Arthropod Biodiversity and Community Structure in Dongxiang Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogonGriff.) Fields1

Abstract

Dongxiang wild rice, Oryza rufipogon Griff. (Poales: Poaceae), has many excellent traits that are of interest to botanists and plant breeders. However, arthropod biodiversity and community structure for this rare species are not well known. Therefore, we investigated the arthropod communities in natural plots of Dongxiang wild rice at three locations in Jiangxi Province, China. The diversity and dominance indices of the arthropod communities within wild rice plots fluctuated only slightly over time. However, the diversity and dominance indices differed significantly among actively growing plots. The vegetation complex surrounding the wild rice plots affected the similarity coefficients of the arthropod communities within them. The surrounding vegetation also significantly affected the diversity and dominance indices of arthropod functional groups, except for the parasitoid group. The dominance of phytophagous groups, such as planthoppers, also was suppressed in more diverse arthropod communities. We are the first to report that the vegetation complex surrounding Dongxiang wild rice affects the pest complex within, and these data provide insight into the protection of Dongxiang wild rice from insect pests.