Coastal Arthropod Community Composition of Tainan- Application of Functional Groups and Life-history Strategies

• Main Authors: Pen-Hsun Chu, 朱本勛
• Other Authors: 王建平
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/g9r447

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 生物多樣性研究所 === 102 === SUMMARY The objectives of this study were to research (1) the arthropods community of the coastal Chiku area and the Shicao area in Tainan (2) the composition of different life-history strategies and (3) the composition of the functional feeding groups. The specimens of arthropods were collected on a monthly basis from November 2010 to February 2012. The analysis mainly addressed six months data (June, July, August, December 2011, January, and February 2012). In total, 8,061 individuals were collected in this quantitative research. According to different arthropod compositions, the habitats are divided into three types: mangroves, windbreak forest and shrub-grassland. The collections were classified into four major life-history strategies (Reproduction, Development, Dispersal and Synchronization ) and four levels of functional groups (Detrivore, Saprovore, Herbivore and Carnivore). Dispersal strategy is the most diverse type of all strategies in coastal habitat in Tainan. Reproduction strategy is the most abundant type of all strategies in coastal habitat in Tainan. The abundance of these four strategies is positively correlated with the degree of sunshine. In the summer, the abundance of Dispersal strategies is affected by the humidity while the rainfall significantly affects the abundance of Synchronization strategy. The compositional ratio of the number of functional groups is similar to those of all habitats. The number of Detrivorous is richer when vegetation is higher. Key words: Arthropods、Community、Functional feeding groups 、Life history strategies INTRODUCTION Chiku area and Shicao area are a part of Taijiang Inland Sea. In the floods brought by the storm 1823 Zengwen River changed its course and the large amount of sediment washed down from upstream deposited. The Taijiang Inland Sea split the sea into three lagoons: Kunshen, Shicao and Chiku lagoons. It was gradually developed into salt-pans, fishing ponds and villages due to the siltation of the inland sea (Ueng et al. 2011). Tens of thousands of migratory birds would fly southward via or stay this area every fall and winter in the Taijiang Inland Sea . The early studies on Arthropods were mainly on the water birds. The estimation of diets of the birds was common in these studies. Functional feeding groups analysis is the major method for arthropods community research in Taiwan (Yang, 2012). The concept of pyramid energy is based on this method. However, it cannot be used for further research such as how to measure the energy outputs. Therefore, the life-history strategy is a novel way to make a complete investigation of species. Strategies of adapting to the environment can be classified by different combinations of life-history traits (Verberk et al., 2008；Van Noordwijk et al., 2010). MATERIALS AND METHODS Sampling areas of the study included one mangrove, two windbreaks, three grasslands and one shrub. There are eight areas located in Chiku and Shicao, respectively. The specimens of arthropods were collected by Pit-fall trap、Malaise trap and Berlese funnel on a monthly basis from November 2010 to February 2012. The analysis mainly addressed six months data (June, July, August, December 2011, January, and February 2012). We also collect Environmental factors which include temperature, humidity, wind velocity, degree of sunshine and rainfall by field sensor. Canopy height and density were measured by net rod and photo. The collections were divided into four major life-history strategies (Reproduction, Development, Dispersal and Synchronization ) and four levels of functional groups (Detrivore, Saprovore, Herbivore and Carnivore)in the study. Analysis of the data, which include Biodiversity, Dominance index, Similarity Index and Principal component analysis of environmental factors use Primer 6.0 to summarize collections of each habitat. . Linear regression of major environmental factors and species abundance were drawn by Minitab 16. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION From our investigation, Hymenoptera was the dominant order of Coastal arthropod community. A total of 8,061 individuals were collected in this quantitative research. Hemiptera and Diptera were secondary dominant order of Coastal arthropod community (Tab. 3). According to different arthropod compositions, the habitats are divided into three types: mangroves, windbreak forest and shrub-grassland (Fig. 27). The collections were classified into four major life-history strategies (Reproduction, Development, Dispersal and Synchronization ) and 13 sub-strategies by re-devised combination of life-history traits (Tab. 6). Life-history traits of each family were referred for this method (App. 1). Dispersal strategy is the most diverse type of all strategies in coastal habitat in Tainan. Reproduction strategy is the most abundant type of all strategies in coastal habitat in Tainan (Fig. 13). The abundance of these four strategies is positively correlated with the degree of sunshine (Fig. 30~33). Dispersal strategy and synchronization strategy obviously differ from period of the year. In the summer, the abundance of Dispersal strategies is affected by the humidity (Fig. 34) while the rainfall significantly affects the abundance of Synchronization strategy (Fig. 35). The compositional ratio of the diversity of functional groups is similar to those of all habitats (Fig. 23), but the number of functional groups is not (Fig. 24). The number of Detrivorous is richer when vegetation is higher or within quickly regeneration. Island habitat or higher wind velocity may isolate the predation of Carnivore. CONCLUSION The richness of all types of species is affected positively by sunshine and temperature. Species of dispersal strategy is apparently affected by humidity, especially in the summer. Therefore, (1) the sunshine and humidity monitoring are the most important to the management of Tainan coastal habitats. (2) habitat preservation, artificial pure forests and large area weeding appropriately control the vegetation height, and will be able to contribute to the diversity and stability of arthropod species. (3) the analysis method of Life-history strategies provides a lot of specific mechanisms and explain how species adapt to their environment. If the biological research can be addressed more, this method would be developed more sophistically.