~ 966 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(5): 966-971 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2018; 6(5): 966-971 © 2018 JEZS Received: 16-07-2018 Accepted: 17-08-2018 Tanko D Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State Nigeria Shitta KB Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria Correspondence Tanko D Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State Nigeria Community structure and composition of terrestrial macro-invertebrates in relation to bird and flora abundance at inselberg ’s ecosystem in Zaria, Nigeria Tanko D and Shitta KB Abstract Species composition and abundance of terrestrial macro-invertebrates associated with Dumbi inselberg and its surrounding woodland was studied for 24 months. Inselbergs’s ecosystems if not tampered with, could play important role in biodiversity preservation. The value of diversity of an ecosystem is viewed in terms of numbers of species interacting among themselves and the abiotic environment. Primary and secondary instruments were used for data collection. Primary data was done through field visits using pitfall traps, sweep net and direct search techniques for collection of the invertebrates. The secondary instrument was data adapted from existing data on vegetation and avifauna of the site. A total of 78 species of invertebrates belonging 43 families were collected. The woodland surrounding the inselberg had more species diversity (75) compared to the inselberg. Families Formicidae, Pieridae, gryllidae and pentatonidae had the highest number of species of 5 each. Zonocerus variegatus with 204 individuals had the highest population. Shannon-Wiener diversity and equitability indices of woodland macro- invertebrates were higher than those of the inselberg. Highly significant negative correlation was observed between the macro-invertebrates abundance and the bird’s abundance on the woodland. However, this relationship was not significant in the inselberg’s plot. The tree density of the woodland correlated positively with the invertebrates. Similarity index (60%) showed the woodland and the inselberg’s invertebrates to be similar. The higher density and diversity of invertebrates at the woodland may be due to high density of vegetation in the woodland than the inselberg. Significant negative correlation between birds and invertebrates is expected because a greater number of bird species encountered at the site were insectivorous. It is recommended that a complete inselberg ecosystem should be set aside for in-situ conservation of their biodiversity. Keywords: Inselberg, Macro-invertebrates, abundance, woodland, avifauna Introduction Inselbergs in an arid environment if not tampered with, could play an important role in preserving biodiversity and forming refuges for species no longer able to grow in the surrounding plains [1, 2] where some species have become extirpated. The loss of species from the plains could either be due to human impacts such as overgrazing and subsequent degradation, or changes in key environmental factors such as climate. Inselbergs could therefore serve as species pools which, under favourable conditions, allow species to re- colonise the surrounding plains and thus contribute to the restoration of degraded lands. The value of diversity of an ecosystem is viewed in terms of numbers of species interacting among themselves and with the physical environment. Tropical ecosystems are under much pressure globally. Such pressure on the forest and the woodland is likely to escalate to the inselbergs which in recent times are considered “forgotten granites habitat”. Terrestrial macro- invertebrates serves as good ecological indicators [3] . The class insecta (the most predominant invertebrates) are usually considered as the most surrogate representatives of environmental quality changes, especially Lepidoptera [4] . They perform essential ecosystem services in the pollination of plants [5] , recycling of soil nutrients and degradation of organic matter. Macro- invertebrates also serve as food to birds and other predators such as reptiles and some mammals (e.g. foxes). Higher density of birds was observed by Tanko et al. [2] at locations with thickets and dense vegetation than areas with sparse vegetation at the study site. They attributed this to high leaf litter from the vegetation which harbours invertebrates that are food to the birds.