Major Species of Soil Isopods in Coastal and Agricultural Area of Alappuzha District of Kerala in Relation with Physical and Chemical Factors of Soil

The integrity of soil is crucial for the ongoing viability of the biosphere. The objective of the present investigation is to identify the predominant isopod species inhabiting the Coastal and Agricultural regions of the Alappuzha district in the state of Kerala, in relation to various soil parameters during 2022 to 2024. Through the analysis of soil samples collected from both Coastal and Agricultural environments, three distinct isopod species have been successfully isolated by using the Berlese-Tullgren funnel method. The identified species comprise Porcellio scaber, Philoscia muscorum, and Philoscia javanensis. The Important Value Index was employed to ascertain the dominant species within the studied ecosystems. Significant disparities were observed between the physical and chemical properties of the two distinct habitats, as well as across different seasonal contexts. The principal soil constituents affecting the isopod population were analysed utilizing Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Based on the findings of the PCA, it is evident that the overall isopod population is predominantly influenced by chemical constituents such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, alongside physical parameters including temperature, moisture, pH, organic carbon, exchangeable acids, exchangeable bases, sand, silt, and clay.