Abundance and Diversity of Arthropods in the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
A. Adeniyi, A. Adeyemo, G. Oyebode, D. Alade, S. Ijaola, O. Atobatele, and I. Olatubi5 (1-11)
Abstract
Seasonal variations affect the diversity and abundance of arthropods. Despite the extensive grasslands and woodlands at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the composition of the arthropod community including its diversity, abundance, and species richness remains unexplored. This study examined dry and wet season insect populations at three locations (Forest Nursery [FN], Sports Center [SC], and Fadama) on the FUNAAB campus between December 2018 and August 2019. Insect samples were collected at 30-m distance from each other using a sweep net, pitfall traps, and a line transect. A total of 902 arthropods were collected, representing 8 orders, 18 families, and 21 species. Margalef’s Index, Pielou’s Index, and Shannon’s indices of species richness and diversity analysis showed that the Fadama had the most species diversity. The FN had the maximum species diversity during the dry season (H = 2.895), while during the wet season, the SC had the least (H = 2.757). Fisher’s alpha of diversity shows that the SC had the highest diversity (7.439) during the wet season, whereas the Fadama had the lowest (5.702) during the dry season. Pairwise diversity t-test revealed no significant differences between habitats and seasons (p > 0.05). This study brings to the fore the composition, abundance, and diversity of arthropods and some weeds in FUNAAB and underscores the need for more study.