Evaluating the Abundance of Soil Macro-Invertebrates in Idoro Community, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

A comparative study of the influence of farmland and waste dump on the abundance and diversity of soil macro invertebrates in Idoro community of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was investigated between September 2015 and February, 2016. Soil samples were randomly collected at near soil surface layer (10 cm x 10 cm) by extraction using hand trowel into sterile polythene bags. The samples were analysed for macro-invertebrates using standard methods. A total of 249 soil macro invertebrate representing (13) invertebrate taxa belonging to nine (9) orders from six (6) classes and three (3) phyla (comprising of Arthropoda, Mollusca and Annelida) were encountered. In the wastes dump site, 114 invertebrates were encountered, while 135 were encountered in the cultivated farmland, The overall abundance of soil macro invertebrate phyla in both sampling sites were as follows; waste dumpsite (Arthropoda (65.5%) > Mollusca (25.5%) > Annelida (13.4%) and Cultivated farm land (Arthropoda (96.8%) > Mollusca (1.5%) > Annelida (3.0%). In the waste dump site, the percentage abundance of macro invertebrates were Arthropod larvae with (27.1%), Blaniulus guttulatus (22.8%) followed by Pachychilidae sp. (21.1%), while the least were Hogna sp. (Wolf spider) (0.7%). In the cultivated farmland, the percentage abundance of the recorded taxa were Blaniulus guttulatus (millipede) (54.1%), followed by Asiomorpha coarctata (11.1%), Oniscidea sp., Formica rufa, Crytocerus puntulatus, Hogna sp. with (4.4%) respectively, while the least were Veronicella sp. and Oxidus gracilis (0.7%) respectively. Conclusively, the difference in the abundance and diversity of the soil invertebrates between the contrasting habitats could be attributed to land use pattern which have greatly impacted on the soil biotic community structure.