Assessment of arthropod diversity on selected medicinal trees in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Nigeria

Abstract

This study assesses the diversity of arthropods associated with selected medicinal trees, specifically oil bean, neem, and sycamore trees. A total of 378 arthropods were recorded, yielding an average of 63.0±6.30 per site. The oil bean tree exhibited the highest mean abundance (74±1.0), while the sycamore tree had the lowest (47±7.0). Analysis of variance indicated no significant differences in arthropod abundance (F=3.1082, P=0.1857, P>0.05) or species richness (F=1.5, P=0.3536, P>0.05) across the sites. Twenty-five arthropod species were identified, with the greenhouse cockroach (Pycnoscelus surinamensis) being the most prevalent. The oil bean tree also showed the highest species richness (5.5±0.5) and diversity index (1.66±0.07), while sycamore trees had the lowest values in both metrics. The study identified ten feeding categories among the arthropods, with notable variations in abundance across tree species. The oil bean trees supported the highest number of predators, while the sycamore trees had the greatest prevalence of detritivores. Additionally, the research categorized the arthropods into beneficial species, agricultural pests, and non-pests, highlighting the ecological significance of these trees in supporting diverse arthropod communities. Overall, this study underscores the importance of medicinal trees in promoting arthropod diversity and their potential role in ecosystem health.