FLUCTUATION OF FOREST FLOOR LITTER ARTHROPOD POPULATION AT TWO TROPICAL DRY EVERGREEN FORESTS IN INDIA

摘要

This study aimed to address the population changes in the forest floor litter arthropods of two tropical dry evergreen forests namely Kuzhanthaikuppam (KK) and Oorani (OR) located in India. Arthropod samples from the two forests were collected every month for one-year period. The richness of arthropods (size >3 mm) ranged from 8 to 12 taxa at KK and from 7 to 12 at OR. The density of arthropods fluctuated from 257.8 to 1257.8 ind m 2at KK and from 266.7 to 1417.8 ind m2 at OR. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) revealed that the diversity and the density of arthropods fluctuated significantly (P < 0.0001) at both the study sites.