The applications of multivariate analysis in arthropod community analysis

Key Words：multivariate analysis, principal response curve, nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis, arthropod community analysis

Abstract：Increasing numbers of studies of arthropod communities have been made in recent years, but comprehensive information derived from community analyses is limited by the use of traditional and simple diversity indices. Multivariate analysis methodology is particularly well suited for meeting specialized needs for highthroughput community data mining. The principal response curve is a classic multivariate analysis method which is widely used in environmental monitoring and ecological restoration to explore the longterm effects of certain human activity. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis can deal with large amounts of data and show the results in a lowdimensional ordination, making it a promising method for analyzing community ecology. However, these methods have rarely been used in arthropod community analysis in China to date. Here, the uses of principal response curve and nonmetric multidimensional scaling are introduced in a study of arthropod communities from Bt and nonBt mixture cotton fields with different acreage ratios.