Effects of a Human Habitation on Local Insect Populations
Abstract
In recent years. the intensive pressures man has placed on
his environment, and the resultant disruption of natural eco-
systems, has stimulated research into the ecology of man's in-
teraction with biotic communities. Most of the work with insects
in this regard has centered around economic pests and/or
populatton changes resulting from large-scale, high-technology
human activities (Hardford, 1964; Fewkes, 1967; Edwards, 1968;
Mcewen, 1972; Hewitt and Rees, 1974). This study investigated.
the changes in population sizes of certain insects caused by
human activity in a low technology form. The worker Iived in a
relatively undisturbed area, while minimizing the pressures he
exerted on the local environment, An attempt was made to relate
observed changes in insect abundance to specific aspects of his
activity, in particular the trampling of vegetation and self-maintenance
activities (e.g. eating). In order to monitor
changes in a number of insect groups, a variety of sampling
techniques were used, which were later compared for their relative
convenience and efficiency.