Effects of Facultative Mutualism on Arthropod Communities and Amomum villosum Productions in Lac Plantation-Amomum villosum Agroforest

Purpose In order to explore the effects of facultative mutualism on arthropod communities and Amomum villosum production in lac plantation-A.villosum agroforest.Method Investigations of arthropod communities and A.villosum productions were conducted by searching methods in three types sites of Yayi, Mojiang Couty, Yunnan Province in May and September, 2015(plot I:A.villosum plantation; plot Ⅱ:lac plantation-A.villosum agroforestry without lac insect infestation; plot Ⅲ:lac plantation- A.villosum agroforestry with lac insect infestation).Results (1) Species compositions and abundance:851 arthropod individuals were collected from the plot I, representing 36 species; 1 097 arthropod individuals were collected from the plot Ⅱ, representing 30 species; 1 494 arthropod individuals were collected from the plot Ⅲ, representing 37 species. (2) Diversity comparisons:there were significant differences of arthropod abundance and beneficial insect abundance among three sites. Arthropods and beneficial insect abundance ranked as Ⅲ > Ⅱ > I; but there were no significant differences of arthropod species richness and pest abundance. (3) Community structures:arthropod community structures of plot Ⅲ were dissimilar with those in plot Ⅱ and I. (4) A.villosum productions:there were no significant differences in terms of A.villosum blossom quantities and pollination rates among different plots. Number of normal fruits and abnormal fruits of A.villosum had significant differences among different plots; plot Ⅲ had the highest normal fruits and the lowest abnormal fruits.Conclusion Facultative mutualism increased the abundance of beneficial insects, changed the arthropod community structures, and increased the A.villosum productions, which had positive effects on ecosystem servers.