Arthropod responses to peat land ecosystem development: Their value as agro-environmental indicators

H. Mohd. Norowi, A.B. Ismail and J. Jaya

Abstract

Agro-environmental indicators would be useful to monitor the effect of peat land development on the environment. Arthropod populations have been widely used as indicators to monitor the impact of human activities on the agro-ecosystem. In this study, the responses of ground beetles, tiger beetles, ants and spiders to the changes in transforming peat land ecosystem to agro-ecosystem were monitored with pitfall traps. Their spatial-temporal distribution patterns were investigated to indicate their suitability as agro-environmental indicators. Ground beetles were adversely affected when the peat land was cleared, suggesting its potential for monitoring immediate peat land development. Spiders and ants were abundant in the early peat land development but did not show much spatial response to changes in the landscape. They may still be useful for agro-environmental indicators, but have to be investigated in greater detail at the species level and/or a larger study area. Tiger beetles were also abundant in the early peat land development and their populations responded spatially to the landscape changes. They appeared to have the highest potential as agro-environmental indicators in early peat land development. Tiger beetles seemed to be associated with ecosystem with diverse vegetations. It is useful to delve into their ecological processes in newly disturbed peat land to further ascertain their suitability as agro-environmental indicators for wise peat land use.

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