Population fluctuation and biodiversity of soil arthropods (myriapods) in Zagros forests (Case study: Ilam city)

Document Type : Animal environment

Authors

1 Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

2 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

Abstract

The present study was carried out during a one year period in 2016-2017 in order to investigation of population fluctuation and biodiversity of soil mesofauna including myripods (Arthropoda: Myriapoda) of forests in Ilam region (Ilam Province, west of Iran). For this purpose, soil samplings were performed from three regions located at different altitudes of Gachan, Manesht and Ghalarang Mountains during different seasons of the year. Soil samples were transferred to the laboratory and myripods were extracted using the Berlese funnel. Totally, 730 specimens of centipedes and millipedes were collected and counted, all belonging to three families Dignathodontidae (Henia sp.), Scolopendridae (Scolopendra cingulata) and Julidae (Cylindroiulus sp. and Amblyiulus sp.). The maximum density of soil myripods in all three areas was observed in the spring; and their population density was higher in Gachan Mountain (147 centipedes / m2, 136 millipedes / m2) than in Manesht (111 centipedes / m2, 128 millipedes / m2) and Ghalarang (92 centipedes / m2, 131 millipedes / m2). In late autumn, population density decreased significantly in all three areas. Based on the results of analysis of variance, the effect of different seasons on population density of myripods in all three regions was significant at 1% level. Given the diverse vegetation in this area, the Shannon-Weiner and Simpson indices were high and optimal in all three areas. The results of Shannon's evenness index also showed that the value of this indicator for millipedes was higher than centipedes in all the three sampled areas. According to this study, myripods are potentially one of the main factors in food chain in Zagros forests and our results show the importance of biodiversity conservation and management of natural resources of this area.

Keywords


  1. Akkari, N.; Stoev, P.; Enghoff, H. and Nouira, S., 2009. The millipede order Julida (Myriapoda: Diplopoda) in Tunisia, with an overview of the North African Species Soil. Organisms. Vol. 81, pp: 452-488.
  2. Bartlett-Healy, K.; Unlu, I.; Obenauer, P.; Hughes, T.; Healy, S.; Crepeau, T.; Farajollahi, A.; Kesavaraju, B.; Fonseca, D.; Schoeler, G.; Gaugler, R. and Strickman, D., 2012. Larval mosquito habitat utilization and community dynamics of Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae). J of Medical Entomology. Vol. 49, pp: 813-824.
  3. Chezhian, Y. and Prabakaran, S., 2016. Diversity of millipedes (Myriapoda: Diplopoda) In Yelagiri hills, Eastern Ghats, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies. Vol. 3, pp: 91-97.
  4. Grgič, T. and Kos, I., 2009. Centipede catch in pitfall traps with leading boards. Acta Biologica Slovenica. Vol. 52, pp: 107-113.
  5. Haacker, U., 1968. Deskriptive, experimentelle und vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Autıkologie rhein-mainischer Diplopoden. Oecologia. Vol. 1, pp: 87-129.
  6. Heydari, M.; Abdi, T.; Mirab-balou, M.; Mirzaei, J. and Zabihollahi, S., 2017. Potential of soil mesofauna in reflection of site conditions for seed-origin oak regeneration in Zagros forests (case study: Dalab, Ilam Province). J of Forest & Wood Products. Vol. 70, pp: 281-291 (in Persian).
  7. Heydari, M.; Poorbabaei, H.; Bazgir, M.; Salehi, A. and Eshaghirad, J., 2014. Earthworms as indicators for different forest management types and human disturbance in Ilam oak forest, Iran. Folia Forestalia Polonica. Vol. 56, pp: 121-134.
  8. Hillel, D. and Rosenzweig, C., 2005. The role of biodiversity in agronomy. Adv. Agron. Vol. 88, pp: 1-34.
  9. Hopkin, S.P. and Read, H.J., 1992. The Biology of Millipedes. Oxford University Press. 248 p.
  10. Johnson, N.F. and Triplehorn, C.A., 2004. Borror and Delong’s introduction to the study of insects. Thomson Press, California.
  11. Kania, G. and Klapec, T., 2012. Seasonal activity of millipedes (Diplopoda) their economic and medical signicance. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. Vol. 19, pp: 646-650.
  12. Masse, P.S.M.; Nzoko Fiemapong, A.R.; VandenSpiegel, D. and Golovatch, S.I., 2017. Diversity and distribution of millipedes (Diplopoda) in the Campo Ma'an National Park, southern Cameroon. African J of Ecology, Vol. 155, pp: 1-8.
  13. Mehrafrooz Mayvan, M. and Shayanmehr, M., 2015a. An investigation of soil Chilopoda from Semeskandeh forest (Sari, Mazandaran, Iran). Taxonomy and Biosystematics. Vol. 7, pp: 1-12 (in Persian).
  14. Mehrafrooz Mayvan, M. and Shayanmehr, M., 2015b. A study on faunestic, and biodiversity and population dynamics of edaphic Millipedes (Diplopoda) during different seasons in Semeskandeh forests, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Journal of Plant Protection. Vol. 29, pp: 113-122 (in Persian).
  15. Mirab-balou, M.; Pourian, H.R. and Pishevar, S., 2013. Entomology and pest management (Second Edition). Marze Danesh Press, Tehran-Iran. 206 p. (In Persian).
  16. Paknia, O.; Kami, H.Q. and Golnik Mahzar, E., 2005. Reports of new fauna of Chilopoda in Iran. 13th International Conference and 1st International Conference on Iranian Biology, Guilan University, Rasht.Iran (in Persian).
  17. Reisi, S.; Jalali, S.G., and Espahbodi, K., 2011. An investigation of genetic variation of (Quercus castaneafolia C.A. Mey) in Neka and Noor forest of Mazandaran using peroxides activities. Taxonomy and Biosystematics. Vol. 3, pp: 11-22 (in Persian).
  18. Sayad, E.; Hosseini, S.M.; Hosseini, V. and Salehe Shooshtari, M.H., 2012. Plantations in Dez River Floodplain Influence Soil Macrofauna Differently. Journal of Water and Soil, Vol. 26, pp: 700-707 (in Persian).
  19. Staley, J.T.; Hodgson, C.J.; Mortimer, S.R.; Morecroft, M.D.; Masters, G.J.; Brown, V.K. and Taylor, M.E., 2007. Effect of summer rainfall manipulations on the abundance & vertical distribution of herbivorous soil macro invertebrates. European Journal of Soil Biology. Vol. 43, pp: 189-198.
  20. Tuf, I.H. and Tufova, J., 2008. Proposal of ecological classification of centipede, millipede & terrestrial isopod faunas for evaluation of habitat quality in Czech Republic. Casopis Slezskeho Zemskeho Muzea Opava. Vol. 57, pp: 37-44.
  21. Voigtländer, K., 2005. Habitat preferences of selected central European centipedes. Peckiana. Vol. 4, pp: 163-179.
  22. Wytwer, J.; Golovatch, S.I. and Penev, L., 2009. Variation in millipede (Diplopoda) assemblages in oak woodlands of the Eastern Europe Plain. Organisms, Vol. 81, pp: 791-813.
  23. Yahyapoor, E. and Shayanmehr, M., 2013. Introduction of some Entomobryidae species (Collembola) from different Caspian regions. Taxonomy and Biosystematics. Vol. 5, pp: 15-24 (in Persian).