Arthropod Diversity at Two Sites with Different Disturbance Levels at the Texas A&M International University

Abstract

This research aimed to measure arthropod species richness in two different sites with different disturbance levels in the Texas A&M International University campus to determine the overall biological diversity of the two sites and compare these measurements. As part of the research and methods, the Paleontological Statistics (PAST) software was used to calculate statistical indices in ecology that can help determine the difference between East and South sites. Some indices employed were the Shannons Diversity Index or the Simpsons Index of Diversity, the Bray-Curtis matrix, and the iNaturalist app. Results showed that the abundance of arthropods differed significantly from one site to the other, with the South site having a greater quantity, which was the site with less degradation created by humans. The site with the degraded ecosystem (East site) did not show a clear disadvantage regarding the diversity of arthropods. Thus, this article is relevant considering abundance and diversity to discover which is more important in each location. Finally, the study provides more insight into the arthropod community in the South Texas region, which can help with land and ecosystem management.