Taxonomic and functional composition of arthropod assemblages across contrasting three different land use systems

Abstract

Soil microarthropods play a crucial role in agricultural ecosystems and are necessary for the upkeep of fertile and productive soils. Limited knowledge exists regarding the composition of soil microarthropod communities in changing agricultural and impervious land use systems. Hence, we conducted a comparative analysis of the soil microarthropod diversity in shifting cultivation and impervious land areas, as well as the surrounding natural forest ecosystem in Aizawl, Mizoram, northeast India. Additionally, we evaluated the influence of shifting cultivation and impervious land use regimes on the diversity of these microarthropods. The investigation was done between 2022 and 2023. Soil and litter samples (n=50) were gathered from three distinct land use systems. The soil microarthropods were extracted using the Berlese funnel method. Microarthropod taxa were identified down to the most specific taxonomic level feasible. The variety of soil microarthropods was significantly affected by the practice of shifting cultivation and in the impervious land areas, in comparison to the natural forest system. The soil chemical profiles were notably altered in the shifting agriculture and impermeable land use systems, indicating their detrimental effects on soil microarthropod diversity. This study presented the startling information on the diversity of soil microarthropods and their relationship with the land-use systems in Mizoram, a region in northeast India.