Insect Community Structure and Recovery Trajectory in Post-Oil-Spill Terrestrial Habitats in Ogoni Land, Rivers State, South South Nigeria

The ecological rehabilitation of Ogoni Land in Rivers State following decades of oil pollution presents one of Nigeria's most complex environmental restoration challenges. While botanical and soil chemistry assessments have been conducted under the UNEP cleanup framework, insect community recovery as a measure of ecosystem rehabilitation success has not been investigated. This study examines insect community structure and recovery trajectory in post-oil-spill terrestrial habitats at UNEP cleanup sites in Ogoni Land. Insect sampling using pitfall traps, flight intercept traps, and sweep netting will be conducted at six recently remediated sites, six un-remediated contaminated sites, and six reference sites in non-impacted adjacent areas. Taxonomic richness, abundance, and functional diversity will be calculated for each site type. Community composition similarity between remediated and reference sites will be assessed using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity and ordination. Environmental predictors of recovery including soil hydrocarbon levels and vegetation biomass will be modeled. This study provides critical biological evidence for UNEP's Ogoni remediation monitoring framework and generates data applicable to wider Niger Delta cleanup assessment. It also contributes to understanding insect community recovery trajectories following hydrocarbon contamination in tropical ecosystems. Keywords: insect communities, oil spill rehabilitation, Ogoni Land, Rivers State, ecosystem recovery