1. EFFECT OF LAND USE TYPE ON COLLEMBOLA DIVERSITY AND DENSITY IN
MABIRA FOREST AREA, UGANDA
processes are important drivers of local biodiversity.
BY
Diversity was highest in Forestry and lowest in
Sugarcane. The human influences in these sites thefore
BUTONO PAUL
Introduction. Collembola composition.
A total of 1165 Collembola Relationship
Human activities have significantly changed
from 5 families of between environmental Land use simil
ecosystems, thereby often impairing their capacity to
Entomobryidae, parameters and CQI. arity
provide ecosystem services crucial for our survival.
Collembolans respond to changes in soil chemistry, Isotomidae, Sminthuridae,
Sugarc ane
D1 and D2: 54.77 %
Gras sland
F orest
F allow
M ix ed
namely soil pH, and changes in microclimatic and Poduridae and Anuridae 0.75
1
Collembola QI
Chemical
1.04
were collected. Isotomidae
0.96
microhabitat conditions like moisture, amount and
Organic
0.5 0.88
BGBD
quality of litter and humus type. Land use types are key were the most abundant 0.25 0.8
D 2 ( 2 0 .0 5 % )
GISQ
0.72
Sim ilarity
0
elements for understanding biodiversity while the Sminthuridae -0.25
Physical
AGBD
0.64
0.56
were the least abundant. -0.75
-0.5
0.48
0.4
Richness Evenness -1
Objectives.
0.32
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 3 3.6 4.2 4.8 5.4 6
-1 -0.75 -0.5 -0.25 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
D1 (34.72 %)
Box plots (Richness)
Box plots (Eevenness)
1. Assess the plant species composition in the 6
1
Land Use Type
different land use types. 5
0.8
2. Inventory the Collembola community composition R ic h n e s s
4
0.6
Eeven n ess
in the different land use types. 3
0.4
0.2
2
3. Establish the relationship among above ground 1
0.2
P o duridae
biodiversity, environmental characteristics and
Fo rest A nuridae
Sminthuridae
.26 )
F2 (8 %
Fallo w Ento mo bryidae
Mixed CroppingSugarcane M ixed
0 0 M ixed Cropping
Sugarcane
Forest Fallow Area Grassland Sy stems Plantation Forest Fallow Area Grassland Systems Plantation 0
Collembola diversity and density
Diversity. The comparison of Sugarcane
Grassland
medians of the Collembola diversity Iso to midae
Methods. using the Kruskal Wallis test of the -0.2
-0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4
F1 (88.80 %)
Plant sampling. five LUTs showed that there was no
Circular plots of 10 m radius in cultivated/fallow and significant difference.
plantation areas. Each plant was identified to species
level. The life form of each plant was recorded as Tree,
Shrub, Herb, Grass, Woody Climber or Herbaceous
Climber. Abundance was assessed using the visual Discussion
method of estimating percentage cover. The mixed cropping systems of Mabira region are the richest in Collembola. The
Collembola sampling. Collembola community in the study area was strongly dominated by Isotomidae.
Soil core for estimating relative abundance. Dominant Isotomidae family represented high reproductive rate and adaptive
Winkler extractors for the extraction of Collembola. ability. The feature has allowed some of the family to colonize forests and open
micro-habitats. A similar pattern is reported by Lauga-Reyrel & Deconchat
(1999) for oak coppice forests in France.
Data analysis.
ANOVA with F tests and kruscal Wallis tests carried
This may be explained by the presence of high organic matter, humid soils,
out. Post hoc tests of Turkey (HSD) and Benferroni. acidity, nitrogen and presence of shade. Collembola are less pigmented and have
Principle component Analysis (PCA) soft cuticle hence are poorly adapted to withstand direct sun beams, decreasing
consequently in open, grass lands (Hopkin 1997). Low numbers recorded in
grass land LUT may be due to decreased organic matter, soil compaction, lack of
RESULTS.
shade and agricultural intensification which may have led to deterioration of soil
Floral characteristics.
418 species in 293 genera and 93 families physical and chemical conditions (Lauga-Reyrel & Deconchat, 1999).
Trees were the most abundant. Herbs had the highest
number of species. The commonest plant spp in the forest
LUT was the Atiaris toxicaris, in fallow was Bidens pilosa, Conclusion
Grassland, mixed cropping and sugar cane was Ageratum The commonest plant species are Atiaris toxicaris, Bidens pilosa, and Ageratum
conyzoides conyzoides. The non-woody species put together were more abundant. Landscape
patterns and processes like LUT have a considerable impact on family richness
Richness: Diversity. Evenness and community composition of Collembola. Temporal patterns and processes are
60
3.5
1 important drivers of local biodiversity. Conversion of forests to grasslands
0.9 modified the Collembola taxonomic diversity being highest in the grassland
50 3
0.8
system. Collembola density was highest in mixed cropping systems and least in
fallow area.
S p e c ie s E v e n n e s s
40
S h a n n o n In d e x
2.5
S p e c ie s
0.7
30
2
0.6
20
10
1.5
0.5 Acknowledgement
0 Mixed Cropping 1 Mixed CroppingSugarcane
Forest Fallow Area Grassland Systems Plantation
0.4
Forest Fallo w Area Grassland
Mixed Cropping
Systems Sugarcane Plantation
Special thanks to DR. V. Muwanika and DR. M. Isabirye, my supervisors and to
Forest Fallow Area Grassland Systems Sugarcane Plantatio n
DR. Rwakaikarara silver, the Below Ground Project Coordinator in Uganda for
her enviable support she gave throughout the study period. I sincerely thank Dr.
Arne Fjellberg for assisting in the systematic of Collembola during the training
work shop in Nairobi and Brian Isabirye for his technical work support.