Change in ground-dwelling arthropod communities in different agroecosystems in Wang Nam Khiao, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand

Abstract

The impact of agricultural practices on the biodiversity of arthropods is basic knowledge that is required for the assessment of soil health. In addition, arthropod diversity and abundance may be indirectly limited by disturbance of the soil surface; however, there are very few data available regarding this issue. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the agricultural production system on soil arthropod communities. Arthropods were sampled using a Tullgren funnel in three types of agricultural production system and in total, 12 macro-arthropod orders were found. The results showed that ground-dwelling arthropod communities were significantly different among the three practices. The most diverse arthropod communities were found in organic farming (species mean ± SD = 49 ± 4.2) compared to the other agricultural production systems; thus, different practices affected the ground-dwelling arthropod communities in agricultural land in Northeast Thailand. The results clearly revealed that a change in the diversity and abundance of some arthropod groups was associated with agricultural activities and in particular, isopods, spiders and beetles. Thus, no single taxon of soil arthropods could be used as a bioindicator of soil health and land use intensity.