Evaluating the soil samples and distribution of arthropod species in the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to evaluate soil samples and the distribution of soil arthropods at the University of Uyo. The following physicochemical parameters and inorganic loads of the soil were measured for arthropod species obtained with the Berlese-Tullgren extractor: pH, temperature (ºC), electrical conductivity (mg/L), BOD (mg/L), Chloride (mg/L), Nitrate (mg/L), Phosphate (mg/L), Sulphate (mg/L) and Nitrite (mg/L). Soil arthropod samples were collected from four (4) sampling sites: the Faculties of Science, Agriculture, Engineering, and Postgraduate School (PGS) using pitfall trap and Berlese-Tullgren extraction funnel techniques. The results of the soil physicochemical parameters and inorganic contents revealed that variables differed significantly between sampling sites at p < 0.05. Fifty- two species of soil-dwelling arthropods were collected and classified into four (4) classes; Insecta, Hexapoda, Arachnida, and Diplopoda, fourteen orders with 2310 individual species. The number of individuals of Hymenoptera 989 (42.81%), Coleoptera 455 (19.70%), Orthoptera 422 (18.27%), Polydesmida 94 (4.07%), Arachnida 92 (3.98%) and Hemiptera 71 (3.07%) was widely collected across both seasons, using pitfall and Berlese-Tullgren extractor funnel method. The dominant species were Formica sp. (390; 16.88%), Camponotus vagus (313; 13.55%), and Teleogryllus emma (296; 12.81%). The collection of soil arthropods during the wet season (1673; 72.42%) had a higher abundance than the dry season (637; 27.58%) across all sampling sites. It was evidence that the pitfall trap expressed more effectiveness in the collection of soil-dwelling arthropods (1693; 73.29%) than the Berlese-Tullgren extractor funnel method (617: 26.71%). Results of the soil samples show that the soil's physicochemical parameters and inorganic loads fell within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended range. The composition, individual, and relative abundance recorded in this study suggest that the University of Uyo has high soil arthropod species diversity, more research should be carried out to close the gap in the species of this wonderful group in the University.