Arthropod community on rice: A blend of aquatic and terrestrial species

Abstract

Ricefields hold high arthropod diversity, which at present unfortunately is threatened. Traditional systems of ricefields along with other rural elements like canals and ponds formed a composite unit in a rural, countryside setup. These systems played a pivotal role in the productivity of a nation. Massive landscape changes and development of aquatic lands with anthropogenic factors have incurred damage to biodiversity in paddy fields. This has resulted in unstable and uniform arthropod communities. The impinging factors on the ecology of rice-cultivated ecosystems are abundant in several countries but but more so in tropical Asia. Fertilizers and pesticides considerably reduced beneficial arthropods in rice fields so also the modern rice cultivation practices. Deploying biological indicators in rice fields is suitable for arthropod preservation. Multispecies mixed planting, less use of pesticides and balanced application of fertilizers, public awareness and the use of bioagents will help in restoring arthropod diversity in rice fields and assist in mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases. The most successful example of rice integrated pest management (IPM) is in Indonesia where trained farmers use non-chemical methods and sustain arthropod communities.