relative abundance of each group of arthropods means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the Taxon Fenced (F) Grazed (G) Natural (N) two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, Abundance proportion Proportion Proportion nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., Statistical analysis. A one-way ANOVA was Aranaea 2.1 1.8 1.6 millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall used to test for differences in abundance and 80 Total insects 97.6 97.7 98.2 (Figure 4). species richness with land use. 70 Coleoptera 2.4 2.3 2.2 The number of individuals captured60 of both Hymenoptera 85.9 86.4 89.2 ClusterFenced analysis was performed to assist in orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera50 were greater Other Insects 9.5 9.1 6.6 finding type of speices throughout the three sites. Grazed in the natural grass land than in the40 in the other Other Arthropods 0.2 0.3 0.2 30 SingleNatural regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most 20 carried out using MTP11, the independent variables common in the natural grassland withindividual of No. (491 / being climatic factors, and the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing 10grassland 435 / A being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land0 (382/ pitfall). Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were Results and Discussion found to be higher in the natural grass land Arthropods abundance and diversity: (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and The low numbers of arthropods detected in the counted during the periodFigure 5. ofAbundance study. of Totalthe Coleoptera families in the three sites. arthropods catch was highest in natural grassland, fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack

followed by grazing grassland and lowest in the of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of recentlySeven fenced species grassland (Scarites (Table procerus 1). This eurytes, pattern dunggrass andland, low two vegetation species (Ela cover. 1, Cur 1) were found in wasCarabus largely impressus, attributed carb to the 1, mostscar 1,common Margarinotus orders, bothIn fenced this study and high grazed grazing land levels three were species( foundhis to 1, particularlygraecus, antsZophosis (Hymenoptera) punctata, which Conicleonus comprised carbhave 2, negativelycar 3 ) in the affected natural theand grazed abundance lands andone

morenigrosuturatus than 87%) wereof the found total catchin the in three all three sites, sites. two species(diversityscar of beetles,2)can found our resultsonly in are the therefore, fenced land in

Hymenopteraspecies (Drasterius and adult bimaculatus, beetles (Coleoptera) Tanyproctus also andagreement one(Ela with 2 ) can those found of Mysterudin the natural & Austrheimgrass land showedsaulcyi) similar were foundpattern. in both fenced and natural (Table 3). (2005). On the other hand species belonging to

B Average arthropods catch throughout the study other arthropods including other insects were more period wasTable 436/ 3. pitfall Abundance in the of sitesthe families under anddifferent species Coleopteracommon in in the the three under sites. grazing than in the other land land use types. Arthropods were distributed across sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect Family Species grazed fenced Natural three groups: insects 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall the abundance and species richness of Diptera or and other arthropods Scarabaeidae 1/ pitfall.Tanyproctus Population saulcyi level for Hemiptera 0 (Mysterud 2 et al., 2005).1 Grazing seems

arthropods varied considerablyscar 1 between sites to render 1 accesible 2 to insect 1 larvae (Evans et al., 2005). (p=0.951). The Hymenopterascar was 2 found to be the 0 1 0 Elatrridae Drasterius bimaculatus 0 7 6 Table 1. Average number of arthropods catches per pitfall Ela 1 Grazed Natural 5 4 0 Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise (G) (N) MeanEla ±SE 2 0 between seasons0 sites 7 comparisons Mean± SE Mean± SE Histeridae Margarinotus graecus 9 6 17 Abundance F G N Figure 4. Abundance of arthropodes in the three study sites: A, Total 382 ±his 229 1 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.0004 0.013 0 0.000 0.951 0 N>G>F Abundance of Hymenoptera, other insects, and coleoptra. B, Aranaea Carabidae 7.86 ±Scarites 2.26 8.02procerus ± 1.91 eurytes 7.84 ± 2.28 0.00014 0.000 9 0.001 0.997 2 G>F=N Abundance of the other arthropods and spiders in the three sites. Total insects 373 ±Carabus 229 425impressus ± 226 482 ± 272 0.02629 0.095 23 0.048 0.952 21 N>G>F Coleoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F carb 1 5 13 2 Species composition: Beetles belonging to Carabidae were caught in Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F Coleoptera (beetls): In the period of this study, higher number in grazed land than in the other Other Insects 36.16 ±carb 8.71 2 39.8 ± 20 32.4 ± 11.7 0.3711 0.001 0 0.060 0.932 2 G>F>N Other car 3 20 0 18 insects captured belonging to Coleoptera can be grass lands. On the other hand, more individual 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F classified into 6 families (Figure 6) and 16 species insects belonging to Histeridae and Elatrridae were Arthropods Tenebrionidae Zophosis punctata 10 18 11 (Table 3) of coleoptera. More than ninety percent of caught in higher numbers in natural grassland than Curculionidae Conicleonus nigrosuturatus 1 3 2 the catch was represented by four families: the other grassland sites. Tenebrionidae were also Carabidae, Tenebrionidae, Elatrridae and caught in highest number in the fenced land. The pattern of relativeCur abundance 1 (catch per grassland 1 (Table 1 2). Total insects0 (98.2%) were Histeridae. (Figure 5). order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher showedBeetls that were the caught absolute in relativlycatch of lower spiders numbers (2.1%), ofproportion families more of arthropods generally associatedin the natural with grassland other beetlethan expected(2.4%) and in other our samples, insects (9.5%) probably were because higher microhabitatsfollowed by under (e.g., grazing Scolytidae, grassland Cerambycidae) and the lowest inwe fenced have onlygrassland sampled followed a portion by grazedof the fulland beetlenatural (Greensladeproportion 1964, in the 1973). fenced grasland land (Table 2). diversity at these sites. Pitfall trapping inherently Hymenoptera: Hymenoptera caught in this limits our collection to active, ground-dwelling study can be classified into 8 species in 4 species, although there is an incidental by-catch Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Ecological investigations on terrestrial Biodiversity arthropod & Environmental diversity Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 25 Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, Table 2. Relative abundance of each group of arthropods means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the Taxon Fenced (F) Grazed (G) Natural (N) two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, Abundance proportion Proportion Proportion nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., Statistical analysis. A one-way ANOVA was Aranaea 2.1 1.8 1.6 millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall used to test for differences in abundance and 80 Total insects 97.6 97.7 98.2 (Figure 4). species richness with land use. 70 Coleoptera 2.4 2.3 2.2 The number of individuals captured60 of both Hymenoptera 85.9 86.4 89.2 ClusterFenced analysis was performed to assist in orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera50 were greater Other Insects 9.5 9.1 6.6 finding type of speices throughout the three sites. Grazed in the natural grass land than in the40 in the other Other Arthropods 0.2 0.3 0.2 30 SingleNatural regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most 20 carried out using MTP11, the independent variables common in the natural grassland withindividual of No. (491 / being climatic factors, and the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing 10grassland 435 / being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land0 (382/ pitfall). Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were Results and Discussion found to be higher in the natural grass land Arthropods abundance and diversity: (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and The low numbers of arthropods detected in the counted during the periodFigure 5. ofAbundance study. of Totalthe Coleoptera families in the three sites. arthropods catch was highest in natural grassland, fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack

followed by grazing grassland and lowest in the of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of recentlySeven fenced species grassland (Scarites (Table procerus 1). This eurytes, pattern dunggrass andland, low two vegetation species (Ela cover. 1, Cur 1) were found in wasCarabus largely impressus, attributed carb to the 1, mostscar 1,common Margarinotus orders, bothIn fenced this study and high grazed grazing land levels three were species( foundhis to 1, particularlygraecus, antsZophosis (Hymenoptera) punctata, which Conicleonus comprised carbhave 2, negativelycar 3 ) in the affected natural theand grazed abundance lands andone

morenigrosuturatus than 87%) wereof the found total catchin the in three all three sites, sites. two species(diversityscar of beetles,2)can found our resultsonly in are the therefore, fenced land in

Hymenopteraspecies (Drasterius and adult bimaculatus, beetles (Coleoptera) Tanyproctus also andagreement one(Ela with 2 ) can those found of Mysterudin the natural & Austrheimgrass land showedsaulcyi) similar were foundpattern. in both fenced and natural (Table 3). (2005). On the other hand species belonging to

Average arthropods catch throughout the study other arthropods including other insects were more period wasTable 436/ 3. pitfall Abundance in the of sitesthe families under anddifferent species Coleopteracommon in in the the three under sites. grazing than in the other land land use types. Arthropods were distributed across sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect Family Species grazed fenced Natural three groups: insects 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall the abundance and species richness of Diptera or and other arthropods Scarabaeidae 1/ pitfall.Tanyproctus Population saulcyi level for Hemiptera 0 (Mysterud 2 et al., 2005).1 Grazing seems

arthropods varied considerablyscar 1 between sites to render 1 accesible 2 to insect 1 larvae (Evans et al., 2005). (p=0.951). The Hymenopterascar was 2 found to be the 0 1 0 Elatrridae Drasterius bimaculatus 0 7 6 Table 1. Average number of arthropods catches per pitfall Ela 1 Grazed Natural 5 4 0 Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise (G) (N) MeanEla ±SE 2 0 between seasons0 sites 7 comparisons Mean± SE Mean± SE Histeridae Margarinotus graecus 9 6 17 Abundance F G N Figure 4. Abundance of arthropodes in the three study sites: A, Total 382 ±his 229 1 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.0004 0.013 0 0.000 0.951 0 N>G>F Abundance of Hymenoptera, other insects, and coleoptra. B, Aranaea Carabidae 7.86 ±Scarites 2.26 8.02procerus ± 1.91 eurytes 7.84 ± 2.28 0.00014 0.000 9 0.001 0.997 2 G>F=N Abundance of the other arthropods and spiders in the three sites. Total insects 373 ±Carabus 229 425impressus ± 226 482 ± 272 0.02629 0.095 23 0.048 0.952 21 N>G>F Coleoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F carb 1 5 13 2 Species composition: Beetles belonging to Carabidae were caught in Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F Coleoptera (beetls): In the period of this study, higher number in grazed land than in the other Other Insects 36.16 ±carb 8.71 2 39.8 ± 20 32.4 ± 11.7 0.3711 0.001 0 0.060 0.932 2 G>F>N Other car 3 20 0 18 insects captured belonging to Coleoptera can be grass lands. On the other hand, more individual 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F classified into 6 families (Figure 6) and 16 species insects belonging to Histeridae and Elatrridae were Arthropods Tenebrionidae Zophosis punctata 10 18 11 (Table 3) of coleoptera. More than ninety percent of caught in higher numbers in natural grassland than Curculionidae Conicleonus nigrosuturatus 1 3 2 the catch was represented by four families: the other grassland sites. Tenebrionidae were also Carabidae, Tenebrionidae, Elatrridae and caught in highest number in the fenced land. The pattern of relativeCur abundance 1 (catch per grassland 1 (Table 1 2). Total insects0 (98.2%) were Histeridae. (Figure 5). order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher showedBeetls that were the caught absolute in relativlycatch of lower spiders numbers (2.1%), ofproportion families more of arthropods generally associatedin the natural with grassland other beetlethan expected(2.4%) and in other our samples, insects (9.5%) probably were because higher microhabitatsfollowed by under (e.g., grazing Scolytidae, grassland Cerambycidae) and the lowest inwe fenced have onlygrassland sampled followed a portion by grazedof the fulland beetlenatural (Greensladeproportion 1964, in the 1973). fenced grasland land (Table 2). diversity at these sites. Pitfall trapping inherently Hymenoptera: Hymenoptera caught in this limits our collection to active, ground-dwelling study can be classified into 8 species in 4 species, although there is an incidental by-catch Ecological 26 Ecological Ecological Ecological investigat investigat investigat investigations on terrestrialionsionsions on on on terrestrial terrestrial terrestrial arthropod arthropod arthropod arthropod diversity diversity diversity diversity Ecological investigations on terrestrial Biodiversity arthropod & Environmental diversity Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) familiesfamilies familiesfamilies (Formicidae, (Formicidae, (Formicidae, (Formicidae, Sphegidae, Sphegidae, Sphegidae, Sphegidae, Cephidea Cephidea Cephidea Cephidea and and andwith and higherwithwithwith higher numbers higher higher numbers numbers numbers in the in natural in in the the the natural naturalgrassland natural grassland grassland grassland Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, Apiddae).Apiddae).Apiddae).Apiddae). followedfollowedfollowed followed by grazed by by by grazed land grazed grazed and land land land the and and andlowest the the the lowest in lowest lowest the in in in the the the means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the fenced land.fencedfencedfenced land. land. land. two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, NumberNumber NumberNumber of individuals of of of individuals individuals individuals belonging belonging belonging belonging to the to to to the the the nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. FormicidaeFormicidaeFormicidaeFormicidae caught, caught, caught, caught, were higher were were were higher inhigher higher natural in in in natural natural natural Cephus Cephustabidus,ApisCephusCephus tabidus,Apis tabidus,Apistabidus,Apis mellifera mellifera mellifera melliferaand unidentifid and andand unidentifid unidentifidunidentifid Seasons Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., grasslandgrasslandgrasslandgrassland followed followed followed followedby grazed by byby landgrazed grazedgrazed and land land landthe and lowest andand the thethe lowest lowestlowestspeceis speceis(speceisFormspeceis 3( ) Form(( Form Formpresent 3 3)3 )) present only presentpresent in onlythe onlyonly natural in inin the thethe naturalgrass naturalnatural grass grassgrass Statistical analysis. A one-way ANOVA was Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn millipedes,06 Winter 07 centipedes) Spring 07 all had fewer than 20/pitfall in the fencedininin the thethe fencedland. fencedfenced Individual land. land.land. Individual IndividualIndividual of (Cephidea of ofof (Cephidea (Cephidea(Cephidea and and andland.and land. Theland.land. unidentifid The The The unidentifid unidentifid unidentifid species species species ( speciesForm ( 5)Form ( (FormForm was 5) 5) 5) was was was used to test for differences in abundance and 140 (Figure 4). Apiddae)Apiddae)Apiddae)Apiddae) were only were were were caught only only only caughtin caught caught the natural in in in the the the natural grass natural natural grass grass grasshowever howeverhowever however present present inpresent present the grazed in in in the the the grazedand grazed grazed fenced and and and fencedland. fenced fenced land. land. land. species richness with land120 use. land. Membersland.land.land. Members Members Members of Sphegidae of of of Sphegidae Sphegidae Sphegidae were were however were were however however howeverPhilanthus PhilanthusPhilanthusPhilanthus trianguulum trianguulum trianguulum trianguulum was caught was was was caught in caught caught higher in in in higher higher higher The number of individuals captured of both Cluster analysis 100 was performed to assist in caught incaughtcaughtcaught the both in inin the thethenatural both bothboth natural and naturalnatural fenced and andand landfenced fencedfenced (Table land landland (Table (Table(Tablenumber number numbernumber in the in natural in in the the the natural grassnatural natural land grass grass grass followed land land land followed followed followed by by by by orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices(MM) throughout80 the three sites. 4). 4).4).4). fenced landfencedfencedfenced (Table land landland 4).(Table (Table(Table 4). 4).4). in the natural grass land than in the in the other 60 CatagliphusCatagliphusCatagliphusCatagliphus bicolor bicolor and bicolor bicolor undentified and andand undentified undentifiedundentified species species species species Single regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most Monthly Rainfall Monthly

monthly rain fall (mm) fall rain monthly 40 (form 2,form(form((formform 2,form 4 2,form) 2,form were 4 4) 4present )) were were were present inpresent present the three in in in the the the sites, three three three sites, sites, sites, carried out using MTP11, the independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / being climatic factors, and20 the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grassland 435 / being arthropods groups. 0 Table 4. TableTheTableTable families 4. 4. 4. The The The families andfamilies families species and and and ofspecies species species Hymenoptera of of of Hymenoptera Hymenoptera Hymenoptera in the three in in in the the sites.the three three three sites. sites. sites. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were Results and30 Discussion Family FamilyFamilyFamily SpeciesSpecies SpeciesSpecies IndividualIndividualIndividualIndividual numbers numbers numbers numbers 25 found to be higher in the natural grass land Fenced FencedFencedFenced Grazed GrazedGrazedGrazed Natural NaturalNaturalNatural (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and Arthropods abundance20 and diversity: FormicidaeFormicidaeFormicidaeFormicidae Catagliphus CatagliphusCatagliphusCatagliphus bicolor bicolor bicolorbicolor 9 99 9 65 656565 161 161161161 recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). 15 Form 2 FormFormForm 2 2 2 907 907907907 2795 279527952795 3508 350835083508 Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and counted during (C) Temp. the period10 of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detected in the

Form 3 FormFormForm 3 3 3 0 00 0 0 00 0 25 252525 Monthly Mean fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack Form 4 FormFormForm 4 4 4 2 22 2 26 262626 202 202202202 arthropods catch was highest5 in natural grassland,

mean monthly temp (C). temp monthly mean of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of Form 5 FormFormForm 5 5 5 1 11 1 25 252525 0 00 0 followed by grazing grassland0 and lowest in the dung and low vegetation cover. SphegidaeSphegidaeSphegidaeSphegidae Philanthus PhilanthusPhilanthusPhilanthus trianguulum trianguulum trianguulumtrianguulum 1 11 1 0 00 0 11 111111 recently fencedFenced grassland (F) (Table 1). This pattern was largely attributed1700.0 to the most common orders, 16 CephideaCephideaCephideaCephidea Cephus CephustabidusCephusCephus tabidus tabidustabidus 0 00 0 0 00 0 1 11 1 1500.0 In this study high grazing levels were found to particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised 14 ApiddaeApiddaeApiddae Apiddae Apis melliferaApisApisApis mellifera melliferamellifera 0 00 0 0 00 0 3 33 3 1300.0 have negatively affected12 the abundance and more than 87% of the1100.0 total catch in all three sites. diversity of beetles, our 10 results are therefore, in 900.0 Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also agreement with those of8 Mysterud & Austrheim showed similar pattern.700.0 Results ResultsshowResultsResults that show showshow natural that that that natural grassland natural natural grassland grassland grassland supports supports supports supportsSeasonal SeasonalSeasonalSeasonal variation variation variationvariation in arthropod in inin arthropod arthropodarthropod abundance: abundance: abundance:abundance: catch 6 500.0 (2005). On the other hand species belonging to

arthropods 4 higher numbershigherhigherhigher numbers numbers numbersof families of ofof families familiesandfamilies higher and andand ppulation higher higherhigher ppulation ppulationppulation The abundanceTheTheThe abundance abundance abundance of total of of of arthropods total total total arthropods arthropods arthropods varied varied varied varied content moisture 300.0 Content Moisture Average of no. average arthropods catch throughout the study other arthropods including other insects were more levels oflevelslevels levelsHymenoptera. of ofof Hymenoptera. Hymenoptera.Hymenoptera. This may This ThisThis be may mayattributedmay be bebe attributed attributedattributed a significantly a a a significantlysignificantlysignificantly between between between betweenthe seasons the thethe seasons (P<0.05) seasonsseasons (P<0.05) (P<0.05) (P<0.05)at the at atat the thethe of No Average per Arthropod 100.0 2 period was 436/ pitfall in the sites under different common in the under grazing than in the other land richer vegetationricherricherricher vegetation vegetation vegetation cover in cover cover cover the natural in in in the the the natural grassland natural natural grassland grassland grassland different differentdifferent differentstudy sites, study studystudy with sites, sites,sites, the with withwithhighest the thethe highest abundance highesthighest abundance abundanceabundance -100.0 0 land use types. Arthropods were distributed across sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect than in than thethanthan grazed in in in the the the grazed or grazed grazed recently or or or recently recently recentlyfencedgrass fencedgrass fencedgrass fencedgrass land. land. land. land.detected detected detecteddetected in summer in in in summer summer summer and autumn and and and autumn autumn autumn and lowest and and and lowest lowest lowest three groups:Grazed insects (G) 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall the abundance and species richness of Diptera or HymenopteraHymenopteraHymenopteraHymenoptera are responding are are are responding responding responding to some to to to some some someabundance abundanceabundanceabundance in winter. in in in winter. winter.The winter. fluctuation The The The fluctuation fluctuation fluctuation patterns patterns patterns patterns 1700.0 16 and other arthropods 1/1500.0 pitfall. Population level for Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems combinationcombinationcombinationcombination of these of of of factors. these these these factors. factors. Morefactors. vegetation More More More vegetation vegetation vegetation were similarwerewerewere insimilar similarsimilar the three in inin the the thesites three threethree (Figure sites sitessites (Figure 6). (Figure(Figure 6). 6).6). 14 arthropods varied considerably1300.0 between sites to render accesible to insect12 larvae (Evans et al., cover wouldcovercovercover would meanwould would moremean mean mean pollen more more more pollen andpollen pollen nectar and and and nectar nectar nectar The abundanceTheTheThe abundance abundance abundance of arthropods of of of arthropods arthropods arthropods increased increased increased increased 1100.0 (p=0.951). The Hymenoptera was found to be the 2005). 10 900.0 producingproducingproducingproducing flowers, flowers, flowers,flowers, which would which which which be would would would attractive be be be attractive attractive attractive to slightly to to to slightlyslightly throughslightly through through through spring spring spring spring reaching reaching reaching reaching a maximum a a a maximum maximum maximum 8 700.0 bees andbeesbeesbees masarid and and and masarid masarid masarid wasps (pollenwasps wasps wasps (pollen (pollencollectors) (pollen collectors) collectors) collectors) as abundance as as as abundanceabundanceabundance in summer, in in in summer, summer, summer, followed followed followed followed by decrease by by by decrease decrease decrease in in in in 6 Table 1. Averagecatch 500.0 number of arthropods catches per pitfall arthropods well aswell wellwell to predators as as as to to to predators predators predators such as such such such ants as as asand ants ants ants wasps, and and and wasps, wasps, wasps,autumn, autumn, autumn,autumn,and reached and andand reached reached lower reached value lower lower lower in value valuevalue winter in in in thenwinter winter winter then then then 4 Content Moisture 300.0 content moisture average no. of of no. average Grazed Natural Taxon of No Average per Arthropod Fenced100.0 (F) ANOVA 2 Pairwise attractedattractedattracted attractedto the shrubs to toto the thethe byshrubs shrubsshrubs the flower by byby the thethe visitors.flower flowerflower visitors. visitors.visitors. increasedincreasedincreasedincreased gradually gradually graduallygradually to the spring to toto the thethe 07. spring springspring 07. 07.07. (G) (N) -100.0Mean ±SE between seasons sites0 comparisons The grazedTheTheThe grazed and grazed grazed fenced and and and fenced sites fenced fenced had sites sites sites fewer had had had ant fewer fewer fewer ant ant ant SignificantSignificantSignificantSignificant differences differences differences differences were also were were were detected also also also detected detected detected Mean± SE Mean± SE species speciesspeciesspecies than the than than than natural the the the natural natural natural grassland. grassland. grassland. grassland. It is It It It between is is is between betweenbetween seasons seasons seasons seasons for total for for for totalinsects total total insects insects insects and and and and Natural (N) 1700.0 16 Abundance 1500.0 F G N noteworthynoteworthynoteworthynoteworthy to point to to to out point point point that out out out grazed that that that grazed site grazed grazed had site site site had hadHymenoptera had HymenopteraHymenopteraHymenoptera in the three in in in the the the sites three three three (P<0.05) sites sites sites (P<0.05) (P<0.05) (P<0.05) except except except except 14 Total 1300.0382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 12 0.951 N>G>F howeverhoweverhowever howeverunique uniquespecies uniqueunique species comparedspeciesspecies compared comparedcompared to the natural to toto the thethe natural naturalnaturalthe totalthethethe insects total total total insects insects insects on the on on on grazed the the the grazed grazed grazedgrassland grassland grassland grassland 1100.0 Aranaea 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 10 0.997 G>F=N 900.0 grass landgrassgrassgrass site. land land land site. site.site. (P=0.095)(P=0.095)(P=0.095)(P=0.095) this related this thisthis torelated relatedrelated presence to toto presence presence presenceof other of ofinsects.of other otherother insects. insects.insects. 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 8 0.952 N>G>F Total insects 700.0 The numbersTheTheThe numbers numbers numbers of specimens of of of specimens specimens specimens per family per per per family or family family The or or or seasonalTheTheThe seasonal seasonal seasonalfluctuation fluctuation fluctuationfluctuation pattern patternof patternpattern Hymenoptera of ofof Hymenoptera HymenopteraHymenoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 6 0.516 N>G>F Coleoptera catch 500.0 arthropods 4 species specieswerespeciesspecies too were were weresmall too tootoo to small smallsmallpermit to toto comparisons permit permitpermit comparisons comparisonscomparisons of and of ofof totalandandand insects total total total insects was insects insects similar was was was similar tosimilar similar that to toof to that that that total of of of total total total of no. average 300.0 content moisture Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 content ------Moisture N>G>F No. ___Arthropod Moisture Content Moisture

Average No of of No Average per Arthropod 2 density densitydensitydensity between between between between sites and sites sites sites over and and and seasons over over over seasons seasons seasons to arthropods to to to arthropodsarthropodsarthropods pattern pattern because patternpattern because becausethebecause hymenoptera the thethe hymenoptera hymenopterahymenoptera form form formform Other Insects 36.16100.0 ± 8.71 39.8 ± 20 32.4 ± 11.7 0.371 0.001 0.060 0.932 G>F>N -100.0 0 understandunderstandunderstandunderstand the effect the thethe of effect effect effectgrazing of ofof grazing grazingongrazing the diversity on onon the thethe diversity diversity diversityhigher proportionhigherhigherhigher proportion proportionproportion (>97%) (>97%) (>97%)of(>97%) insects of ofof insectsand insectsinsects (>85%) and andand (>85%) (>85%)(>85%) Other Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F of arthropods.ofofof arthropods. arthropods.arthropods. of total ofarthropods.ofof total totaltotal arthropods. arthropods.arthropods. This pattern This ThisThis patternwas patternpattern also was was wassimilar also alsoalso similar similarsimilar Arthropods Seasons on eachononon site each each each site for site site both for for for total both both both insects total total total insects insects andinsects and and and

HymenopteraHymenopteraHymenopteraHymenoptera Figures Figures (7, FiguresFigures 8). (7, (7,(7, 8). 8).8). Figure 6. Seasonal variations of Arthropod and edaphic environmental factors in the three study sites. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were

order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland

beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2).

Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Ecological investigations on terrestrial Biodiversity arthropod & Environmental diversity Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 27 families (Formicidae, Sphegidae, Cephidea and with higher numbers in the natural grassland Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, Apiddae). followed by grazed land and the lowest in the means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the fenced land. two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, Number of individuals belonging to the nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Formicidae caught, were higher in natural Cephus tabidus,Apis mellifera and unidentifid Seasons Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., grassland followed by grazed land and the lowest speceis (Form 3) present only in the natural grass Statistical analysis. A one-way ANOVA was Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn millipedes,06 Winter 07 centipedes) Spring 07 all had fewer than 20/pitfall in the fenced land. Individual of (Cephidea and land. The unidentifid species (Form 5) was used to test for differences in abundance and 140 (Figure 4). Apiddae) were only caught in the natural grass however present in the grazed and fenced land. species richness with land120 use. land. Members of Sphegidae were however Philanthus trianguulum was caught in higher The number of individuals captured of both Cluster analysis 100 was performed to assist in caught in the both natural and fenced land (Table number in the natural grass land followed by orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices(MM) throughout80 the three sites. 4). fenced land (Table 4). in the natural grass land than in the in the other 60 Catagliphus bicolor and undentified species Single regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most Monthly Rainfall Monthly

monthly rain fall (mm) fall rain monthly 40 (form 2,form 4) were present in the three sites, carried out using MTP11, the independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / being climatic factors, and20 the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grassland 435 / being arthropods groups. 0 Table 4. The families and species of Hymenoptera in the three sites. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were Results and30 Discussion Family Species Individual numbers 25 found to be higher in the natural grass land Fenced Grazed Natural (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and Arthropods abundance20 and diversity: Formicidae Catagliphus bicolor 9 65 161 recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). 15 Form 2 907 2795 3508 Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and counted during (C) Temp. the period10 of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detected in the

Form 3 0 0 25 Monthly Mean fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack Form 4 2 26 202 arthropods catch was highest5 in natural grassland,

mean monthly temp (C). temp monthly mean of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of Form 5 1 25 0 followed by grazing grassland0 and lowest in the dung and low vegetation cover. Sphegidae Philanthus trianguulum 1 0 11 recently fencedFenced grassland (F) (Table 1). This pattern was largely attributed1700.0 to the most common orders, 16 Cephidea Cephus tabidus 0 0 1 1500.0 In this study high grazing levels were found to particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised 14 Apiddae Apis mellifera 0 0 3 1300.0 have negatively affected12 the abundance and more than 87% of the1100.0 total catch in all three sites. diversity of beetles, our 10 results are therefore, in 900.0 Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also agreement with those of8 Mysterud & Austrheim showed similar pattern.700.0 Results show that natural grassland supports Seasonal variation in arthropod abundance: catch 6 500.0 (2005). On the other hand species belonging to

arthropods 4 higher numbers of families and higher ppulation The abundance of total arthropods varied content moisture 300.0 Content Moisture Average of no. average arthropods catch throughout the study other arthropods including other insects were more levels of Hymenoptera. This may be attributed a significantly between the seasons (P<0.05) at the of No Average per Arthropod 100.0 2 period was 436/ pitfall in the sites under different common in the under grazing than in the other land richer vegetation cover in the natural grassland different study sites, with the highest abundance -100.0 0 land use types. Arthropods were distributed across sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect than in the grazed or recently fencedgrass land. detected in summer and autumn and lowest three groups:Grazed insects (G) 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall the abundance and species richness of Diptera or Hymenoptera are responding to some abundance in winter. The fluctuation patterns 1700.0 16 and other arthropods 1/1500.0 pitfall. Population level for Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems combination of these factors. More vegetation were similar in the three sites (Figure 6). 14 arthropods varied considerably1300.0 between sites to render accesible to insect12 larvae (Evans et al., cover would mean more pollen and nectar The abundance of arthropods increased 1100.0 (p=0.951). The Hymenoptera was found to be the 2005). 10 900.0 producing flowers, which would be attractive to slightly through spring reaching a maximum 8 700.0 bees and masarid wasps (pollen collectors) as abundance in summer, followed by decrease in 6 Table 1. Averagecatch 500.0 number of arthropods catches per pitfall arthropods well as to predators such as ants and wasps, autumn, and reached lower value in winter then 4 Content Moisture 300.0 content moisture average no. of of no. average Grazed Natural Taxon of No Average per Arthropod Fenced100.0 (F) ANOVA 2 Pairwise attracted to the shrubs by the flower visitors. increased gradually to the spring 07. (G) (N) -100.0Mean ±SE between seasons sites0 comparisons The grazed and fenced sites had fewer ant Significant differences were also detected Mean± SE Mean± SE species than the natural grassland. It is between seasons for total insects and Natural (N) 1700.0 16 Abundance 1500.0 F G N noteworthy to point out that grazed site had Hymenoptera in the three sites (P<0.05) except 14 Total 1300.0382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 12 0.951 N>G>F however unique species compared to the natural the total insects on the grazed grassland 1100.0 Aranaea 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 10 0.997 G>F=N 900.0 grass land site. (P=0.095) this related to presence of other insects. 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 8 0.952 N>G>F Total insects 700.0 The numbers of specimens per family or The seasonal fluctuation pattern of Hymenoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 6 0.516 N>G>F Coleoptera catch 500.0 arthropods 4 species were too small to permit comparisons of and total insects was similar to that of total of no. average 300.0 content moisture Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 content ------Moisture N>G>F No. ___Arthropod Moisture Content Moisture

Average No of of No Average per Arthropod 2 density between sites and over seasons to arthropods pattern because the hymenoptera form Other Insects 36.16100.0 ± 8.71 39.8 ± 20 32.4 ± 11.7 0.371 0.001 0.060 0.932 G>F>N -100.0 0 understand the effect of grazing on the diversity higher proportion (>97%) of insects and (>85%) Other Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F of arthropods. of total arthropods. This pattern was also similar Arthropods Seasons on each site for both total insects and

Hymenoptera Figures (7, 8). Figure 6. Seasonal variations of Arthropod and edaphic environmental factors in the three study sites. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were

order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland

beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2).

28 Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity Biodiversity & Environmental & Environmental Sciences Sciences Studies Studies Series Series Volume Volume 5 (1) 5 (1) Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the two growing seasons were obtained from the Seasonsother insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, Seasons nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., 140 Statistical analysis. A140 one-way ANOVA was millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall 120 used to test for differences120 in abundance and (Figure 4). 100 species richness with land use.100 80 80 The number of individuals captured of both (MM) (MM) Cluster analysis was performed to assist in 60 60 orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices throughout the three sites. 40 40 in the natural grass land than in the in the other Monthly Rainfall Monthly Monthly Rainfall Monthly 20 20

Single regression (mm) fall rain monthly analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most

monthly rain fall (mm) fall rain monthly 0 carried out using MTP11, the0 independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / 30 30 being climatic factors, and the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grassland 435 / 25 25 being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). 20 20 Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were Results and Discussion15 (C). found to be higher in the natural grass land 15 (C) Temp. 10 (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and Arthropods abundance Monthly Mean and diversity: Temp. (C) Temp. 10 5 recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). Mean Monthly Monthly Mean Over 39000 individual temp monthly mean arthropods were trapped and 5 0 counted during the period of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detected in the Fenced (F) 1700.0 16 mean monthly temp (C). temp monthly mean 0 arthropods catch was highest1500.0 in natural grassland, fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack FenecedFenced (F) (F) 1800.0 16 1300.0 of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of followed by grazing grassland and lowest in the 11 1600.0 14 recently fenced grassland1100.0 (Table 1). This pattern dung and low vegetation cover. 900.0 1400.0 12 was largely attributed to the most common orders, 6 1200.0 700.0 In this study high grazing levels were found to

10 content moisture moisture

per catch per 500.0 1000.0 particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised have negatively affected the abundance and

8 Hymenoptera 1 Average No of of No Average 300.0

800.0 more than 87% of the hymenoptera total catch in all three sites. insects diversity of beetles, our results are Content Moisture therefore, in 6 of no. avearage 100.0 600.0 content oisture Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also m -100.0 agreement with those of Mysterud-4 & Austrheim avearage no. of of no. avearage 4 400.0 showed similar pattern. 1700.0 16 Average No of of No Average 200.0 2 Content Moisture Grazed(G) (2005). On the other hand species belonging to Insects per catch per Insects 1500.0 other arthropods including other insects were more 0.0 0 Average arthropods 1300.0catch throughout the study 11 1100.0 1800.0 16 period was 436/ pitfall in the sites under different common in the under grazing than in the other land Grazed (G) 900.0 6 1600.0 14 land use types. Arthropods700.0 were distributed across sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect 1400.0 12 500.0 the abundance and species richnesscontent of Diptera or

three groups: insects 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall moisture 1200.0 300.0 1 per catch per Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems 1000.0 10 and other arthropods hymenoptera 1/ pitfall. Population level for avearage no of of no avearage Hymenoptera Hymenoptera 100.0 Average No of of No Average 800.0 8 arthropods varied considerably-100.0 between sites to render accesible to insect -4 larvae Content Moisture (Evans et al., insects 600.0 6 (p=0.951). The Hymenoptera1700.0 was found to be the 2005). 16 400.0 content oisture Natural (N) m acearage no. of of no. acearage 4 1500.0 14 200.0 1300.0

2 Content Moisture 12

Average No of of No Average 0.0 Table 1. Average number1100.0 of arthropods catches per pitfall Insects per catch per Insects -200.0 0 10 900.0 Grazed Natural Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA 8 Pairwise 700.0 1800.0 16 (G) (N) comparisons Natural (N) Mean ±SE between seasons sites 6 content 1600.0 14 500.0 Mean± SE Mean± SE moisture

per catch per 4 1400.0 300.0

12 Abundance F G N --- -- content -- Moisture No. ___Arthropod Hymenoptera Hymenoptera Moisture Content Moisture Average No of of No Average

avearage no. no. avearage 2

of hymenptera of 100.0 1200.0 10 Total 382-100.0 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.9510 N>G>F 1000.0 8 Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 800.0 Aranaea 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N 6 600.0 content Total insects 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F moisture moisture

of insects of Seasons 400.0 4 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F ___Arthropod No. --- content -- -- Moisture No. ___Arthropod Coleoptera avearage no. no. avearage

200.0 2 Content Moisture Average No of of No Average Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F

Insects per catch per Insects 0.0 0 Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 FigureOther 8.Insects Seasonal 36.16 variations ± 8.71 of Hymenoptera 39.8 ± 20 32.4and ±edaphic 11.7 environmental 0.371 0.001 factors 0.060 in the 0.932 three studyG>F>N sites. Other 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F Seasons Arthropods

Figure 7. Seasonal variations of insects and edaphic environmental factors in the three study The differences of Coleoptera between there was a slight reduction in abundance during seasons were not significant in both grazed and winter.The pattern of natural grassland and sites. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were natural land (P>0.05), but it was significant in recently fenced were similar and differed from the order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher fenced land (P=0.041). Coleoptera generally under grazing land. (Figure 9). showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland increased during the summer and autumn and beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest

in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2).

Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity Biodiversity & Environmental & Environmental Sciences Sciences Studies Studies Series Series Volume Volume 5 (1) 5 (1) 29 Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the two growing seasons were obtained from the Seasonsother insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, Seasons nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., 140 Statistical analysis. A140 one-way ANOVA was millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall 120 used to test for differences120 in abundance and (Figure 4). 100 species richness with land use.100 80 80 The number of individuals captured of both (MM) (MM) Cluster analysis was performed to assist in 60 60 orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices throughout the three sites. 40 40 in the natural grass land than in the in the other Monthly Rainfall Monthly Monthly Rainfall Monthly 20 20

Single regression (mm) fall rain monthly analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most monthly rain fall (mm) fall rain monthly 0 carried out using MTP11, the0 independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / 30 30 being climatic factors, and the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grassland 435 / 25 25 being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). 20 20 Similarly, species belonging to Coleoptera were Results and Discussion15 (C). found to be higher in the natural grass land 15 (C) Temp. 10 (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and Arthropods abundance Monthly Mean and diversity: Temp. (C) Temp. 10 5 recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). Mean Monthly Monthly Mean Over 39000 individual temp monthly mean arthropods were trapped and 5 0 counted during the period of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detected in the Fenced (F) 1700.0 16 mean monthly temp (C). temp monthly mean 0 arthropods catch was highest1500.0 in natural grassland, fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack FenecedFenced (F) (F) 1800.0 16 1300.0 of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of followed by grazing grassland and lowest in the 11 1600.0 14 recently fenced grassland1100.0 (Table 1). This pattern dung and low vegetation cover. 900.0 1400.0 12 was largely attributed to the most common orders, 6 1200.0 700.0 In this study high grazing levels were found to

10 content moisture moisture

per catch per 500.0 1000.0 particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised have negatively affected the abundance and

8 Hymenoptera 1 Average No of of No Average 300.0

800.0 more than 87% of the hymenoptera total catch in all three sites. insects diversity of beetles, our results are Content Moisture therefore, in 6 of no. avearage 100.0 600.0 content oisture Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also m -100.0 agreement with those of Mysterud-4 & Austrheim avearage no. of of no. avearage 4 400.0 showed similar pattern. 1700.0 16 Average No of of No Average 200.0 2 Content Moisture Grazed(G) (2005). On the other hand species belonging to Insects per catch per Insects 1500.0 other arthropods including other insects were more 0.0 0 Average arthropods 1300.0catch throughout the study 11 1100.0 1800.0 16 period was 436/ pitfall in the sites under different common in the under grazing than in the other land Grazed (G) 900.0 6 1600.0 14 land use types. Arthropods700.0 were distributed across sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect 1400.0 12 500.0 the abundance and species richnesscontent of Diptera or

three groups: insects 427/ pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall moisture 1200.0 300.0 1 per catch per Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems 1000.0 10 and other arthropods hymenoptera 1/ pitfall. Population level for avearage no of of no avearage Hymenoptera Hymenoptera 100.0 Average No of of No Average 800.0 8 arthropods varied considerably-100.0 between sites to render accesible to insect -4 larvae Content Moisture (Evans et al., insects 600.0 6 (p=0.951). The Hymenoptera1700.0 was found to be the 2005). 16 400.0 content oisture Natural (N) m acearage no. of of no. acearage 4 1500.0 14 200.0 1300.0

2 Content Moisture 12

Average No of of No Average 0.0 Table 1. Average number1100.0 of arthropods catches per pitfall Insects per catch per Insects -200.0 0 10 900.0 Grazed Natural Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA 8 Pairwise 700.0 1800.0 16 (G) (N) comparisons Natural (N) Mean ±SE between seasons sites 6 content 1600.0 14 500.0 Mean± SE Mean± SE moisture

per catch per 4 1400.0 300.0

12 Abundance F G N --- -- content -- Moisture No. ___Arthropod Hymenoptera Hymenoptera Moisture Content Moisture Average No of of No Average

avearage no. no. avearage 2

of hymenptera of 100.0 1200.0 10 Total 382-100.0 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.9510 N>G>F 1000.0 8 Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 800.0 Aranaea 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N 6 600.0 content Total insects 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F moisture moisture

of insects of Seasons 400.0 4 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F ___Arthropod No. --- content -- -- Moisture No. ___Arthropod Coleoptera avearage no. no. avearage

200.0 2 Content Moisture Average No of of No Average Hymenoptera 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F

Insects per catch per Insects 0.0 0 Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 FigureOther 8.Insects Seasonal 36.16 variations ± 8.71 of Hymenoptera 39.8 ± 20 32.4and ±edaphic 11.7 environmental 0.371 0.001 factors 0.060 in the 0.932 three studyG>F>N sites. Other 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F Seasons Arthropods

Figure 7. Seasonal variations of insects and edaphic environmental factors in the three study The differences of Coleoptera between there was a slight reduction in abundance during seasons were not significant in both grazed and winter.The pattern of natural grassland and sites. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were natural land (P>0.05), but it was significant in recently fenced were similar and differed from the order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher fenced land (P=0.041). Coleoptera generally under grazing land. (Figure 9). showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland increased during the summer and autumn and beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest

in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2).

30 Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Ecological investigations on terrestrial Biodiversity arthropod & Environmental diversity Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the

Seasons two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, nearest metrological station located in Nablus. SeasonsHemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07

Spring 06 Summer 06 AutumnColeopteran, 06 Winter 07spiders Spring and 07 the other arthropods (e. g., 140 StatisticalT analysis. A one-way ANOVA was T 140 millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall 120 used to test for differences in abundance and t 120 (Figure 4). t 100 species richness with land use. 100 80 t The number of individuals captured t of both

(MM) Cluster analysis was performed to assist in 60 80 orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices(MM) throughout the three sites. 40 t 60 in the natural grass land than in the in thet other monthly rain fall (mm) fall rain monthly 20 Monthly RainfallMonthly Single regression analyses40 of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most

t Monthly Rainfall t 0 carried out using MTP11,20 the independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / 30 being climatict factors,monthly rain fall (mm) and0 the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grasslandt 435 / 30 25 being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). t 25 Similarly, species belonging to Coleopterat were 20 Results and Discussion 20 found to be higher in the natural grass land 15 t t Arthropods abundance15 and diversity: (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and 10 Temp. (C) t recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). t Over 39000 individualTemp. (C) arthr10opods were trapped and mean monthly temp (C). temp monthly mean Mean Monthly 5 counted t duringMean Monthly the period5 of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detectedt in the 0 fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack arthropods catch was highest0 in natural grassland, Fenced (F) 16.0 followedt byFenced grazingmean monthly temp (C). (F) grassland and lowest in the of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absencet of 14.0 140.0 16

recently fencedFenced grassland (F) (Table 1). This pattern dung and low vegetation cover. 12.0 120.0 was largelyt attributed to the most common orders, t 10.0 100.0 In this study high grazing11 levels were found to particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised 8.0 t 80.0 have negatively affected the abundancet and 6.0 more than 87% of the total catch in all three sites. diversity of beetles, our results6 are therefore, in catch 60.0

4.0 Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also content per catch t 40.0 agreement with those of Mysterud moisture & Austrheimt

average no. of coleoptera of no. average 1

2.0 other Insects insects Average of No showed similar pattern. Coleoptera per Average No of

Moisture Moisture Content (2005). On the other hand species belonging to

avearage avearage 20.0 0.0 Moisture Content

t no. other of t Average arthropods 0.0catch throughout the study other arthropods including other-4 insects were more 16.0 Grazed (G) period was G436/ raz edpitfall (G )140.0 in the sites under different common in the under grazing16 than in the other land 14.0 t t

120.0 sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect 12.0 land use types. Arthropods were distributed across the abundance and species richness11 of Diptera or 10.0 three groups:t insects 427/100.0 pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall t

8.0 and other arthropods 1/ 80.0pitfall. Population level for Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems

t 6 t 6.0 arthropods varied considerably60.0 between sites to render accesible to insect larvae (Evans et al., catch content other moisture 4.0 (p=0.951).t The Hymenoptera 40.0 was found to be the 2005). 1 t average no. of coleoptera of no. average of

2.0 per catch

ins ec ts

Average of No 20.0 Coleoptera per

Moisture Moisture Content Moisture Content other Insects avearag e 0.0 Average No of 0.0 -4 Tablet 1. Averageno. number of arthropods catches per pitfall t Natural (N) 16.0 140.0 Grazed Natural 16 Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise 14.0 t Natural (N) (G) (N) t 120.0 14 comparisons 12.0 Mean ±SE between seasons sites Mean± SE Mean± SE 12 10.0 t 100.0 t Abundance F G N 10 8.0 80.0

___Arthropod No. --- No. ___Arthropod -- --content Moisture Total 382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.951 N>G>F 6.0 t 8 t

catch 4.0 Aranaea 7.8660.0 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N 6 content moisyure

average no. of coleoptera of no. average 2.0 37340.0 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F Moisture Moisture Content Total insects 4 Average of No Moisture Content Coleoptera per 0.0 per catch Coleoptera 20.09 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F___ArthropodNo. ------Moisturecontent Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 2 other Insects HymenopteraAverage No of 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F avearage no. 0.0 0 Othert Insectsof other insects 36.16 ± 8.71Spring 39.806 ± Summer20 32.406 ± Autumn 11.7 06 0.371 Winter 0.001 07 Spring 0.060 07 0.932 G>F>Nt Seasons Other 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F Arthropods Seasons Figure 9. Seasonal variations of Coleoptera and edaphic environmental factors in the three study sites.

Figure 10. Seasonal variations of other insects and edaphic environmental factors in the three study sites. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were Differences between seasons of population The maximum abundance of other insects were order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher levels of other insecta were not significant in both detected in the spring 06 and in summer, but the showedSignificant that the differences absolute catch for ofspiders spiders and (2.1%), other proportionCorrelation of arthropods of arthropod in the abundance natural grassland with recently fenced land and natural grassland (P>0.05), minimum abundance detected in the other seasons beetlenon- insects(2.4%) and arthropods other insects not insecta(9.5%) betweenwere higher the followedenvironmental by under factors: grazing grassland and the lowest three sites (p<0.05), but no clear pattern were and significant in the under grazing land (P=0.001). (autumn, winter, spring07) this pattern were similar in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportionSoil moisture in the andfenced temperature grasland wereland (Table chosen 2). as detected because the abundance of these groups for the three sites (Figure 10). the two environmental correlation variables because were low. they have been identified as the two most important

determinants of insect phenology (Uvarov, 1931). Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Ecological investigations on terrestrial Biodiversity arthropod & Environmental diversity Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 31 Climatic data. Annual rainfall (in mm), annual most prevalent of the arthropod groups collected, means of temperatures (min, mean, max) during the with average number 381 / pitfall followed by the

Seasons two growing seasons were obtained from the other insects (e. g., Diptera, Collembola, nearest metrological station located in Nablus. SeasonsHemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07

Spring 06 Summer 06 AutumnColeopteran, 06 Winter 07spiders Spring and 07 the other arthropods (e. g., 140 StatisticalT analysis. A one-way ANOVA was T 140 millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall 120 used to test for differences in abundance and t 120 (Figure 4). t 100 species richness with land use. 100 80 t The number of individuals captured t of both

(MM) Cluster analysis was performed to assist in 60 80 orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater finding type of speices(MM) throughout the three sites. 40 t 60 in the natural grass land than in the in thet other monthly rain fall (mm) fall rain monthly 20 Monthly RainfallMonthly Single regression analyses40 of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most

t Monthly Rainfall t 0 carried out using MTP11,20 the independent variables common in the natural grassland with (491 / 30 being climatict factors,monthly rain fall (mm) and0 the dependent variables pitfall), followed by under grazing grasslandt 435 / 30 25 being arthropods groups. pitfall and in the recently fenced land (382/ pitfall). t 25 Similarly, species belonging to Coleopterat were 20 Results and Discussion 20 found to be higher in the natural grass land 15 t t Arthropods abundance15 and diversity: (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and 10 Temp. (C) t recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). t Over 39000 individualTemp. (C) arthr10opods were trapped and mean monthly temp (C). temp monthly mean Mean Monthly 5 counted t duringMean Monthly the period5 of study. Total The low numbers of arthropods detectedt in the 0 fenced grassland land can be attributed to the lack arthropods catch was highest0 in natural grassland, Fenced (F) 16.0 followedt byFenced grazingmean monthly temp (C). (F) grassland and lowest in the of food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absencet of 14.0 140.0 16

recently fencedFenced grassland (F) (Table 1). This pattern dung and low vegetation cover. 12.0 120.0 was largelyt attributed to the most common orders, t 10.0 100.0 In this study high grazing11 levels were found to particularly ants (Hymenoptera) which comprised 8.0 t 80.0 have negatively affected the abundancet and 6.0 more than 87% of the total catch in all three sites. diversity of beetles, our results6 are therefore, in catch 60.0

4.0 Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also content per catch t 40.0 agreement with those of Mysterud moisture & Austrheimt average no. of coleoptera of no. average 1

2.0 other Insects insects Average of No showed similar pattern. Coleoptera per Average No of

Moisture Moisture Content (2005). On the other hand species belonging to

avearage avearage 20.0 0.0 Moisture Content

t no. other of t Average arthropods 0.0catch throughout the study other arthropods including other-4 insects were more 16.0 Grazed (G) period was G436/ raz edpitfall (G )140.0 in the sites under different common in the under grazing16 than in the other land 14.0 t t

120.0 sites because sheep grazing did not seem to affect 12.0 land use types. Arthropods were distributed across the abundance and species richness11 of Diptera or 10.0 three groups:t insects 427/100.0 pitfall, spiders 8/ pitfall t

8.0 and other arthropods 1/ 80.0pitfall. Population level for Hemiptera (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems

t 6 t 6.0 arthropods varied considerably60.0 between sites to render accesible to insect larvae (Evans et al., catch content other moisture 4.0 (p=0.951).t The Hymenoptera 40.0 was found to be the 2005). 1 t average no. of coleoptera of no. average of

2.0 per catch

ins ec ts Average of No 20.0 Coleoptera per

Moisture Moisture Content Moisture Content other Insects avearag e 0.0 Average No of 0.0 -4 Tablet 1. Averageno. number of arthropods catches per pitfall t Natural (N) 16.0 140.0 Grazed Natural 16 Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise 14.0 t Natural (N) (G) (N) t 120.0 14 comparisons 12.0 Mean ±SE between seasons sites Mean± SE Mean± SE 12 10.0 t 100.0 t Abundance F G N 10 8.0 80.0

___Arthropod No. --- No. ___Arthropod -- --content Moisture Total 382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.951 N>G>F 6.0 t 8 t catch 4.0 Aranaea 7.8660.0 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N 6 content moisyure average no. of coleoptera of no. average 2.0 37340.0 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F Moisture Moisture Content Total insects 4 Average of No Moisture Content Coleoptera per 0.0 per catch Coleoptera 20.09 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F___ArthropodNo. ------Moisturecontent Spring 06 Summer 06 Autumn 06 Winter 07 Spring 07 2 other Insects HymenopteraAverage No of 328 ± 237 376 ± 233 438 ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F avearage no. 0.0 0 Othert Insectsof other insects 36.16 ± 8.71Spring 39.806 ± Summer20 32.406 ± Autumn 11.7 06 0.371 Winter 0.001 07 Spring 0.060 07 0.932 G>F>Nt Seasons Other 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F Arthropods Seasons Figure 9. Seasonal variations of Coleoptera and edaphic environmental factors in the three study sites.

Figure 10. Seasonal variations of other insects and edaphic environmental factors in the three study sites. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were Differences between seasons of population The maximum abundance of other insects were order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher levels of other insecta were not significant in both detected in the spring 06 and in summer, but the showedSignificant that the differences absolute catch for ofspiders spiders and (2.1%), other proportionCorrelation of arthropods of arthropod in the abundance natural grassland with recently fenced land and natural grassland (P>0.05), minimum abundance detected in the other seasons beetlenon- insects(2.4%) and arthropods other insects not insecta(9.5%) betweenwere higher the followedenvironmental by under factors: grazing grassland and the lowest three sites (p<0.05), but no clear pattern were and significant in the under grazing land (P=0.001). (autumn, winter, spring07) this pattern were similar in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportionSoil moisture in the andfenced temperature grasland wereland (Table chosen 2). as detected because the abundance of these groups for the three sites (Figure 10). the two environmental correlation variables because were low. they have been identified as the two most important

determinants of insect phenology (Uvarov, 1931). Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 32 Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) To assess the effect of soil moisture and disturbance, and therefore can be used as grazingClimatic affects data. the Annual egg size rainfall of an(in insectivorousmm), annual mostTerrestrial prevalent arthropod of the biodiversity: arthropod groupsplanning collected, a study temperature on the abundance of arthropods, linear bioindicators of habitat disturbance such as grazing. passerine.means of temperatures Biol. Lett,. 1 ,(min, 322–325. mean, max) during the withand recommended average number sampling 381 / techniques.pitfall followed Bulletin by the of two growing seasons were obtained from the otherthe Entomological insects (e. Society g., of Diptera,Canada, 26 Collembola, (1), 33. regression parameters were determined for the Food & Agriculure Organization (FAO). nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. comparison of average number of each group for (1974). The Euphrates Pilot Irrigation Project. McGeoch, M. A. (1998). The selection, testing Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., each season sample. There was no significant effect Acknowledgments Methods Statistical of soil analysis.analysis, GadebA one-way Soil LaboratoryANOVA was (A and application of terrestrial insects as millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall of moisture content of soil cores on the abundance usedlaboratory to test manual) for . differences Rome, Italy: in The abundance Author. and bioindicators. Biological Review, 73,181-201. This work was parially supported by a grant to (Figure 4). of each group (P>0.05), with a weak negative species richness with land use. prof. M. S. Ali-Shtayeh of the Biodiversity & Greenslad, P. J. M. (1964). Pitfall rapping as a Mclean, E. O., (1982). Soil pH and lime correlation (r²<-0.5) in each site except spiders and The number of individuals captured of both Environmental Research Center, BERC, from the methodCluster for studyinganalysis was population performed of to Carabidae assist in requirement. In A. L. Page (Ed.), Methods of soil other arthropods. The effect of temperature on the orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater German Federal Ministry of Scientific Research finding(Coleoptera). type of J. speices Anim. Ecol.,throughout 33, 301-10. the three sites. analysis, Part 2: chemical and microbiological arthropods group (total arthropods, total insects, in the natural grass land than in the in the other and Education (BMBF), which was provided in the properties. Madison, WI, USA: Am. Soc. Agron. and Hymenoptera) were significant (P< 0.05) on the Single regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most framework of the research project “Modeling the Greenslad, P. J. M. (1973). Sampling ants with grazed land only with appositive strong correlation carried out using MTP11, the independent variables Impact of Global Climate change on terrestrial pitfall traps: digging-in effects. Insects Sociaux, 20, commonMysterud, in the A. natural & Austrheim, grassland with G. (2005).(491 / (r²>0.5) on the three sites. The other insects, spiders being climatic factors, and the dependent variables biodiversity in the Jordan River Basin: testing 343-353. pitfall),Ecological followed effects by ofunder sheep grazing grazing grassland in alpine435 / and other arthropods had a negative correlation. being arthropods groups. pitfallhabitats. and Short-termin the recently effects. fenced Utmarksnæringland (382/ pitfall). i Planning Senarios and Climate Change Scenarios.” Hawksworth, D. L., & Ritchie, J. M. (1993). The effect of temperature on arthropods is however Similarly,Norge, 1-05 species, 1–91 belonging to Coleoptera were (GLOWA phase II). Biodiversity and Biosystematic Priorities: difficult to predict as the habitat in which they live Results and Discussion found to be higher in the natural grass land Microorganisms and Invertebrates. UK: CAB Mysterud, A., Hansen, L. O., Peters, C. & is already harsh and highly variable (Coulson et al., References (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and InternationalArthropods Walling abundance ford. and diversity: Austrheim, G. (2005). The short-term effect of 1996). recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). Borradaile, L. A., Potts, F. A., Eastham, L. E. Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and sheep grazing on selected invertebrates (Diptera th Hesse, P. R. (1971). A textbook of soil chemical Theoretically, the increase in temperature counted during the period of study. Total and The Hemiptera) low numbers relative of arthropods to other detected environmental in the should cause an increase in the length of the growth S., & Saunders, J. T. (1961). The Invertebrata. 4 analysis. London: John Murray. ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University. arthropods catch was highest in natural grassland, fencedfactors grasslandin an alpine land ecosystem. can be attributed J. Zool., to266 the, 411–lack season, allowing for faster physiological followedHill, C. by J. grazing (1995). grassland Linear strips and lowestof rain in forest the of418. food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of development and a potential increase in food Borror, D. J., De Long, D. M., & Triplehorn, C. vegetation as potential dispersal corridors for rain dung and low vegetation cover. recently fenced grassland (Table 1). This pattern Niemalä, J. K., Langor, D. & Spence, J. R. sources, leading to greater fitness and fecundity A. (1981). An introduction to the study of insects. wasforest largely insects. attributed Conservation to the Biology, most common 9, 1559-1566. orders, and, therefore, a larger population (Kennedy, 1994). th (1993).In this Effects study ofhigh clear-cut grazing harvestinglevels were on found boreal to [5 ed.] New York: Saunders College. particularlyHinds, W. ants T., (Hymenoptera) & Rickard, which W. H. comprised (1973). haveground-beetle negatively assemblages affected (Coleoptera: the abundance Carabidae) and This may be related to the activity of hymenoptera more than 87% of the total catch in all three sites. in the summer because the hymenoptera were cold- Byers, R., Baker, G., Davidson, R., Hoebeke, Correlations between climatological fluctuations diversityin western of Canada. beetles, Conservation our results are Biology, therefore, 7, 551- in Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also blooded. Removal the grasses by the grazers cause E., & Sanderson, M. (2000): Richness and and a population of Philolithus densicollis (Horn.) 561.agreement with those of Mysterud & Austrheim showed(Coleoptera: similar Tenebrionidae). pattern. Journal of Animal (2005). On the other hand species belonging to the direct effect of temperature on the arthropods on abundance of Carabidae and Staphylinadae Samways, M. J. (1994). Insect conservation Ecology, 42, 341-51. other arthropods including other insects were more the under grazed grassland increase the abundance (Coleoptera), in northeastern dairy pastures under Average arthropods catch throughout the study biology. London: Chapman & Hall. common in the under grazing than in the other land of arthropods in autumn than the other sites. intensive grazing. Great Lakes Entomologist, 33 periodHolloway, was 436/ J. pitfall D., & in Stork, the sites N. E.under (1991). different The sitesUvarov, because B.sheep P. grazing (1931). did Insects not seem and to climate. affect (2), 81-105. landdimensions use types. of biodiversity: Arthropods thewere use distributed of invertebrates across The lack of correlation between soil moisture Transactionsthe abundance of and the speciesEntomological richness Society of Diptera, 79, or1- threeas indicators groups: insects of human427/ pitfall, impact. spiders In 8/ D.pitfall L. and arthropod abundance suggests that the Coleman, D. C. & Hendrix, P. F. (Eds.). (2000). Hemiptera247. (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems andHawksworth other arthropods (Editor), 1/ pitf all.The Population Biodiversity level for of arthropods may be able to tolerate wide range of Invertebrates as webmasters in ecosystems. to render accesible to insect larvae (Evans et al., arthropodsMicroorganisms varied and considerably Invertebrates: between Its Role sites in Wang, S. Q., & Zhou, C. H. (1999). Estimating moisture levels. Wallingford, Oxon: CAB International. 2005). (p=0.951).Sustainable The Agriculture. Hymenoptera Wallingford:was found to be CAB the soil carbon reservoir of terrestrial ecosystem in However higher abundance of arthropods Colwell, R. K., & Coddington, J. A. (1994). International,. china. Geographical res., 18 (4), 350-351. including insects and Hymenoptera in the low and Estimating terrestrial biodiversity through Table 1. Average number of arthropods catches per pitfall moderate soil moisture compared with the high soil extrapolation. Philosophical Transactions of the Holway, D. A. (1998). Factors Grazed governing rateNatural Watkinson, A.R., & Ormerod, S. J. (2001). Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise moisture (Holway, 1998), and there were higher Royal Society of London Series B, 345, 101-118. of invasion: a natural experiment using(G) Argentine(N) Grasslands, grazing and biodiversity: editors’ Mean ±SE between seasons sites comparisons ants. Oecologia, 115, 206–212. Mean± SE Mean± SEintroduction. Journal of Applied Ecology, 38, 233– abundance of arthropods in the high temperature Coulson, J., Hodkinson, I. D., Webb, N. R,. Abundance 237. F G N compared with the low temperature, ants are not Block, W., Bale, J. S., Strathdee, A. T., Worland, Kennedy, A. D. (1994). Simulated climate Total 382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.951 N>G>F tolerant of high temperatures and are restricted to M. R., & Wooley, C. (1996). Effects of change: a field manipulation study of polar Ruesink, W. G., & Kogan, M. (1994). The 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N habitats with relatively cool and moist conditions. experimental temperature elevation on high-arctic microarthropodAranaea community response to global Quantitative Basis of Pest Management :Sampling Total insects 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F Several species show a delayed reaction to soil microarthropod populations. Polar Biology, 16, warming. Ecography, 17, 131- 140. and Measuring. In R. L. Metcalf, &W. H. Coleoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F precipitation, their numbers increasing in the 147-153. Luckmann (Eds.) Introduction to Insect Pest Kremen,Hymenoptera C., Colwell, 328 ± 237 R. K., 376 Erwin, ± 233 T. 438L., ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F summer proportionally to precipitation in the Management.New York: John Wiley & Sons, INC. Day, P.R. (1965). Particle fractionation and Murphy,Other D. Insects D., Noss, 36.16 R. ± F., 8.71 & Sanjayan, 39.8 ± 20 M. 32.4 A. ± 11.7 0.371 0.001 0.060 0.932 G>F>N previous winter. particle-size analysis. In C.A., Black, (Ed.), (1993). Other Terrestrial arthropod assemblages: their Wilson, E.O. (1987). The little things that run 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F A relation between precipitation and arthropod Methods of soil analysis, Part 1. Madison, use inArthropods conservation planning. Conservation the world (the importance and conservation of abundance is consistent with precipitation causing Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Biology, 7 (4), 796-808. invertebrates). Conservation Biology, 1, 344-346. increased plant productivity that in turn allows Environment Quality Authority (EQA). (2004). Marshall, S. A., Anderson, R. S., Roughley, R. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were greater consumer and predator abundance later in Al-Fara’a Baseline Report. Palestine: the Author. E., Behan-Pelletier, V., & Danks, H. V. (1994). order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher the season. Erwin, T. L. (1982). Tropical forests: their showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland Grazing has a considerable impact on the richness in Coleoptera and other Arthropod species. beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest biodiversity of grassland arthropods in Alfara’a Coleopterists’ Bulletin, 36, 74-75. in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2). area. Some of the insect components, especially Carbus impressus, of the family Carabidae (order Evans, D. M., Redpath, S. M., Evans, S. A., Coleoptera) are well adapted to grazing Elston, D. A. & Dennis, P. (2005). Livestock Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity Biodiversity & Environmental Sciences Studies Series Volume 5 (1) 33 To assess the effect of soil moisture and disturbance, and therefore can be used as grazingClimatic affects data. the Annual egg size rainfall of an(in insectivorousmm), annual mostTerrestrial prevalent arthropod of the biodiversity: arthropod groupsplanning collected, a study temperature on the abundance of arthropods, linear bioindicators of habitat disturbance such as grazing. passerine.means of temperatures Biol. Lett,. 1 ,(min, 322–325. mean, max) during the withand recommended average number sampling 381 / techniques.pitfall followed Bulletin by the of two growing seasons were obtained from the otherthe Entomological insects (e. Society g., of Diptera,Canada, 26 Collembola, (1), 33. regression parameters were determined for the Food & Agriculure Organization (FAO). nearest metrological station located in Nablus. Hemiptera), with average number 36 / pitfall. comparison of average number of each group for (1974). The Euphrates Pilot Irrigation Project. McGeoch, M. A. (1998). The selection, testing Coleopteran, spiders and the other arthropods (e. g., each season sample. There was no significant effect Acknowledgments Methods Statistical of soil analysis.analysis, GadebA one-way Soil LaboratoryANOVA was (A and application of terrestrial insects as millipedes, centipedes) all had fewer than 20/pitfall of moisture content of soil cores on the abundance usedlaboratory to test manual) for . differences Rome, Italy: in The abundance Author. and bioindicators. Biological Review, 73,181-201. This work was parially supported by a grant to (Figure 4). of each group (P>0.05), with a weak negative species richness with land use. prof. M. S. Ali-Shtayeh of the Biodiversity & Greenslad, P. J. M. (1964). Pitfall rapping as a Mclean, E. O., (1982). Soil pH and lime correlation (r²<-0.5) in each site except spiders and The number of individuals captured of both Environmental Research Center, BERC, from the methodCluster for studyinganalysis was population performed of to Carabidae assist in requirement. In A. L. Page (Ed.), Methods of soil other arthropods. The effect of temperature on the orders, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were greater German Federal Ministry of Scientific Research finding(Coleoptera). type of J. speices Anim. Ecol.,throughout 33, 301-10. the three sites. analysis, Part 2: chemical and microbiological arthropods group (total arthropods, total insects, in the natural grass land than in the in the other and Education (BMBF), which was provided in the properties. Madison, WI, USA: Am. Soc. Agron. and Hymenoptera) were significant (P< 0.05) on the Single regression analyses of the results were sites. Species belonging to Hymenoptera were most framework of the research project “Modeling the Greenslad, P. J. M. (1973). Sampling ants with grazed land only with appositive strong correlation carried out using MTP11, the independent variables Impact of Global Climate change on terrestrial pitfall traps: digging-in effects. Insects Sociaux, 20, commonMysterud, in the A. natural & Austrheim, grassland with G. (2005).(491 / (r²>0.5) on the three sites. The other insects, spiders being climatic factors, and the dependent variables biodiversity in the Jordan River Basin: testing 343-353. pitfall),Ecological followed effects by ofunder sheep grazing grazing grassland in alpine435 / and other arthropods had a negative correlation. being arthropods groups. pitfallhabitats. and Short-termin the recently effects. fenced Utmarksnæringland (382/ pitfall). i Planning Senarios and Climate Change Scenarios.” Hawksworth, D. L., & Ritchie, J. M. (1993). The effect of temperature on arthropods is however Similarly,Norge, 1-05 species, 1–91 belonging to Coleoptera were (GLOWA phase II). Biodiversity and Biosystematic Priorities: difficult to predict as the habitat in which they live Results and Discussion found to be higher in the natural grass land Microorganisms and Invertebrates. UK: CAB Mysterud, A., Hansen, L. O., Peters, C. & is already harsh and highly variable (Coulson et al., References (11/pitfall) followed by grazed grassland and InternationalArthropods Walling abundance ford. and diversity: Austrheim, G. (2005). The short-term effect of 1996). recently fenced land (9/ pitfall) (Table 1). Borradaile, L. A., Potts, F. A., Eastham, L. E. Over 39000 individual arthropods were trapped and sheep grazing on selected invertebrates (Diptera th Hesse, P. R. (1971). A textbook of soil chemical Theoretically, the increase in temperature counted during the period of study. Total and The Hemiptera) low numbers relative of arthropods to other detected environmental in the should cause an increase in the length of the growth S., & Saunders, J. T. (1961). The Invertebrata. 4 analysis. London: John Murray. ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University. arthropods catch was highest in natural grassland, fencedfactors grasslandin an alpine land ecosystem. can be attributed J. Zool., to266 the, 411–lack season, allowing for faster physiological followedHill, C. by J. grazing (1995). grassland Linear strips and lowestof rain in forest the of418. food sources of arthropods, e.g, the absence of development and a potential increase in food Borror, D. J., De Long, D. M., & Triplehorn, C. vegetation as potential dispersal corridors for rain dung and low vegetation cover. recently fenced grassland (Table 1). This pattern Niemalä, J. K., Langor, D. & Spence, J. R. sources, leading to greater fitness and fecundity A. (1981). An introduction to the study of insects. wasforest largely insects. attributed Conservation to the Biology, most common 9, 1559-1566. orders, and, therefore, a larger population (Kennedy, 1994). th (1993).In this Effects study ofhigh clear-cut grazing harvestinglevels were on found boreal to [5 ed.] New York: Saunders College. particularlyHinds, W. ants T., (Hymenoptera) & Rickard, which W. H. comprised (1973). ground-beetlehave negatively assemblages affected (Coleoptera: the abundance Carabidae) and This may be related to the activity of hymenoptera more than 87% of the total catch in all three sites. in the summer because the hymenoptera were cold- Byers, R., Baker, G., Davidson, R., Hoebeke, Correlations between climatological fluctuations indiversity western of Canada. beetles, Conservation our results are Biology, therefore, 7, 551- in Hymenoptera and adult beetles (Coleoptera) also blooded. Removal the grasses by the grazers cause E., & Sanderson, M. (2000): Richness and and a population of Philolithus densicollis (Horn.) 561.agreement with those of Mysterud & Austrheim showed(Coleoptera: similar Tenebrionidae). pattern. Journal of Animal (2005). On the other hand species belonging to the direct effect of temperature on the arthropods on abundance of Carabidae and Staphylinadae Samways, M. J. (1994). Insect conservation Ecology, 42, 341-51. other arthropods including other insects were more the under grazed grassland increase the abundance (Coleoptera), in northeastern dairy pastures under Average arthropods catch throughout the study biology. London: Chapman & Hall. common in the under grazing than in the other land of arthropods in autumn than the other sites. intensive grazing. Great Lakes Entomologist, 33 periodHolloway, was 436/ J. pitfall D., & in Stork, the sites N. E.under (1991). different The sitesUvarov, because B.sheep P. grazing (1931). did Insects not seem and to climate. affect (2), 81-105. landdimensions use types. of biodiversity: Arthropods thewere use distributed of invertebrates across The lack of correlation between soil moisture Transactionsthe abundance of and the speciesEntomological richness Society of Diptera, 79, or1- threeas indicators groups: insects of human427/ pitfall, impact. spiders In 8/ D.pitfall L. and arthropod abundance suggests that the Coleman, D. C. & Hendrix, P. F. (Eds.). (2000). Hemiptera247. (Mysterud et al., 2005). Grazing seems andHawksworth other arthropods (Editor), 1/ pitf all.The Population Biodiversity level for of arthropods may be able to tolerate wide range of Invertebrates as webmasters in ecosystems. to render accesible to insect larvae (Evans et al., arthropodsMicroorganisms varied and considerably Invertebrates: between Its Role sites in Wang, S. Q., & Zhou, C. H. (1999). Estimating moisture levels. Wallingford, Oxon: CAB International. 2005). (p=0.951).Sustainable The Agriculture. Hymenoptera Wallingford:was found to be CAB the soil carbon reservoir of terrestrial ecosystem in However higher abundance of arthropods Colwell, R. K., & Coddington, J. A. (1994). International,. china. Geographical res., 18 (4), 350-351. including insects and Hymenoptera in the low and Estimating terrestrial biodiversity through Table 1. Average number of arthropods catches per pitfall moderate soil moisture compared with the high soil extrapolation. Philosophical Transactions of the Holway, D. A. (1998). Factors Grazed governing rateNatural Watkinson, A.R., & Ormerod, S. J. (2001). Taxon Fenced (F) ANOVA Pairwise moisture (Holway, 1998), and there were higher Royal Society of London Series B, 345, 101-118. of invasion: a natural experiment using(G) Argentine(N) Grasslands, grazing and biodiversity: editors’ Mean ±SE between seasons sites comparisons ants. Oecologia, 115, 206–212. Mean± SE Mean± SEintroduction. Journal of Applied Ecology, 38, 233– abundance of arthropods in the high temperature Coulson, J., Hodkinson, I. D., Webb, N. R,. Abundance 237. F G N compared with the low temperature, ants are not Block, W., Bale, J. S., Strathdee, A. T., Worland, Kennedy, A. D. (1994). Simulated climate Total 382 ± 229 435 ± 225 491 ± 271 0.000 0.013 0.000 0.951 N>G>F tolerant of high temperatures and are restricted to M. R., & Wooley, C. (1996). Effects of change: a field manipulation study of polar Ruesink, W. G., & Kogan, M. (1994). The 7.86 ± 2.26 8.02 ± 1.91 7.84 ± 2.28 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.997 G>F=N habitats with relatively cool and moist conditions. experimental temperature elevation on high-arctic microarthropodAranaea community response to global Quantitative Basis of Pest Management :Sampling Total insects 373 ± 229 425 ± 226 482 ± 272 0.026 0.095 0.048 0.952 N>G>F Several species show a delayed reaction to soil microarthropod populations. Polar Biology, 16, warming. Ecography, 17, 131- 140. and Measuring. In R. L. Metcalf, &W. H. Coleoptera 9 ± 1.1 10 ± 1.16 10.8 ± 1.28 0.041 0.117 0.115 0.516 N>G>F precipitation, their numbers increasing in the 147-153. Luckmann (Eds.) Introduction to Insect Pest Kremen,Hymenoptera C., Colwell, 328 ± 237 R. K., 376 Erwin, ± 233 T. 438L., ± 277 0.000 0.009 0.000 0.953 N>G>F summer proportionally to precipitation in the Management.New York: John Wiley & Sons, INC. Day, P.R. (1965). Particle fractionation and Murphy,Other D. Insects D., Noss, 36.16 R. ± F., 8.71 & Sanjayan, 39.8 ± 20 M. 32.4 A. ± 11.7 0.371 0.001 0.060 0.932 G>F>N previous winter. particle-size analysis. In C.A., Black, (Ed.), (1993). Other Terrestrial arthropod assemblages: their Wilson, E.O. (1987). The little things that run 0.68 ± 0.289 1.46± 0.609 1.16± 0.462 0.002 0.008 0.021 0.748 G>N>F A relation between precipitation and arthropod Methods of soil analysis, Part 1. Madison, use inArthropods conservation planning. Conservation the world (the importance and conservation of abundance is consistent with precipitation causing Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Biology, 7 (4), 796-808. invertebrates). Conservation Biology, 1, 344-346. increased plant productivity that in turn allows Environment Quality Authority (EQA). (2004). Marshall, S. A., Anderson, R. S., Roughley, R. The pattern of relative abundance (catch per grassland (Table 2). Total insects (98.2%) were greater consumer and predator abundance later in Al-Fara’a Baseline Report. Palestine: the Author. E., Behan-Pelletier, V., & Danks, H. V. (1994). order expressed as proportion of the total catch) including Hymenoptera comprised higher the season. Erwin, T. L. (1982). Tropical forests: their showed that the absolute catch of spiders (2.1%), proportion of arthropods in the natural grassland Grazing has a considerable impact on the richness in Coleoptera and other Arthropod species. beetle (2.4%) and other insects (9.5%) were higher followed by under grazing grassland and the lowest biodiversity of grassland arthropods in Alfara’a Coleopterists’ Bulletin, 36, 74-75. in fenced grassland followed by grazed and natural proportion in the fenced grasland land (Table 2). area. Some of the insect components, especially Carbus impressus, of the family Carabidae (order Evans, D. M., Redpath, S. M., Evans, S. A., Coleoptera) are well adapted to grazing Elston, D. A. & Dennis, P. (2005). Livestock ﺴﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ، ﻤﺠﻠﺩ 5، ﻋﺩﺩ ﺭﻗﻡ (Ecological investigations on terrestrial arthropod diversity (1 34 ﺤﺼﺭ ﻭﺘﻭﺼﻴﻑ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻲ ﻭﺘﻘﺩﻴﺭ ﺍﻹﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻔﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺩﺩ ﻤﻥ ﻤﻭﺍﻗـﻊ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻟﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻓﻲ ﺃﻨﻅﻤﺔ ﻋﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻨﺩﻴﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺩﻱ (Quercus calliprinos Webb) ﻤﺘﺒﺎﻴﻨﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺠﺒل ﺤﻠﺏ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻔﺎﺭﻋﺔ (ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ) 2 3 2 1 ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺴﻠﻴﻡ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺃﺸﺘﻴﺔ ، ، *، ﻭﺍﺼﻑ ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺩﻴﺏ ﻋﻠﻲ ، ﺭﻨﺎ ﻤﺎﺠﺩ ﺠﺎﻤﻭﺱ 3 2 1 (ﺴﻭﺭﻴﺔ) ﻗﺴﻡ ﺍﻷﺤﻴﺎﺀ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻘﻨﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻴﺔ، ﺠﺎﻤﻌﺔ ﺍﻟﻨﺠﺎﺡ، ﻨﺎﺒﻠﺱ، ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ، ﻤﺭﻜﺯ ﺃﺒﺤﺎﺙ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ، ﺒﻴﺭﻙ، ﺘل، ﻨﺎﺒﻠﺱ، ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ. ﻜﻠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻴﺎ، ﺠﺎﻤﻌﺔ ﺍﻟﻨﺠﺎﺡ، ﻨﺎﺒﻠﺱ، ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ، * ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺙ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﺘﻭﺠﻪ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﺍﻟﻤﺭﺍﺴﻼﺕ ﻨﺎﺩﻴﺔ ﺴﺎﻟﻡ، ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﺍﻟﺨﻁﻴﺏ، ﻭﻟﻴﺩ ﻤﻨﺼﻭﺭ

ﻗﺴﻡ ﺍﻟﺤﺭﺍﺝ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ، ﻜﻠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺯﺭﺍﻋﺔ، ﺠﺎﻤﻌﺔ ﺤﻠﺏ، ﺍﻟﺠﻤﻬﻭﺭﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻭﺭﻴﺔ ﻤﻠﺨﺹ ﻤﻌﻠﻭﻤﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ 2010 ﺘﺎﺭﻴﺦ ﻭﺼﻭل ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎل: 2 ﺍﺸﺘﻴﺔ، ﻡ. ﺱ.، ﻋﻠﻲ، ﻭﺍﺼﻑ، ﺩ. ﻉ.، ﺠﺎﻤﻭﺱ، ﺭ. ﻡ. ( ). ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻟﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻓﻲ ﺃﻨﻅﻤـﺔ ﻋﺸـﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻠﺨﺹ ﻤﻌﻠﻭﻤﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ ﺘﺸﺭﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻨﻲ 2009 ﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻔﺎﺭﻋﺔ (ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ). ﺴﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ، 5 (1)، -19 34. ﺴﺎﻟﻡ، ﻥ.، ﺍﻟﺨﻁﻴﺏ، ﻡ.، ﻭﻤﻨﺼﻭﺭ، ﻭ. (2010). ﺤﺼﺭ ﻭﺘﻭﺼﻴﻑ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻲ ﻭﺘﻘﺩﻴﺭ ﺍﻹﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻔﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺩﺩ ﻤﻥ ﺘﺎﺭﻴﺦ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ: ﺘﺎﺭﻴﺦ ﺍﺴﺘﻼﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎل ﺒﻌﺩ ﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺴﻨﺩﻴﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺩﻱ (Quercus calliprinos Webb) ﻤﺘﺒﺎﻴﻨﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺠﺒل ﺤﻠﺏ (ﺴﻭﺭﻴﺔ). ﺴﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻨـﻭﻉ ﻭﺼﻭل ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺔ: 3 ﺘﻤﻭﺯ 2009 ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺭﻏﻡ ﻤﻥ ﺃﻫﻤﻴﺔ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻓﻲ ﺍﻷﻨﻅﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻴﺔ، ﺇﻻ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺃﺠﺭﻴﺕ ﻟﻔﺤﺹ ﺘﺄﺜﻴﺭ ﺍﻻﻀﻁﺭﺍﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴـﺔ ﻤﺭﺍﺠﻌﺘﻪ: 21 ﺁﺫﺍﺭ 2010 ﻤﺭﺍﺠﻌﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﻁﻭﻁﺔ: 20 ﻜﺎﻨﻭﻥ ﺍﻷﻭل ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ، 5 (1)، 43-35. 2009 ﺍﻟﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﻗﻠﻴﻠﺔ ﺨﺎﺼﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﻭﺍﺩﻱ ﺍﻟﻔﺎﺭﻋﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻀﻔﺔ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﺒﻴﺔ. ﻫﺩﻓﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻤﻌﺭﻓـﺔ ﺍﺜـﺭ ﺭﻋـﻲ 17 ﻗﺒﻭل ﺍﻟﻤﺨﻁﻭﻁﺔ ﻟﻠﻨﺸﺭ: 10 ﻜﺎﻨﻭﻥ ﺘﺎﺭﻴﺦ ﻗﺒﻭل ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎل: ﻨﻴﺴﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﺍﻨﺎﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻟﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل، ﺒﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺃﻋﺩﺍﺩ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ، ﻭﻭﻓﺭﺘﻬﺎ، ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﻅﻡ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺸـﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻭﺴـﻁﻴﺔ ﺸـﺒﻪ 2010 ﺃﺠﺭﻱ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ ﻓﻲ ﺠﺒل ﺤﻠﺏ (ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﻋﻔﺭﻴﻥ) ﺴﻭﺭﻴﺔ ﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻲ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻱ، ﺤﻴﺙ ﺘﻡ ﺍﺨﺘﻴﺎﺭ ﺃﺭﺒﻌﺔ ﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻨﻲ 2010 ﺍﻟﺠﺎﻓﻪ ﻤﻥ ﻭﺍﺩﻯ ﺍﻟﻔﺎﺭﻋﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻀﻔﺔ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﺒﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ. ﺃﺠﺭﻴﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺃﺭﺍﻀﻲ ﻗﺭﻴﺔ ﻁﻠﻭﺯﻩ، ﻭ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﻘﻊ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺠﺯﺀ ﺍﻟﺸﻤﺎﻟﻲ ﻤﻥ ﻏﺎﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺴﻨﺩﻴﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺩﻱ Quercus calliprinos ﻤﺘﺒﺎﻴﻨﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺩﺭﺠﺔ ﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭﻫﺎ. ﻭﻗﺩ ﺍﻋﺘﻤﺩ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻻﺨﺘﻴﺎﺭ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻁﻴـﺔ ﺍﻟﻜﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻔﺘﺎﺤﻴﺔ: ﺴـﻭﺭﻴﺔ - ﺠﺒـل 2006 2000 ﺍﻟﺸﺭﻗﻲ ﻟﻠﻀﻔﺔ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﺒﻴﺔ. ﺒﺩﺃﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺘﺠﺭﺒﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﻡ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﺘﺒﻠﻎ ﻤﺴﺎﺤﺘﻬﺎ ﺤﻭﺍﻟﻲ ﺩﻭﻨﻡ ﺫﺍﺕ ﻨﻅـﺎﻡ ﺒﻴﺌـﻲ ﻋﺸـﺒﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴﺔ ﻟﻸﺸﺠﺎﺭ، ﺤﻴﺙ ﺼﻨﻔﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻏﺎﺒﺎﺕ ﻜﺜﻴﻔﺔ ﻭﻏﺎﺒﺎﺕ ﻤﺘﻭﺴﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﻜﺜﺎﻓﺔ ﻭﻏﺎﺒـﺎﺕ ﻤﺘـﺩﻫﻭﺭﺓ ﻭﻏﺎﺒـﺎﺕ ﺸـﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﺤﻠﺏ، ﻏﺎﺒـﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺴـﻨﺩﻴﺎﻥ، ﺘﺼـﻨﻴﻑ 2 ﻴﺴﺘﻌﻤل ﺒﺸﻜل ﺭﺌﻴﺱ ﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﺍﻷﻏﻨﺎﻡ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﻋﺯ. ﺍﺨﺘﻴﺭﺕ ﻟﻬﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺜﻼﺜﺔ ﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﻤﺴﺎﺤﺔ ﻜل ﻤﻨﻬﺎ ﻨﺤﻭ 2000ﻡ ، ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻨﺤﻭ ﺍﻟﺘـﺎﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﻜﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻔﺘﺎﺤﻴﺔ: ﻨﻅﻡ ﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﻭﺘﻭﺼﻴﻑ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻲ ﺍﻟﺭﻋـﻭﻱ، ﺍﻟﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭ. ﺃﺨﺫﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﻴﻨﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﺒﻁﺭﻴﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺭﺒﻊ ﻟﺨﻤﺱ ﻤﻜﺭﺭﺍﺕ ﻓﻲ ﻜل ﻤﻭﻗﻊ ﻭﺘﻡ ﺠﺭﺩ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴﺔ ﻭﺘﺤﺩﻴﺩﻫﺎ ﺘﺼﻨﻴﻔﻴﺎﹰ ﻭﺘـﻡ ﻋﺸﺒﻴﺔ، ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ، ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ، ﺍﻹﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻔﻴﺔ، ﺍﻟﺤﻤﻭﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ. ﺍﺭﺽ ﻤﺴﻴﺠﺔ ﺤﺩﻴﺜﺎ ﻤﻨﻊ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ 2005ﻡ،ﺃﺭﺽ ﻋﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﻁﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ، ﻭﺃﺭﺽ ﺘﺴﺘﺨﺩﻡ ﻟﻠﺭﻋﻲ ﻤﻨﺫ ﻤﺎ ﻴﺯﻴـﺩ ﻋـﻥ 25 ﻋﺎﻤـﺎﹰ . ﺘﻘﺩﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﻭﺯﻥ ﺍﻟﺠﺎﻑ ﻟﻠﻨﺒﺎﺘﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻴﺔ. ﺒﻴﻨﺕ ﺍﻟﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ ﺇﻥ ﻋﺩﺩ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺸﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭ ﻜﺎﻥ ﺃﻜﺜﺭ ﻤـﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗـﻊ ﺍﻷﻗـل ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل، ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻴﺭﺍﺕ 2007 2006 12 ﺍﺴﺘﻐﺭﻗﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺸﻬﺭﺍﹰ (ﺍﺒﺘﺩﺍﺀ ﻤﻥ ﻨﻴﺴﺎﻥ ﻡ ﻭ ﻟﻐﺎﻴﺔ ﻨﻴﺴﺎﻥ ﻡ)، ﻭﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﻡ ﻓﻲ ﺼﻴﺩ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻤﺼﺎﺌﺩ ﺘﺴـﻤﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺴﻤﻴﺔ، ﺍﻟﻤﺅﺸﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻴﺔ، ﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭﺍﹰ ﺤﻴﺙ ﻭﺠﺩ 73 ﻨﻭﻋﺎﹰ ﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴﺎﹰ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺸﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭ، ﺘﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺘﻭﺴﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﻜﺜﺎﻓﺔ 57 ﻨﻭﻋﺎﹰ ﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴـ ﺎﹰ، ﺜـﻡ (Pitfall Traps) ﻭﺫﻟﻙ ﻤﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﺤﺩﺓ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﺘﺼﻑ ﻜل ﻓﺼل ﻤﻥ ﻓﺼﻭل ﺍﻟﺴﻨﺔ ﻜﻤﺎ ﺘﻤﺕ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺁﺜﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻌﻭﺍﻤل ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴـﺔ (ﺩﺭﺠـﺔ ﺤـﺭﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻹﻀﻁﺭﺍﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ، ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﻜﺜﻴﻔﺔ 47 ﻨﻭﻋﺎﹰ ﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴﺎﹰ. ﻜﻤﺎ ﺃﻥ ﻨﺴﺒﺔ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺴﺎﻏﺔ ﻫﻲ ﺃﻋﻠﻰ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻴﺔ ﻏﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺴﺎﻏﺔ. ﻜـﺫﻟﻙ Carbus ﺍﻟﻬﻭﺍﺀ، ﻭﻜﻤﻴﺔ ﺍﻷﻤﻁﺎﺭ، ﻭﺭﻁﻭﺒﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺭﺒﺔ) ﻋﻠﻰ ﺠﻤﺎﻋﺎﺕ ﻭﺃﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ. ﺘﺒﻴﻥ ﻤﻥ ﺨﻼل ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﺨﻲ، imperssus ﻭﺠﺩ ﻓﺭﻭﻕ ﻤﻌﻨﻭﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺇﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻷﻋﺸﺎﺏ ﺤﺴﺏ ﻨﻭﻋﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﻭﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺍﻟﻜﻤﻴﺔ ﺍﻹﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﻟﻸﻋﺸـﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻜﻠﻴـﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘـﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﺸـﺒﻴﺔ ﺠﻤﺎﻋﺎﺕ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻜﺎﻨﺕ ﺤﺴﺎﺴﺔ ﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﺸﻴﺔ ﺤﻴﺙ ﺴﺠﻠﺕ ﺃﻋﻠﻰ ﻭﻓﺭﺓ ﻓـﻲ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻁﺒﻴﻌﻴـﺔ ﺘﻠﺘﻬـﺎ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴـﺔ،

ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺴﺎﻏﺔ ﺃﻋﻠﻰ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﻜﺜﺭ ﺘﺩﻫﻭﺭﺍﹰ. ﻭﻋﺯﻱ ﺍﻟﺴﺒﺏ ﻓﻲ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻷﻗل ﻜﺜﺎﻓﺔ ﺒﺎﻷﺸﺠﺎﺭ ﺃﺘﺎﺤﺕ ﻨﻤﻭﺍﹰ ﺃﻓﻀـل ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻴﺠﺔ ﺤﺩﻴﺜﺎ. ﻏﻴﺭ ﺃﻥ ﺃﺜﺭ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺠﻤﺎﻋﺎﺕ ﻴﺨﺘﻠﻑ ﻤﻥ ﺭﺘﺒﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﺨﺭﻯ، ﺇﺫ ﺃﻅﻬﺭﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﻤـﻥ ﺭﺘﺒـﺔ

ﻟﻸﻋﺸﺎﺏ ﺒﺴﺒﺏ ﺘﻭﻓﺭ ﻜﻤﻴﺎﺕ ﺃﻜﺜﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻀﻭﺀ ﻭﺍﻟﻐﺫﺍﺀ ﻤﻘﺎﺭﻨﺔ ﻤﻊ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﻜﺜﻴﻔﺔ. ﻭﺒﻨﺎﺀً ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻴﻤﻜﻥ ﺘﺤﺩﻴﺩ ﺍﻟﺤﻤﻭﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ ﺘﺒﻌﺎﹰ ﺍﻟﺤﺸﺭﺍﺕ ﻏﻤﺩﻴﺔ ﺍﻷﺠﻨﺤﺔ، ﺨﺎﺼﺔ ﺍﻟﻨﻭﻉ Carabus impressus ﻭﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻴﺘﺒﻊ ﻋﺎﺌﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﻨﺎﻓﺱ ﺍﻷﺭﻀﻴﺔ، ﻭﻓـﺭﺓ ﺍﻋﻠـﻰ ﻓـﻲ ﺍﻷﺭ ﺽ

ﻟﻺﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻔﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺴﻤﺎﺡ ﻟﻠﺭﻋﻲ ﻀﻤﻥ ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﻤﺘﻜﺎﻤﻠﺔ ﻟﻼﺴﺘﻔﺎﺩﺓ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻐﻁﺎﺀ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻲ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﺴﻭﻑ ﻴﺴﺎﻋﺩ ﻓﻲ ﺘﺤﺴﻴﻥ ﺩﺨـل ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻻ ﺘﺘﻌﺭﺽ ﻟﻠﺭﻋﻲ، ﻓﻲ ﺤﻴﻥ ﺃﻥ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﺘﺎﺒﻌﺔ ﻟﻌﺎﺌﻼﺕ ﻤﻥ ﺭﺘﺒﺔ ﺤﺸـﺭﺍﺕ ﻏﺸـﺎﺌﻴﺔ ﺍﻻﺠﻨﺤـﺔ

ﺍﻟﺴﻜﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺎﻭﺭﻴﻥ ﻟﻠﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﻫﻤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺩﺍﻤﺔ. ﻭﺠﺩﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻻﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﻁﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﺍﻭ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﻤﻴﺔ ﻤﺜل ﻋﺎﺌﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﻨﺤل ﻭﺯﻨﺎﺒﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﺴﺎﻕ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺸﺎﺭﻴﺔ ﻭﺯﻨﺎﺒﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﻁﻴﻥ ﺍﻟﺤﺎﻓﺭﺓ، ﻭ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻟـﻡ ﺘﻼﺤـﻅ ﻓـﻲ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ ﻨﻬﺎﺌﻴﺎ، ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎﺒل ﻭﺠﺩﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻷﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﺘﺎﺒﻌﺔ ﻟﻌﺎﺌﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﻨﻤل ﻤﺜل (Form 5) ﻓﻲ ﺍﻷﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ ﻓﻘﻁ. ﻭﻗﺩ ﺒﻴﻨﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺩﻤﺔ ﻟﻠﻁﺒﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﺘﺤﺕ ﺃﺸﺠﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﺼﻨﻭﺒﺭ ﻜﺎﻥ ﺃﻜﺜﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺌـﺩ ﺒـﺩﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺃﻴﻀﺎ ﻭﺠﻭﺩ ﻨﻤﻁ ﻋﺎﻡ ﻟﺘﻐﻴﺭﺍﺕ ﻤﻭﺴﻤﻴﺔ ﻤﻌﻨﻭﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺃﻋﺩﺍﺩ ﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎﺕ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﻅﻡ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺸـﺒﻴﺔ ﻓـﻲ ﻤﻨﻁ ﻘـﺔ ﺭﻋـﻲ ( ,.Dangerfield & Harwell, 1990; Grado et al ﻴﻌﺘﺒﺭ ﺍﻟﻨﻅﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺤﺭﺍﺠﻲ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻱ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻴﻌﺘﻤﺩ ﻋﻠـﻰ ﺍﺴـﺘﻐﻼل ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ، ﺇﺫ ﻭﺼﻠﺕ ﺃﻋﺩﺍﺩ ﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎﺕ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﺃﻋﻠﻰ ﻤﺴﺘﻭﻴﺎﺘﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺃﺜﻨﺎﺀ ﺍﻟﺼﻴﻑ ﺤﻴﺙ ﺴـﺠﻠﺕ ﺩﺭﺠـﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺤـﺭﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻷﻋﻠـﻰ 2001). ﻭﻓﻲ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺃﺨﺭﻯ ﻤﺸﺎﺒﻬﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻭﻻﻴﺔ ﺠﻭﺭﺠﻴﺎ ﺒﻴﻨﺕ ﺃﻥ ﻤﻜﻭﻨﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻁﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﺒﻭﺍﺴﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﺍﻨﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﺄﻨﺴـﺔ ﺃﺴـﻠﻭﺏ ﻭﺭﻁﻭﺒﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺭﺒﺔ ﺍﻷﻗل، ﻭﻭﺼﻠﺕ ﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎﺕ ﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﺃﻗل ﻤﺴﺘﻭﻴﺎﺘﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺸﺘﺎﺀ ﻨﺘﻴﺠﺔ ﻟﺩﺭﺠﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﺭﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺨﻔﻀﺔ ﻭﺭﻁﻭﺒﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﺭﺒﺔ ﻏﺎﺒﺔ ﺍﻟﺼﻨﻭﺒﺭ ﺘﺤﺴﻨﺕ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺘﻁﺒﻴـﻕ ﺍﻟﺭﻋـﻲ ,.Lewis et al) ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻴﺔ. ﺍﻻﺴﺘﻨﺘﺎﺠﺎﺕ: ﻴﺅﺜﺭ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﺒﺸﻜل ﻭﺍﻀﺢ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻟﻤﻔﺼﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻷﺭﺠل ﻓﻲ ﺍﻷﻨﻅﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘـﺔ ﻭﺍﺩﻱ ﺸﺎﺌﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻤﻨﻁﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺭ ﺍﻷﺒﻴﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻭﺴﻁ (Bland, 1994)، ﺤﻴﺙ (1985. ﻭﺍﻗﺘﺭﺤﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺘﺤﻭﻴـل ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒـﺔ ﺇﻟـﻰ ﺍﻹﻨﺘـﺎﺝ ﺍﻟﻔﺎﺭﻋﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻀﻔﺔ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﺒﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻓﻠﺴﻁﻴﻥ. ﻭﻗﺩ ﺘﻜﻴﻔﺕ ﺒﻌﺽ ﺃﻨﻭﺍﻉ ﺍﻟﺤﺸﺭﺍﺕ ﻤﻥ ﺭﺘﺒﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﺸﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﻐﻤﺩﻴﺔ ﺍﻷﺠﻨﺤﺔ ﺒﺼـﻭﺭﺓ ﺠﻴـﺩﺓ ﻓـﻲ ﺘﻜﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﺎﺘﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﻤﺼﺩﺭﺍﹰ ﻋﻠﻔﻴﺎﹰ ﻟﺭﻋـﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍ ﺸـﻲ ﺍﻻﺭﺍﻀﻲ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ ، ﻭ ﺒﺨﺎﺼﺔ ﺨﻨﻔﺴﺎﺀ Carbus impressus، ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﺘﺒﻊ ﻋﺎﺌﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﻨﺎﻓﺱ ﺍﻷﺭﻀﻴﺔ، ﻭﻟﺫﻟﻙ ﻴﻤﻜﻥ ﺃﻥ ﺘﺴـﺘﻌﻤل ﻫـﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺤﺭﺍﺠﻲ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻱ silvo-pasture ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻴﻜﻭﻥ ﺍﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩﻴﺎﹰ ﺃﻜﺜﺭ ﻤﻥ ﻭﺘﺴﺎﻫﻡ ﻓﻲ ﺯﻴﺎﺩﺓ ﺍﻹﻨﺘﺎﺝَ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﺍﻨﻲ ﻤﻥ ﺨﻼل ﺘﻭﻓﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﻐﺫﺍﺀ ﻟﻠﻤﺎﺸﻴﺔ. ﺍﻟﺨﻨﻔﺴﺎﺀ ﻜﻤﺅﺸﺭ ﺤﻴﻭﻱ ﻟﻺﻀﻁﺭﺍﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ (ﻤﺜل ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ) ﻓﻲ ﺍﻻﻨﻅﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ. ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﻻ ﻴﺴﺘﻔﺎﺩ ﻤﻥ ﻏﻁﺎﺌﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺒﻲ. ﻭﻜﺫﻟﻙ ﺘﻭﺼـل Husak ﻭﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﺭﻏﻡ ﻤﻥ ﺍﺨﺘﻼﻑ ﻭﺠﻬـﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻨﻅـﺭ ﺒﺨﺼـﻭﺹ ﺍﻟﺴـﻤﺎﺡ Grado & (2002) ﺇﻟﻰ ﻨﻔﺱ ﺍﻟﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ. ﻭﺘﺅﻜﺩ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴـﺎﺕ ﺒﺎﻟﺭﻋﻲ، ﺤﻴﺙ ﻴﻌﺘﻘﺩ ﻜﺜﻴﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺤـﺭﺍﺠﻴﻴﻥ ﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﺭﻋـﻲ ﻭﺇﻨﺘـﺎﺝ ﻭﺍﻵﺭﺍﺀ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﺅﻴﺩ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻀﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﺃﻫﻤﻴﺔ ﻭﻀﻊ ﺨﻁﻁ ﺤﻜﻴﻤـﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﺸﺏ ﻤﻥ ﻏﺎﺒﺔ ﻭﺍﺤﺩﺓ ﻏﻴﺭ ﻤﺘﻜﺎﻤل ﺒﺴﺒﺏ ﺍﻟﻀﺭﺭ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻴﻤﻜﻥ ﺃﻥ ﻹﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﻭﺍﺴﺘﻐﻼل ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ، ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺒﺩﺃ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ ﺃﻨﻪ ﻓﻲ ﺤـﺎل ﻋـﺩﻡ ﻭﺠـﻭﺩ ﻴﺴﺒﺒﻪ ﻟﻸﺸﺠﺎﺭ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﺎﺩﺭﺍﺕ (Gillet & Galandat, 1996). ﺒﻴﻨﻤﺎ ﻀﺭﺭ ﻟﻸﺨﺸﺎﺏ ﻓﺈﻥ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻴﻜﻭﻥ ﻤﻔﻴﺩﺍ ﻭﺍﻗﺘﺼـﺎﺩﻴ ﺎ ﻓـﻲ ﺘﻌـﺩﺩ ﻴﺅﻴﺩ ﺁﺨﺭﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻀﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺃﺴﺎﺱ ﺃﻨﻪ ﺃﺩﺍﺓ ﻓﻌﺎﻟـﺔ ﻓـﻲ ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﺍﻡ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ. ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴل ﺍﻟﺸﺠﻴﺭﺍﺕ ﻭﺍﻷﻋﺸﺎﺏ ﻏﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﻤﺭﻏﻭﺒﺔ Allen) (Bartolome, 1989; Sharrow & Fletcher, 1994 &. ﺇﻥ ﺍﻻﺴﺘﻔﺎﺩﺓ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻷﻋﺸﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻭﻴﺔ ﺒﺸﻜل ﺼﺤﻴﺢ ﻴﻤﻜـﻥ ﺃﻥ ﻭﻤﻥ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻁﻠﻕ ﺃﺠﺭﻴﺕ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﻋﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﻟﺘﻭﻀﺢ ﻭﺠﻬﺔ ﻨﻅﺭ ﻜـل ﻴﻭﻓﺭ ﻜﺜﻴﺭﺍﹰ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻔﻭﺍﺌﺩ ﺍﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ﻤﺜـل ﺘﻘﻠﻴـل ﺍﻟﺤﺎﺠـﺔ ﻓﺭﻴﻕ. ﻭﻋﻠﻰ ﺴﺒﻴل ﺍﻟﻤﺜﺎل ﻓﻘﺩ ﻭﺠﺩ ﻓﻲ ﺠﻨـﻭﺏ ﺸـﺭﻕ ﺍﻟﻭﻻﻴـﺎﺕ ﻹﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﻤﺒﻴﺩﺍﺕ ﺍﻷﻋﺸﺎﺏ ﺘﺤﺕ ﺍﻷﺸﺠﺎﺭ. ﻜﺫﻟﻙ ﻴﺴﺎﻫﻡ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻓـﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺩﺓ ﺇﻥ ﺭﻋﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﺸﻴﺔ ﺘﺤﺕ ﺃﺸﺠﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﺼﻨﻭﺒﺭ ﺃﺩﻯ ﺇﻟـﻰ ﺯﻴـﺎﺩﺓ ﺘﻘﻠﻴل ﻤﺨﺎﻁﺭ ﺍﻟﺤﺭﺍﺌﻕ ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻻﺴﺘﻔﺎﺩﺓ ﻤﻥ ﺩﻭﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﻨﺎﺼﺭ ﺍﻟﻐﺫﺍﺌﻴـﺔ ﺇﻨﺘﺎﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﺸﻲ ﻤﻊ ﺘﺤﺴﻥ ﻓـﻲ ﺍﻹﻨﺘـﺎﺝ ﺍﻟﺨﺸـﺒﻲ ,Calson) ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺘﺠﺔ ﻤﻥ ﻤﺨﻠﻔﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻭﺍﻨﺎﺕ ﻭﺍﻟﺘـﻲ ﺘﻜـﻭﻥ ﻤﻔﻴـﺩﺓ ﻟﻸﺸـﺠﺎﺭ (1995. ﻭﻓﻲ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺃﺨﺭﻯ ﺒﻴﻨﺕ ﺇﻥ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺌﺩ ﺍﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩﻱ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺭﻋﻲ ﻭﺍﻷﻋﺸﺎﺏ. ﻜﺫﻟﻙ ﺘﻭﻓﺭ ﺍﻟﻐﺎﺒﺔ ﻤﺼﺩﺭﺍﹰ ﻟﻠﺭﻋﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻔﺘﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﻜﻭﻥ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻷﻋﺸﺎﺏ ﻗﺩ ﺠﻔﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﻁﻕ ﺍﻷﻜﺜﺭ ﺠﻔﺎﻓﺎﹰ، ﻭﺒﺎﻟﺘﺎﻟﻲ ﺘﻘﻠل ﻤﻥ

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