LINKER: The Journal of Emerging Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Vol. 1, No. 1, (2020) https://doi.org/10.00000/ LINKER: TJERAFF The Journal of Emerging Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Species Diversity of Terrestrial Arthropods in the Forest Ecosystem of Bugkalots in Wasid, Nagtipunan, Quirino Florenda B. Temanel 1, Jomabel L. Trapse2 College of Arts and Sciences, Isabela State University, Echague,Isabela, Philippines1 College of Arts and Sciences, Isabela State University, Echague,Isabela, Philippines2 Corresponding author’s e-mail address: [email protected] ABSTRACT Bugkalots are considered to have an intimate connection with the forest. Their existence and culture are closely intertwined with the forest, so their very existence may be impaired by biodiversity loss. In the animal kingdom, arthropods are the most diverse taxonomic group. When used as bio-indicators, they can provide valuable information related to the function and stability of ecosystems. A survey was conducted of arthropods using opportunistic sampling and net sweeping. The diversity of species was determined using the Shannon-Weiner index and the Simpson’s diversity indices. The major arthropod fauna in the Bugkalots forest ecosystem were species belonging to Class Insecta. There were 22 taxa documented consisting of 21 insect species and one Chilopoda species. Only one species was found to be abundant while all the remaining species were found to be rare. Based on the computed Simpson index value (0.7835), the species diversity in the study area was high. The Shannon-Weiner index showed moderate species diversity in the study area, implying moderate species richness and species evenness. Ten of the 22 identified species of arthropods were pollinators, seven were predators, and five were pests. Keywords - species diversity, terrestrial arthopods, species composition, species abundance, species function Introduction global functioning and survival. Thus, they play an important role in ecosystem functioning. Arthropods occupy the widest diversity of microhabitats and niches, and play more ecological Arthropods fulfill a diversity of ecological roles than any other group of animals. The forest roles within natural ecosystems and provides canopy layers provide an abundance of habitats in economic benefits in agricultural systems (Isaac et which arthropod communities could survive. Many of al., 2009). About 80% of the flowering plants on the arthropod species are particularly important in Earth are pollinated by insects. Approximately one maintaining ecological processes that sustain forest third of the world’s crop production depend directly production and ecosystem services (Schowalter, or indirectly on pollination by insects. Arthropods are 2017). The large proportions of arthropods in the also responsible for much of the nutrient cycling, faunal biomass in tropical systems greatly influence conditioning and aeration of the soil (Esenowo et al., the earth’s biodiversity (Basset et al., 2012). 2014). Soil arthropods are vital link in the food chain Arthropods are closely associated with living and as decomposers and are increasingly recognized to non-living entities alike, making impact plant performance, plant competition and thus the ecosystem services they provide crucially plant community composition. important. Their bio-ecology is closely linked with www.linkertjsahs.com 1 LINKER: The Journal of Emerging Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Vol. 1, No. 1, (2020) https://doi.org/10.00000/ Arthropods are the most diverse group of biological knowledge to identify aspects of organisms in most ecosystems that constitute about environmental change that are responsible for faunal 64% of the known global biodiversity. Their species change. This makes them of great use in assessing the richness vastly exceeds that of vascular plants and ecosystem’s health. Determining the diversity of vertebrates together, while their biomass within arthropods in the forest ecosystem of the Bugkalots natural ecosystems exceeds that of vertebrates will provide an insight on the effect of disturbances, (Sabado et al., 2004). They are part of the meso and both natural and man-made, in the forest ecosystem macrofauna and comprise elaborated food webs which may eventually have an impact on the lives of containing several trophic levels. Some feed directly the Bugkalots. Hence this study was conducted to on roots of living plants, but most subsist on dead determine the diversity of arthropods in the forest plant matter and are integral to the initial shredding ecosystem of Bugkalots in Wasid, Nagtipunan, of the litter which exposes nutrients to microbial Quirino. It focused on the inventory of arthropods digestion. The recycling of nutrients involves the present in the study area and on the identification of diversity of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and interaction the role of the arthropods in the forest ecosystem of invertebrates (Elanchezhian, 2014). Other using secondary data. It was limited to the arthropods are carnivores, parasites, or predators. determination of the α-diversity of local species found in the study area. Nagtipunan is the largest municipality in the province of Quirino, occupying a land area of 1607.40 square kilometers and has been the home of Methods the tribe known as Bugkalot . It is one of the many The Study Area ethnic tribes in the Philippines which are known to have an intimate relationship with the forest, being The study was conducted in the forest familiar with almost all the plant and animal species ecosystem at Wasid, Natipunan, Quirino where the in there, including their uses. The cultural and Bugkalots are located. Barangay Wasid is one of the spiritual identity of these indigenous people is often 29 barangays of the municipality of Nagtipunan. It is linked to intact primary forests with their rich composed of three (3) puroks: Kakidugen, Biton and biodiversity (Convention on Biodiversity, 2010). Siitan. The barangay covers a total land area of 13,170 hectares representing 8.19% of the total land Arthropods represent a vast resource of area of the municipality. It is generally mountainous ecosystem information that is currently underused. (9,685.22 hectares or 73.54% of the total area); while For instance, arthropods can provide information 3,468.98 hectares (26.34% of the total land area) are virtually on all macro- and microhabitats within an classified as hilly and a small fraction (15.8 hectares ecosystem. They cover several size classes, exhibit a or 12% of the total land area) is considered plain. In range of ecosystem requirements (highly specific to terms of land use, the barangay is classified as forest- generalist) and dispersal abilities, show a variety of agricultural area. Only a small portion of the land life cycle and development times, assist in mediating area is devoted to residential area. ecosystem functions such as decomposition, help maintain soil structure and soil fertility, regulate The topography of Barangay Wasid has five populations of other organisms (including arthropods, classes of contour lines ranging from 205 to 1,495 vertebrates, and plants), respond quickly to meters. The study area is located in 205 to 463 environmental changes, and act as “mobile links” meters, the lowest class in terms of contour line. essential to the reproduction of many flowering Meanwhile, the elevation of Barangay Wasid ranges plants (Kremen et al., 2003). Information derived from 196 to 1510 meters above sea level (masl). The from arthropod species assemblages can be used to highest elevation of the study area is 378 masl which accurately characterize almost any aspect of an is about 93% of the lowest elevation of Barangay ecosystem. Wasid. The use of arthropods as an indicator species Arthropod Sampling Methods, Collection, and can provide a highly sensitive advance warning of Preservation ecosystem changes. Some species react quickly to environmental stressors and are ideally suited to act Opportunistic walk or transect walk and net- as bio-indicators of habitat disturbance, pollution, and sweeping were used in the sampling and collection of climate change. Arthropods’ sensitivity to arthropods. environmental conditions allows application of www.linkertjsahs.com 2 LINKER: The Journal of Emerging Research in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Vol. 1, No. 1, (2020) https://doi.org/10.00000/ 1. Opportunistic sampling/Transect walk A 150 m transect line was laid out on the ground and organisms encountered within its 100 m width were recorded and 1a. Three pairs of walking legs . CLASS 2 considered for identification. All INSECTA 1b. More than fourteen (14) pairs 2 representative samples of each species found of walking legs . on the lower and upper surface of the foliage or even on stems and fruits were gathered. 2a. Three pairs of walking legs . 3 The collected insects were placed in killing 2b. More than 14 pairs of walking legs .. 3 jars with 70% ethyl alcohol. 3a. Two pair of wings are present 4 and are well developed . 2. Net Sweeping 3b. Wings are absent . 11 Diagonal or zigzag sampling using 4a. Mouthparts adapted for sucking, 5 with elongate proboscis . net sweeps in a 150 m by 100 m plot was 4b. Mouthparts adapted for chewing, 6 carried out in collecting insects from the without elongate proboscis . vegetation. The net used in the systematic sweeping was made of gauze net with a 5. Wings densely covered with scales; proboscis are coiled . diameter of 35cm mouth and a 50cm bag ORDER LEPIDOPTERA - Moth or Butterfly length. A single back and forth sweep covering a 1500 to 1800 arc was considered 6a. Both pair of wings are membranous 7 as a single sweep. There were 100 sweeps in and are similar in structure 6b. Front pair of wings shell-like or leathery, every plot. Insects collected in every 20 serving as covers for the second pair . 8 sweeps were transferred in killing jars and 6c. Wings usually transparent, each wing were preserved properly, either wet or dry, with an anterior node or notch . using appropriate methods. ORDER ODONATA – Dragonfly/Damselfly 7a. Both pairs of wings similar in size .