Influence of afforestation on coleopterans abundance and diversity at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania
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Date
2022
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Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Afforestation transforms the structure and functioning ability of an ecosystem. Converting a bare landscape through afforestation may have positive and negative consequences to the biodiversity. The study assessed the abundance and diversity of beetles in different selected habitats at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. The habitats involved afforested areas with exotic trees of five years, three years, and eight months, as well as shrubland and grassland. Pitfall traps were established along the 10 transects of 100 m each in the sampled plots to collect beetles. About 1031 beetles of 19 species were collected. Species richness was high in shrubland [Margalef’s index (D) = 1.75, 10 species] and in afforested plots of five years (D = 1.62, 9 species), implying that areas with high vegetation cover might be suitable for beetles. Kruskal–Wallis showed a statistically significant difference among the five plots (H = 57.33, p = 0.03), with the highest abundance in shrubland (303 individuals). An afforested area was occupied by 608 beetles, equivalent to 59% of total abundance. According to the Shannon-Wiener index, shrubland had the most species diversity (H′ = 3.17) and an 8-month plantation had the least (0.61). The study also found that the species abundance, richness, and diversity were high in the 5-year old afforested plot. The difference in abundance was statistically significant in afforested areas (Kruskal-Wallis, H = 31.21, p = 0.01). The study recommends more research on the influence of plant species on beetle abundance and diversity to gain a better understanding of beetle functional diversity.
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Full Text Article.
Also available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2022.100208
Keywords
Natural habitats, Afforested habitats, Invertebrates, Plantations, Specialist species, Afforestation, Tanzania, Coleopterans abundance, Biodiversity, Exotic trees
Citation
Gayo, L. (2022). Influence of afforestation on coleopterans abundance and diversity at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 16, 100208.