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DOI: 10.5400/jts.2012.17.2.173 J Trop Soils, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2012 : 173-180 173
Ecological Diversity of Soil Fauna as Ecosystem Engineers in
Small-Holder Cocoa Plantation in South Konawe
1* 2 3
Laode Muhammad Harjoni Kilowasid , Tati Suryati Syamsudin , Franciscus Xaverius Susilo
2
and Endah Sulistyawati
1Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Haluoleo University, Kendari 93232, Indonesia,
2
School of Life Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia,
3
Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Lampung University, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
*
Corresponding author. lohardjoni2@yahoo.co.id Telp./Fax.: 0401-391692
Received 31 March 2012 / accepted 9 May 2012
ABSTRACT
Taxa diversity within soil fauna functional groups can affected ecosystem functioning such as ecosystem engineers,
which influence decomposition and nutrient cycling. The objective of this study is to describe ecological diversity
variation within soil fauna as ecosystem engineers in soil ecosystem of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) plantation.
Sampling was conducted during one year period from five different ages of plantation. Soil fauna removed from soil
core using hand sorting methods. A total of 39 genera of soil fauna as ecosystem engineers were found during these
studies. Thirty five genera belong to the group of Formicidae (ants), three genera of Isoptera (termites), and one
genera of Oligochaeta (earthworms). Ecological diversity variation within ecosystem engineers was detected with
Simpson indices for dominance and evenness. The highest diversity of ecosystem engineers was in the young age
of plantation. This study reinforces the importance biotic interaction which contributed to the distribution and
abundance within soil fauna community as ecosystem engineers in small-holder cocoa plantation.
Keywords: Cocoa, diversity, ecosystem engineers, small-holder, soil fauna
INTRODUCTION categorized as ecosystem engineers by its
connection with their role to modify soil properties,
In terrestrial ecosystem, explanation impact of and provide an available substrate for microbial
human activity on biodiversity mostly dominated (Jones et al. 1994). Some studies used soil fauna as
by the studies from aboveground communities ecosystem engineers for ecosystem restoration (Butt
(Hooper et al. 2005). Currently, the new approach et al. 1995; Butt 1999; Byers et al. 2006). Earlier
proposed by Parker (2010) that biodiversity should researchers in tropical environment were reported
not considered only on the number of species but that earthworm, termites, or ant species had different
also functional groups of the species in the effect on soil properties (structure and aggregate)
community. In fact, belowground ecosystem and e.g. Blanchart et al. (1997); Decaëns et al. (2002);
functional group of species was neglected, because and Hedde et al. (2005). Further, Barois and Lavele
of the absence of direct economical values (Decaens (1986) found a mutualistic relationship between
2006) and ‘charismatic’ species of soil fauna (Susilo micro flora and earthworms (Pontoscolex
et al. 2004). corethrurus) of exploitation organic complex in the
The soil fauna has an indirect effect on tropical soil. Straube et al. (2009) reported that the
economical values through their functional groups presence of Dendrobaena octaedra and Octolasion
activity such as ecosystem engineers (Decaens et tyrtaeum had different impact on density and
al. 2006). Some experimental studies showed that diversity of soil micro arthropod, and Dauber et al.
soil fauna diversity strongly related to decomposition (2008) reported that the presence of ant stimulated
and nutrient cycling through their functional groups increasing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
activities as detritivorous, omnivorous, predator, or density in grasses roots around. The change within
ecosystem engineers (Swift et al. 2004). The soil soil fauna community (as ecosystem engineers)
fauna including ants, earthworms, and termites are could be influenced on soil structure, and activity
of soil microbe and micro-arthropod, which will
regulate on nutrient cycling in the soil (Osler and
J Trop Soils, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2012: 173-180 Sommerkorn 2007). Consequently it will affect plant
productivity including fruit, grain, flower, fiber,
ISSN 0852-257X
LMH Kilowasid et al.: Ecological Diversity of Soil Fauna in Cocoa Plantation
174
medicinal plant, oil, etc (Benckiser and Schnell 2007). districts in South Konawe District, South East Sulawesi,
0 0
These facts indicate the importance of soil fauna which were located at 040 7’04.9’’ - 040 8’50.5’’ South
diversity as ecosystem engineers in regulation and latitude and 122015’02.8’’ - 122031’40.5’’ East
maintenance of stability of soil biota community, longitude. The rainfall average of the area study was
-1 0
including as an indicator of soil quality and soil 175.58 mm month , and air temperature was 26.74 C,
biological classification. this data was obtained from weather station of Wolter
In Indonesia, cocoa plantations cover about 1.75 Monginsidi Port Kendari. The topography of the area
millions ha, and 1.64 millions ha are belong to small- was with slope of 0 – 3%. Soil type in the area studies
holder farm (Directorate General of Estate, were included in Dystrudepts Typical sub-group (Soil
Agricultural Ministry, Republic of Indonesia 2011) Survey Staff 2010).
and most of the studies on belowground soil fauna Samples Collection and Experimental Designs
in cocoa plantation (cocoa agroforestry) focus on
its importance on conserving biodiversity (Delabie Determination of study site was conducted on
et al. 2007; Moco et al. 2009; Shahabuddin 2010). April 2009 by surveying different age of small holder
The study on the important of the behavior of soil cocoa plantation and it was decided to work on five
fauna as functional group in different age of cocoa different ages of plantation, that were 4, 5, 7, 10,
plantation is neglected. The objective of this study and 16 age-years (Figure 1). In each site (different
was to describe ecological diversity variation within age of plantation), samples were taken from the area
soil fauna as ecosystem engineers in the small holder of 0.25 ha (50 m x 50 m). In each area it were
cocoa plantation. Pricesely, (i) to find out soil fauna taken four soil corers with distance between one
diversity as ecosystem engineers in different age of soil core and others were away of 10 m following
cocoa plantation; (ii) to find out the ecological the experimental design at Figure 2. Soil fauna was
diversity measurements for different habitat (age collected by soil cores by cylindrical stainless steel
of cocoa plantation); and (ii) to find out the diversity core with 20 cm in diametre and 15 cm in soil depth.
status of ecosystem engineers in different habitat. Samples were collected at five times during one
year period at 15 August 2009, 21 November 2009,
MATERIALS AND METHODS 26 January 2010, 22 April 2010, and 13 June 2010.
The soil fauna was removed from soil core using
Study Site hand sorting methods and preserved in 70% alcohol.
This study was conducted in smallholder farmer Identification was conducted following identification
cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) plantation which was guide from Hashimoto (2010) for ants, James (2000)
extensively managed at Konda and Mowila sub- for earthworms, and Tho (1992) for termites. Due
to the limitation of key to species level, identification
122015’0”E 122020’0”E 122025’0”E 122030’0”E
S POASIA S LOCATION OF THE STUDY
” ”
0 0
’ ’ N
0 00
04 PONDIDAHA 4 W E
SAMPARA S
MANDONGA 2,500 1,250 0 2,500
Meters
SCALE 1:110,000
LOCATION INDEX SOUTH EAST SULAWESI
S SOUTH EAST SULAWESI RANOMETO S
” PROVINCE ”
0 0
’ ’
05 5
4 04
LANDONO
LEGEND
AGE OF SMALL-HOLDER COCOA PLANTATION
0 0
KONDA 4 year : (long : 122 31’01.7”E, Lat : 04 08’33.2”S)
0 0
5 year : (long : 122 30’41.04”E, Lat : 04 08’50.5”S)
SOUTH KONAWE 0 0
DISTRICT 7 year : (long : 122 30’47.7”E, Lat : 04 08’44.4”S)
0 0
10 year : (long : 122 31’40.5”E, Lat : 04 08’34.4”S)
0 0
16 year : (long : 122 15’02.8”E, Lat : 04 07’’04.9”S)
S S
” ”
0 0
’ ’
0 0
01 LAMBUYA 01
4 4
PALANGGA
TINANGGEA LAINEA
122015’0”E 122020’0”E 122025’0”E 122030’0”E
Figure 1. Sampling site of the research.
J Trop Soils, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2012 : 173-180 175
10 m
10
Nov.21, Aug.15, m
2009 2009
m
0 Jun.13,
5 2010
Jan.26, Apr.22,
2010 2010
50 m
Figure 2. Experimental designs for soil fauna sampling. Notes: sampling point.
was done up to genera and it was also used for as ecosystem engineers was collected from the
analysis of richness, dominance, and evenness. The different age of cocoa plantation. Three groups of
data of each genera was transformed into number soil fauna which were categorized as ecosystem
per square metre. engineers were ants, termites, and earthworms.
Measures of Ecological Diversity and From the total of genera of soil fauna were 35 of
Statistical Analysis genera belong to Formicidae (ants), three genera of
Isoptera (termites), and one genera of Oligochaeta
To measure ecological diversity were used (earthworms). The highest richness was 22 genera
genera richness, and the indices from Shannon, found in plantation aged 4 years and the lowest
Simpson, and Camargo for dominance, evenness, was 12 genera found in plantation aged 5 years (Table
diversity, and uniformity. Every of indices were 1). In Table 2 it shows ants from the genera of
calculated using the formula of Camargo (2008). Solenopsis, Harpegnathos, Platythyrea, and
Univariate analysis of variance was used to detect Proceratium, and earthworm from the genera of
variations in the value of the indices of ecological Pontoscolex found at all age of plantation. Ants from
diversity among different age of cocoa plantation. genera of Neivamyrmex, Euprenolepis,
Comparison of each value of measures of ecological Crematogaster, Olygomyrmex, Brachyponera,
diversity among different age of the cacao plantation Cryptopone, and Mesoponera were found at the
was conducted with the Duncan test at the p < 0.05 younger age of plantation (between 4-5years age).
level. Leptothorax, Oecophylla, Atta, and Ponera were
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION found at the midle age of plantation (7 years), and
Amblypone, Camponatus, Ephebomyrmex,
Genera Richness of Soil Fauna as Ecosystem Liometoprum, Pseudolasius and Veromesor were
Engineers found at the old plantation (10-16 years old). For
termites, genera of Coptotermes and
During one year period of the research, a total Pericapritermes were found in the plantation aged
of 828 individual consisting of 39 genera of soil fauna of 4, 10, and 16 years, while the Hypotermes was
Table 1. Number of genera of the soil fauna as ecosystem engineers from different age
of small-holder cocoa plantation.
Taxa 4 year 5 year 7 year 10 year 16 year
Ants 19 11 13 16 13
Termites 2 - 1 2 3
Earthworms 1 1 1 1 1
Total 22 12 15 19 17
Age class: 4 and 5 year = young plantation, 7 year = middle plantation, and 10 and 16 year = old plantation.
LMH Kilowasid et al.: Ecological Diversity of Soil Fauna in Cocoa Plantation
176
only found in the oldest of the plantation (16 year). These phenomena are very commonly observed in
For earthworms, only Pontoscolex was found in all the plantation areas in tropical regions (Moco et al.
age of the plantations. 2009; Turner and Foster 2009). The dominance of
The results showed that the richness of the ant ants in the soil macro-fauna community were caused
genera was higher than termites and earthworms. by a number of functional properties of them,
Table 2. Ants, termites, and earthworms collected from different age of small-holder
cocoa plantation.
Genera Age of cocoa plantation (years)
4 5 7 10 16
Ants
Liometoprum - - - 1 -
Tapinoma 1 1 - 1 -
Neivamyrmex 1 - - - -
Camponatus - - - 1 -
Euprenolepis 1 1 - - -
Oecophylla - - 1 - -
Pseudolasius - - - - 1
Cardiocondela 1 - - 1 -
Crematogaster 1 - - - -
Ephebomyrmex - - - 1 -
Leptothorax - - 1 - -
Monomorium - - 1 1 -
Olygomyrmex - 1 - - -
Pheidole 1 - 1 - 1
Pogonomyrmex 1 - - 1 -
Prystomyrmex 1 1 - - 1
Solenopsis 1 1 1 1 1
Tetramorium 1 - - 1 -
Veromesor - - - - 1
Amblypone - - - 1 -
Atta - - 1 - -
Brachyponera 1 - - - -
Centromyrmex 1 - 1 1 1
Cryptopone 1 - - - -
Discothyrea - 1 - - 1
Emyryopone 1 1 - - 1
Hypoponera 1 - 1 1 -
Mesoponera 1 - - - -
Harpegnathos 1 1 1 1 1
Pachycondyla - 1 - - 1
Platythyrea 1 1 1 1 1
Ponera - - 1 - -
Prionopelta - - - - 1
Proceratium 1 1 1 1 1
Pseudomyrmex - - 1 1 -
Termites
Coptotermes 1 - 1 1 1
Hypotermes - - - - 1
Pericapritermes 1 - - 1 1
Earthworms
Pontoscolex 1 1 1 1 1
Notes: (-) absent, (1) present.
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