标题：Abundance and diversity of insects associated with Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia germinans in Bundu-Ama mangrove ecosystem of the Niger Delta, Nigeria
摘要：AbstractMangrove species diversity is well known for larger animals and plant, but little is known about mangrove insects and their significance and yet they perform important roles in the ecology of the habitat. The present study was conducted to determine the diversity of insects associated withRhizophora mangleandAvicennia germinansin Bundu-Ama mangrove habitats, a tributary of the Bonny River in the Niger Delta. Two stations were established based on the abundance of the mangroves. A total of 18 mangrove trees (nine each) for both species were randomly selected and insect samples collected bi-weekly between 7 am and 11 am between April and June 2017, making a total of 108 trees per station within the study period. Each tree was sampled for 10 min using sweep net, hand net and handpicking methods. A total of 8 insect orders (Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Rhopalocera, Odonata, Phasmida and Heterocera), 20 families and 35 species were identified. Hymenoptera (49.1%) was the highest insect order recorded, followed by Diptera and Homoptera.Avicenniahad more insect orders, families and species. Coleoptera, diptera and Hymenoptera were found on both plants while others were onAvicenniaonly. Formicidae was the most abundant family (37.1%) while Lagiidae was the least (0.2%). The most abundant species wasCamponotus acvapimenis. The highest species diversity was observed in the Diptera with Shanon H’ of 2.00 forAvicenniaand 2.13 forRhizophora.The richness index was 2.43 forAvicenniaand 2.62 forRhizophora, and the highest species evenness (E’= 0.40) was observed in the Diptera indicating that the insects were not evenly distributed. Two insect associations were identified: a specialist group of 23 species onAvicennia, and 6 species onRhizophora, while the second group were the generalist made up of 3 speciesAnopheles squamosus, Musca domesticaandFanniasp. Insect families (Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Syrphidae, Ceratopogonidae, Culicidae, Tabanidae) are of medical, veterinary and ecological importance as pollinators, bioindicators, predators, parasitoid, agricultural pest and detritivores. Insect diversity was found to be higher inAvicenniathan inRhizophora. This study has shown that the mangroves of Bundu-Ama have a vast array of insects which will contribute to their biodiversity data and subsequent conservation and management of ecosystem in the Niger Delta.
