Temporal Dynamics and Community Turnover of Orthoptera During the Monsoon Season from the Goa University Campus, Goa, India

Orthopterans are ecologically important insects that play key roles in herbivory, nutrient cycling, and food-web dynamics. This study documents the diversity and temporal dynamics of Orthoptera within the Goa University campus, Taleigao Plateau, Goa, India during the monsoon season. Opportunistic surveys were conducted over a 12-week period using two fixed line transects across grassy patches, roadside vegetation, and shaded habitats for assessing Orthopteran diversity. Species identification was based on morphological characterization: body size and shape, antennal length, pronotal morphology, wing size and venation, colour patterns, hind femoral, tibial morphology and head profile. A total of 18 species representing five taxa (Acrididae, Gryllidae, Pyrgomorphidae, Tetrigidae, and Tettigonioidea) across two suborders (Caelifera and Ensifera) were recorded. Acrididae was the most species-speciose taxon, represented by 11 species. Species richness increased significantly throughout the survey period (Kendall's τ = 0.526, p = 0.023), ranging from two to eight species per week (mean ± SD = 5.22 ± 1.99 species). Species accumulation increased steadily from 6 species in week 4 to 18 species by week 12, with seven additional species detected after week 6, indicating incomplete sampling. Community turnover was consistently high between consecutive weeks, with Jaccard dissimilarity values ranging from 0.50 to 1.00 (mean = 0.84), reflecting substantial species compositional variations. Seven species were detected in only a single week while Hieroglyphus banian was the most temporally persistent species, occurring in eight weeks. NMDS ordination (stress = 0.072) revealed no clear temporal clustering of survey weeks, suggesting that community composition changed continuously throughout rather than following a distinct directional trajectory. These findings show that orthopteran assemblages at Goa University are highly dynamic during the monsoon, with seasonal emergence shaping the community composition. This study provides insights into Orthopteran community dynamics and provides a baseline for long-term biodiversity monitoring and conservation.