INFLUENCE OF HUMAN ACTIVITY ON DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF INSECTS IN THREE WETLAND ENVIRONMENTS IN GHANA

Abstract

Mensah BA, Kyerematen R, Annang T, Adu-Acheampong S. 2018. Influence of human activity on diversity and abundance of insects in three wetland environments in Ghana. Bonorowo Wetlands 2: 33-41. The Wetland environment is unique with unique biota that includes insects. Insects serve as indicators of environmental health, nevertheless, the recent spate of human encroachment on wetlands is likely to affect its unique biotic composition, and this phenomenon poses a threat to the wetland environment. The physical and chemical quality of studied habitats in this research provided background information for comparison against the established quality standard of the wetland environment. The study involved reconnaissance surveys, insect trapping and social surveys on the impact of anthropogenic activities on insect diversity and abundance in and around the wetland environment. Twenty-two insect orders belonging to 112 families were sampled from different sites along the Sakumono, Kpeshie, and Muni-Pomadze wetlands. Species diversity and abundance were significantly different among the various locations with the most diverse being Kpeshie. Water within wetlands in Kpeshie was the most polluted although it had a positive correlation with insect diversity and abundance. Results of a survey of selected communities showed that majority of the residents had a low level of education with less appreciation of issues involving the environment including pollution. Majority of people within the surveyed communities were unable to access decent toilet facilities and publicly demarcated waste disposal sites. There was no coordinated and concerted effort to manage these three wetlands two of which are designated Ramsar sites. Activities such as farming, discharge of domestic garbage, improper fishing practices, improper disposal of industrial and human waste are increasing the pollution risk of these wetland environments.