Rocket launching activities are associated with reduced insect species richness and abundance in two types of tropical plantations around the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, southern China

Abstract

Rocket launches are such rare events that their impacts on the environment or biodiversity are almost never studied. Here we report on changes in local insect diversity in the immediate aftermath of a rocket launch conducted on June 25th, 2016 from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, southern China. Rocket fuel emissions and disturbance associated with rocket launches may negatively influence local insect biodiversity. We compared insect community structure before and after the rocket launch in two different tropical tree plantations near the launch site. We studied insect species richness (total species numbers) and abundances (total individuals.of all species) using insect net and mercury lamp trapping in a total of six 20 × 20 m2 plots distributed three each in a mixed plantation of coconut (Cocos nucifera) with 10 native tree species, and a pure coconut plantation. Comparing insect species richness and abundances, we found that species richness and abundances were overall greater in the mixed species plantation compared to the coconut monoculture. We also found that species richness and abundance were overall lower after the launch event. However, there was no significant difference in the response of the two plantations, either in richness or abundance, to the launch disturbance. Therefore, the negative effect appeared indiscriminate with respect to plantation type, and the greater plant diversity or insect diversity in the mixed plantation did not protect against this disturbance. Therefore, the general impact of rocket launching disturbance may be similar to catastrophic disturbances (e.g., typhoons) that cause widespread mortality irrespective of species.