四川紫色土丘陵区不同植物篱类型蜘蛛群落结构

于2006-2007年冬小麦和夏玉米生长季采用直接观察法对四川紫色土丘陵区香根草、紫穗槐、蓑草和苜蓿4种植物篱类型蜘蛛的群落结构及多样性进行调查.结果表明,2006年共发现蜘蛛3 074头,分别隶属于16科48种,其中狼蛛科、跳蛛科和球腹蛛科为优势科;2007年共发现蜘蛛3 233头,分别隶属于14科51种,其中狼蛛科和跳蛛科为优势科.在2006和2007年小麦和玉米生长季,不同植物篱类型蜘蛛个体数的季节性动态变化规律基本相同,蜘蛛个体数均在小麦或玉米收获后达到高峰,收获前后相比差异均达显著水平(P＜0.05);不同植物篱类型间蜘蛛个体数、物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H ')均存在显著差异.香根草、蓑草和苜蓿篱类型蜘蛛个体数、物种丰富度和H'值在绝大多数情况下显著高于紫穗槐.Jaccard相似性系数表明香根草、蓑草与苜蓿篱类型间的相似程度较高,香根草、蓑草和苜蓿与紫穗槐篱类型间相似程度较低,表明植被结构对蜘蛛群落结构有明显影响.就保护蜘蛛而言,草本植物篱比灌木植物篱更重要,且丛生型草本植物篱比其他草本结构植物篱能维持更高的蜘蛛多样性.     

茶园年限对根际土壤真菌群落结构及多样性的影响

为探明不同年限茶园根际土壤真菌菌群结构及多样性的差别,采用MiSeq高通量测序方法分析5年、10年、25年和40年茶园根际土壤真菌的菌落组成、Alpha多样性、Beta多样性和组间差异性.结果显示,随着茶园年限增大,根际土壤pH值显著性降低;而土壤养分含量呈现先增后减趋势,其中25年茶园最高.不同年限茶园根际土壤真菌群落α多样性无显著差异,β多样性则5年与10年茶园相近,而25年和40年茶园相似. 5年和40年茶园土壤中的优势菌目存在明显差异,其中粪壳菌目占5年茶园总菌群的20.93%,糙孢孔目占40年茶园总菌群的14.97%.此外,不同年限茶园根际土壤中差异性显著的菌种主要分布在粪壳菌纲和银耳菌纲.本研究表明,不同年限茶园根际土壤真菌物种组成丰富、结构差异明显;随着茶园年限的增加,茶树根际土壤肥力增加和真菌群落数量增加,有利于茶树生长代谢的真菌种群增多.     

天童森林生态系统凋落物层跳虫群落的生态学研究

为了解浙江天童森林生态系统凋落物层跳虫群落的生态特征,于2009年12月至2010年9月对天童常绿阔叶林演替系列固定样地灌丛、马尾松林、木荷林、栲树林凋落物层的跳虫群落,按新鲜凋落物层、腐叶层和腐殖土层进行了详细的四季调查研究。共获跳虫标本15 108个,分别隶属于4目,14科其中优势类群为等节虫兆科Isotomidae、棘虫兆科Onychiuridae和长角虫兆科Entomobryidae,三者共占总数的78.35%。对调查结果的分析表明：（1）4种林型凋落物层跳虫群落随植物群落的演替而发生明显的变化,个体总数和多样性指数均在演替初期较低,中后期较高;（2）跳虫的类群数和个体数量在凋落物中呈现垂直分布现象,总体表现为向下递增的趋势,大量的跳虫个体集中分布在中间腐叶层和底部腐殖土层,分别占总数的33.94%和55.99%;（3）跳虫数量的季节变化为：秋季〉夏季〉春季〉冬季。     

人为干扰对江油地区马尾松人工林群落结构和物种多样性的影响

物种多样性是群落功能复杂性和稳定性的重要量度指标,人为干扰对森林群落的影响可以通过群落结构和物种多样性的变化而直接显现,不同干扰强度下的森林群落结构和物种多样性特征不同。采用典型样地法,对比研究两种人为干扰强度（干扰强和弱）对江油地区的马尾松（Pinus massoniana）人工林群落的物种组成、群落结构和物种多样性的影响,采用物种丰富度指数D值、Shannon-wienner指数H值、Simpson优势度指数H′值和均匀度指数Jsw值来综合衡量群落的物种多样性水平。结果表明,（1）在总面积3200 m2的8个样地中记录到124个物种,隶属于105属56科,干扰强的群落各层次物种数均低于干扰弱的群落。（2）不同强度人为干扰下马尾松人工林的群落结构不同,干扰弱的群落径级结构呈近正态分布,在径级Ⅵ（7 cm≤d〈9 cm）处出现数量的峰值26株,群落结构较稳定;干扰强的群落径级结构不呈正态分布,在径级Ⅶ（13 cm≤d〈15 cm）处出现峰值43株。干扰弱和干扰强的群落高度级结构与其径级结构具有相似性,干扰弱的群落的个体主要集中在低中高度级（3≤H〈17）;干扰强的群落的个体数在各高度级分布不均匀,主要分布在中高高度级（H≥13）;干扰强的群落的个体数在各径级和高度级分布相对不均匀,群落结构趋于不稳定。（3）人为干扰对马尾松人工林群落造成负面影响,随着人为干扰强度的增加,物种丰富度指数D值、Shannon-wiener多样性指数H值、均匀度多样性指数Jsw值降低,Simpson优势度指数H′值增大,物种多样性呈下降趋势。     

重庆库区不同海拔段繁殖鸟类群落的物种多样性

1996~1997年,对三峡工程重庆库区的鸟类群落的物种组成和种群数量进行了调查,共调查记录库区繁殖鸟类12目40科170种,数量17326只,其中留鸟有104种,占繁殖鸟总数的61.2%,夏侯鸟66种,占38.8%.用秩-多度曲线对不同海拔段的繁殖鸟类群落进行多样性分析的结果显示:1)秩-多度曲线方法的结果比Shannon-Wiener等物种多样性指数更直观,能更全面地反映多样性状况,该曲线可以对不同群落或相同群落在不同时间的物种多样性进行比较,是分析生物多样性的一种最直观的方法;2)人类干扰是影响各海拔段繁殖鸟类群落物种多样性的主要因素,人类干扰越强烈,鸟类群落物种多样性越低.图2表3参20     

大兴安岭寒温带地区中小型土壤动物群落特征

对大兴安岭北部7个代表性森林群落的中小型土壤动物群落进行调查,揭示该地区中小型土壤动物的区系组成状况、生态分布及动态变化规律.研究区共捕获土壤动物61类, 12 841只,隶属于4门7纲18目44科.其中优势类群4类,即中气门亚目、甲螨亚目、前气门亚目和节跳虫科;常见类群3类,即棘跳虫科、摇蚊科和山跳虫科,两者共占总数量的92.38%.研究结果表明:不同森林群落土壤动物的个体数和类群数分布差异很大,水平分布表现为杨落Ⅱ＞白桦Ⅲ＞桦杜Ⅰ＞蒙古栎Ⅴ＞落沼Ⅳ＞樟子松Ⅵ＞柳草Ⅶ,垂直分布表聚性明显.土壤动物群落的多样性指数(H′)大小为柳草Ⅶ＞白桦Ⅲ＞落沼Ⅳ＞杨落Ⅱ＞桦杜Ⅰ＞樟子松Ⅵ＞蒙古栎Ⅴ.土壤动物个体数的动态变化是10月＞8月＞6月,类群数变化不如个体数变化明显,主要是8月和10月种类较多, 6月较少.多样性指数动态变化表现为8月＞6月＞10月.大多数群落土壤动物的个体数、类群数和多样性指数的动态变化与总体变化趋势相同.图1表5参18     

钨尾矿重金属污染对茶园土壤动物群落结构及多样性的影响

土壤动物对土壤理化环境变化响应十分敏感,土壤动物群落结构及多样性可以用于指示钨尾矿区土壤重金属污染程度。以钨尾矿下游区不同污染程度的茶园生境为研究对象,采用样方法系统调查了3个生境土壤动物群落的组成、结构、多样性及环境变化特征,利用NMDS、ANOSIM等比较不同生境土壤动物群落的相似性,运用RDA排序结合重金属污染指数分析土壤动物群落结构与土壤环境因子的关系。结果表明:未污染茶园土壤动物的个体数量、类群数、物种丰富度和多样性指数均显著高于污染茶园I和Ⅱ,而污染茶园Ⅱ土壤动物个体数、类群数和物种丰富度又显著高于污染茶园I;未污染茶园土壤动物均匀度指数显著高于污染茶园Ⅱ。土壤有机质是影响土壤动物分布的主要环境因子(51.42%),其次是全氮(贡献率9.08%)、全磷(贡献率11.21%)、速效磷和全钾(贡献率9.61%),它们均与土壤动物个体数和类群呈正相关。进一步分析发现,Ni、Cd、As和Cu等重金属是茶园的主要污染因子,它们显著降低了茶园Ⅰ和茶园Ⅱ土壤有机质(63.8%和58.5%)、全氮(61.7%和65%)和速效磷(55.9%和8.8%)含量,Ni、Cd和As是抑制茶园土壤动物群落分布的主要毒性因子,其解释率分别为46.55%、14.14%、9.83%。重金属污染降低了茶园土壤养分可利用性,重金属污染指数抑制土壤动物的类群和个体数量增长,土壤动物群落的丰富度指数、多样性指数和优势度指数随重金属污染程度的加重而降低。     

广东连州田心自然保护区香果树种群及其生境特征

香果树是中国特有的茜草科的单种属植物,1993年被列入国家重点保护植物名录（Ⅱ级）。论文首次报道了广东境内的香果树Emmenopterys henryi最大种群及其群落的基本情况,以期为深入了解该保护植物的生态适应性、种群的生存和发展提供基础资料。2013年采用美国Onset公司产HOBO-U23-002温度-湿度记录仪对广东连州田心梅树冲的香果树种群所处生境进行了为期1年的监测;测定了土壤的理化特性、叶面和旷地的光照强度、香果树群落的物种组成、香果树种群的基径径级结构与高度结构,以及叶片的某些生理生态特性。结果表明,连州田心梅树冲是香果树的适宜生长地,生境的年均气温17.315℃,年均大气相对湿度84.316%;土壤pH5.64,有机质含量1.95%（大于林外旷地的0.50%）;叶面光照强度小于旷地的12%。香果树叶片SPAD值约为40,净光合速率为2.16-12.92μmol·m-2·s-1（以CO2计）,蒸腾速率0.29-0.62 mmol·m-2·s-1（以H2O计）。群落中有维管植物33种,其中乔木层17种,以壳斗科的4种为最多,樟科3种次之;除香果树外,群落优势种为灯台树Bothrocaryum controversum、西川朴Celtis vandervoetiana、野黄桂Cinnamomum jensenianum和金叶含笑Michelia foveolata等。连州田心梅树冲的香果树种群共有97个个体,其中Ⅰ级幼苗11株（占11.34%）,Ⅱ级幼苗76株（占78.35%）,小树9株（占9.28%）,中树0株,大树1株（1.03%）;高度为0.20-2.03 m的个体数77株,占总数的79.38%。径级结构和高度结构均表明,种群目前虽暂时处于增长阶段,但因受2008年南岭地区的冰灾影响,能产生果实的大树严重受损,缺失中树阶段的个体,且Ⅰ级幼苗数量少于Ⅱ级幼苗,该种群将在一定时期后因无法更新而进入衰退阶段,为此应加强香果树的就地和迁地保护、科学研究和宣传教育。     

广州南沙红树林湿地鸟类群落多样性(2005～2010)

为探讨城市化对鸟类群落的影响,2005～2010年对广州南沙红树林湿地鸟类群落多样性进行了研究.结果表明:共记录鸟类149种,隶属于16目42科97属;其中冬候鸟或旅鸟77种,占51.7%,留鸟63种,占42.3%,夏候鸟9种,占6.0%;鸟类群落呈现出较强的季节性,从总体上看,物种数和总数量呈现秋冬季高峰,夏季最低.红树林湿地区具有最高的鸟类物种多样性与科属多样性,物种多样性和科属多样性变化趋势表现为红树林湿地区>河涌林带区>水域区.南沙红树林湿地的保护对丰富鸟类群落多样性具有重要作用.     

石漠化治理混农林业区土壤螨类群落的边缘效应

以喀斯特石漠化综合治理区典型的灌丛区、混农林区及其之间的自然恢复区作为研究对象,按等距离梯度设置样点并采样,用干漏斗法进行土壤螨类分离,通过群落多样性和边缘效应强度探讨混农林石漠化治理对土壤螨类多样性的影响,并分析土壤螨类群落与环境因子间的相互关系,以期为石漠化治理的生态修复及生物多样性保护提供依据.共获土壤螨类939头,隶属于3目37科65属,其中灌丛区捕获507头46属;混农林区292头30属;边缘区140头36属;派伦螨科(Parholaspididae)、缝甲螨科(Hypochthoniidae)和奥甲螨科(Oppiidae)分别占比25.56%、18.42%和18.10%,是该区土壤螨类的优势类群;卷甲螨科(Phthiracaridae)、尾足螨科(Uropodidae)和广缝甲螨科(Cosmochthoniidae)3科占比最少,均为0.11%,为该区土壤螨类的极稀有类群.边缘效应强度从大到小依次排序为灌丛一侧边缘(1.087 7)边缘区(1.068 5)刺梨一侧边缘(1.050 1);螨类多样性与土壤环境因子存在密切联系,该区对土壤螨类群落特征影响较大的环境因子是土壤有机质、土壤含水量、土壤容重和全钾.本研究表明石漠化综合治理区土壤螨类较丰富,不同生境间螨类个体数、类群数均存在显著性差异;该边缘类型呈现正的边缘效应,总体边缘效应强度较弱;边缘区土壤螨类栖息重要的几个土壤环境因子含量最佳,灌丛一侧表现出最强的边缘效应.(图2表6参45附表1)     

Effects of Oil‐Palm Plantations on Diversity of Tropical Anurans

Agriculturally altered vegetation, especially oil‐palm plantations, is rapidly increasing in Southeast Asia. Low species diversity is associated with this commodity, but data on anuran diversity in oil‐palm plantations are lacking. We investigated how anuran biological diversity differs between forest and oil‐palm plantation, and whether observed differences in biological diversity of these areas is linked to specific environmental factors. We hypothesized that biological diversity is lower in plantations and that plantations support a larger proportion of disturbance‐tolerant species than forest. We compared species richness, abundance, and community composition between plantation and forest areas and between site types within plantation and forest (forest stream vs. plantation stream, forest riparian vs. plantation riparian, forest terrestrial vs. plantation terrestrial). Not all measures of biological diversity differed between oil‐palm plantations and secondary forest sites. Anuran community composition, however, differed greatly between forest and plantation, and communities of anurans in plantations contained species that prosper in disturbed areas. Although plantations supported large numbers of breeding anurans, we concluded the community consisted of common species that were of little conservation concern (commonly found species include Fejervarya limnocharis, Microhyla heymonsi, and Hylarana erythrea). We believe that with a number of management interventions, oil‐palm plantations can provide habitat for species that dwell in secondary forests. Efectos de las Plantaciones de Palma de Aceite sobre la Diversidad de Anuros Tropicales Faruk et al.     

不同林龄木麻黄人工林生物多样性与土壤养分状况研究

木麻黄（Casuarina equisetifolia）是我国东南沿海海岸防护林骨干树种。本文对广东省茂名市木麻黄防护林开展了不同林龄的种群结构、植物多样性、以及土壤养分特征的研究。结果表明,滨海沙地木麻黄群落在生长过程中有明显的自疏现象,18年林个体数（975株·hm-2）不足3年林个体数一半（2350株·hm-2）,3年至6年龄木麻黄生长最快。调查林地内共有植物27种,其中灌木8种,草本植物18种。随林龄的增长,林下植物种数显著增加,多样性指数、均匀度指数逐步增加,优势度指数下降。林地土壤有机碳、全氮与速效氮供应水平极低;土壤磷供应相对较好,表层有效磷一般高于3.5mg·kg-1。土壤有效养分与植物多样性显著相关,显示养分是植物定居的主要限制因素。结果表明,木麻黄林结构简单,生物多样性低,土壤养分贫乏。     

Bird Populations in Shade and Sun Coffee Plantations in Central Guatemala

We studied the avifauna of sun and shade coffee plantations and associated mid-elevation habitats during the dry season of 1995. The three plantation types (Inga, Gliricidia, and sun) showed high faunistic similarities with each other and were both distinct and depauperate compared to matorral and forest patch habitats. Of all the coffee plantation habitats, Inga shade had the highest diversity. Species associated with wooded vegetation were more common in shade plantations, particularly in Inga. A second census showed a decline in bird numbers that was more pronounced in sun and Gliricidia than in Inga plantations. Overall, differences between the plantation types were small and all coffee plantations were less diverse than traditional coffee farms previously studied in nearby Chiapas, México. The relatively low bird diversity was probably due to the low stature, low tree species diversity, and heavy pruning of the canopy. These features reflect management practices that are common throughout Latin America. The most common species of birds in all coffee plantation habitats were common second-growth or edge species; more specialized forest species were almost completely absent from plantations. Furthermore, many common matorral species were rare or absent from coffee plantations, even sun plantations with which matorral shares a similar superficial structure. Coffee plantations probably will only be important for avian diversity if a tall, taxonomically and structurally diverse canopy is maintained. We suggest this is most likely to occur on farms that are managed for a variety of products rather than those designated entirely for the production of coffee.     

The Value of Primary, Secondary, and Plantation Forests for a Neotropical Herpetofauna

Abstract:  Plantation forests and second-growth forests are becoming dominant components of many tropical forest landscapes. Yet there is little information available concerning the consequences of different forestry options for biodiversity conservation in the tropics. We sampled the leaf-litter herpetofauna of primary, secondary, and Eucalyptus plantation forests in the Jari River area of northeastern Brazilian Amazonia. We used four complementary sampling techniques, combined samples from 2 consecutive years, and collected 1739 leaf-litter amphibians (23 species) and 1937 lizards (30 species). We analyzed the data for differences among forest types regarding patterns of alpha and beta diversity, species-abundance distributions, and community structure. Primary rainforest harbored significantly more species, but supported a similar abundance of amphibians and lizards compared with adjacent areas of second-growth forest or plantations. Plantation forests were dominated by wide-ranging habitat generalists. Secondary forest faunas contained a number of species characteristic of primary forest habitat. Amphibian communities in secondary forests and Eucalyptus plantations formed a nested subset of primary forest species, whereas the species composition of the lizard community in plantations was distinct, and was dominated by open-area species. Although plantation forests are relatively impoverished, naturally regenerating forests can help mitigate some negative effects of deforestation for herpetofauna. Nevertheless, secondary forest does not provide a substitute for primary forest, and in the absence of further evidence from older successional stands, we caution against the optimistic claim that natural forest regeneration in abandoned lands will provide refuge for the many species that are currently threatened by deforestation .     

几种不同更新的森林群落碳储量结构特征分析

森林更新是维持和扩大森林资源的主要途径,也是森林结构调整、森林可持续经营和构建多功能高效的森林生态系统的过程。在安徽南部的岭南林场,选择了马尾松（Pinus massoniana Lamb）人工林（MP）、杉木（Cunninghamia lanceolata）人工林（CF）、阔叶混交天然次生林（MB）和针阔混交人工次生林（MN）等4种具有典型代表性的森林群落类型,研究了不同更新方式形成的森林群落的碳储量结构特征。结果表明：（1）针阔混交次生林树干生物量密度最大,为（67.32±56.57）mg.hm-2,杉木人工林生物量密度最小,为（43.79±9.13）mg.hm-2,而马尾松树干生物量所占比例最大,为（64.04±1.49）%。阔叶混交次生林碳储量最高,为（126.47±90.75）mg.hm-2;（2）4种群落类型中,阔叶混交林与马尾松群落碳密度最大,分别为95.67和98.21mg.hm-2,杉木群落碳密度最小,为55.41 mg.hm-2。阔叶混交林中的灌木层生物量碳密度最大,为（17.438±24.627）mg hm-2,马尾松林的草本层和枯落层生物量碳密度最高,分别为（1.326±0.431）、（5.517±2.846）mg.hm-2;（3）阔叶混交林群落的地下碳储量最高,为（10.5±9.8）mg.hm-2,群落地下碳储量从大到小的顺序是阔叶混交林〉针阔混交林〉杉木林〉马尾松林。相应的群落地上碳储量从大到小的顺序是阔叶混交林〉针阔混交林〉马尾松林〉杉木林。杉木林根茎比（R/S）最大,为0.21±0.01,杉木林群落中的灌木层根茎比（R/S）最大,为1.61±0.11;（4）在阔叶混交林中,株数密度与乔木层、草本层的碳比例正相关。在杉木林群落中,平均胸径、株数密度与乔木层碳所占比例成负相关。除杉木林群落外,灌木层碳含量之比与胸径及密度等调查因子都呈负相关。     

Development of ground vegetation under exotic tree plantations on restored coal mine spoil land in a dry tropical region of India

Restoration of mine spoil is a prime need for coal industry. The study of ground cover vegetation provides essential information about the species diversity and their successional trends during the restoration. The present study was conducted to analyze the structure and biomass accumulation of ground vegetation developing in different plantation stands of an opencast coal mine spoil in a dry tropical region. Different plantation stands showed variations in species diversities. Exotic herbs were more dominant in comparison to native herbs. Pennisetum pedicillatum, an exotic herb showed maximum Importance Value Index in most of the plantation stands. Total number of species varied between 12-18 in different plantation stands. Speces richness and evenness increased with increasing age of the plantations. Variations in total biomass accumulation of ground vegetation were also significant among different plantations. These results suggest that reforestation programme with exotic species on coal mine spoil has been successful in colonization of ground vegetation under different plantations. Gravellia pteridifolia plantations showed most successful ground cover among different plantation stands.     

厚荚相思和尾叶桉人工林土壤线虫群落研究

相思树和桉树等树种因其生长迅速、耐性好以及适合制作纸浆等特点,近年来在华南地区大面积种植,带来了巨大的经济利益,但是相思树和桉树如何影响林下土壤生物多样性和土壤肥力还不清楚,科学评价其林下土壤健康水平十分必要。土壤线虫的种类和数量十分丰富,在土壤食物网各营养级中占据重要位置,对土壤环境变化反应敏感,作为土壤健康的指示生物被广泛应用。本文以幼龄厚荚相思 Acacia crassicapa和尾叶桉 Eucalyptus urophylla人工林为研究对象,于干季和湿季分别对2个林分根区和非根区土壤线虫进行研究,探讨土壤线虫这种指示生物的数量、各营养类群比例和多样性的变化规律,以及它们和环境因子的关系。主要结果表明：（1）厚荚相思土壤线虫总数为每公斤干土6741条,显著高于尾叶桉线虫总数的28.3%。厚荚相思人工林土壤食细菌线虫的百分比相比尾叶桉人工林高6.3%,且差异显著。（2）土壤线虫的群落组成变化具有明显的季节波动,湿季土壤食细菌线虫比例上升,而植物寄生线虫的比例下降,多样性指数由干季的0.87减小到0.75,统计差异均达到了显著水平。（3）根区比非根区显著提高了线虫数量的89.1%,这是由根区积累更多的有机碳和总氮引起的。总之,厚荚相思人工林为土壤自由生活线虫提供了优良环境,且在幼龄期没有表现出土壤酸化,生态效应优于尾叶桉人工林,在华南地区人工林营林过程中可适当增加厚荚相思林分面积。     

Within-group behavioral variation promotes biased task performance and the emergence of a defensive caste in a social spider

The social spider Anelosimus studiosus exhibits a behavioral polymorphism where colony members express either a passive, tolerant behavioral tendency (social) or an aggressive, intolerant behavioral tendency (asocial). Here we test whether asocial individuals act as colony defenders by deflecting the suite of foreign (i.e., heterospecific) spider species that commonly exploit multi-female colonies. We (1) determined whether the phenotypic composition of colonies is associated with foreign spider abundance, (2) tested whether heterospecific spider abundance and diversity affect colony survival in the field, and (3) performed staged encounters between groups of A. studiosus and their colony-level predator Agelenopsis emertoni (A. emertoni)to determine whether asocial females exhibit more defensive behavior. We found that larger colonies harbor more foreign spiders, and the number of asocial colony members was negatively associated with foreign spider abundance. Additionally, colony persistence was negatively associated with the abundance and diversity of foreign spiders within colonies. In encounters with a colony-level predator, asocial females were more likely to exhibit escalatory behavior, and this might explain the negative association between the frequency of asocial females and the presence of foreign spider associates. Together, our results indicate that foreign spiders are detrimental to colony survival, and that asocial females play a defensive role in multi-female colonies.     

Diversity of ground arthropod community at organic and chemically intensive tea plantation of Darjeeling terai

Tea in Darjeeling foothills and terai are grown conventionally, with application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as organically without these inputs. Ground level arthropod community was collected from the above two types of tea plots using pitfall traps. Catches from these environments showed variation in the arthropod faunal structure with numerically and taxonomically greater abundance in the organic than that of the conventional plot. Coleopterans were more diverse with largest number of families and Recognizable Taxonomic Units (or morphospecies) in the organic tea plot. The diversity and similarity indices for coleopterans were comparable, in organic and conventional tea plots at species and family levels. The close relationship of the indices suggested that diversity study at family level could be used as surrogate for species level diversity; thus alleviating the laborious and expertise job of taxonomic identification of arthropod species. Faunal diversity study at ground level gave the clue that soil of the organic plantation was healthier than that of the conventional tea plot.