Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Mahon_Dissertation.pdf (3.68 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Soil litter and soil-dwelling invertebrate response to experimental removal of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)

Mahon, Michael B
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9436-2998
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563282959616797

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.
The goals of this dissertation were to examine the effects of overabundant white-tailed deer and invasive Amur honeysuckle on forest floor invertebrates and ecosystem processes in an eastern deciduous forest. In Chapter 1, I examined responses of the soil organic layer and exotic earthworms to the experimental exclosure of deer and honeysuckle removal through time. Earthworm density declined in response to deer exclusion, with earthworm density decreasing over time in deer exclosures relative to deer access plots. Litter biomass decreased over time in deer access plots. In contrast, honeysuckle removal had little effect on earthworm density and litter biomass. Yet, there was an interaction between deer and honeysuckle on earthworm biomass, with honeysuckle removal reducing earthworm biomass in deer exclosures. These results suggest white-tailed deer and exotic earthworms are highly linked and that it is difficult to parse the effects of deer from those of earthworms in exclosure studies, as these effects are likely interrelated. In Chapter 2, I determined the impact of deer exclosure and honeysuckle removal on litter-dwelling ant communities through time. Ant abundance and species richness increased with time in deer exclosures, but not in deer access plots. Honeysuckle removal reduced abundance and richness of ants. There was little evidence that treatments directly influenced ant species diversity or functional diversity. However, all ant measures were positively related to litter biomass. These findings suggest ants respond strongly to ecosystem drivers of deer, honeysuckle, and earthworms; specifically, ants responded strongest to changes in litter biomass. In Chapter 3, using litter boxes with different mesh sizes (0.25 and 10 mm openings), I quantified litter decomposition rates in response to experimental deer, honeysuckle, and earthworm removal. Decomposition rates were drastically faster in coarse mesh treatments compared to fine mesh treatments. Decomposition was fastest in deer access, coarse mesh treatments relative to other treatments. Honeysuckle effects were dependent on deer presence with honeysuckle removal having differential effects on decomposition in deer access and exclosure plots. Differences in decomposition between deer access and exclosure plots were driven by changes in earthworm biomass. Thus, linkages between deer and earthworms have broad consequences on forest ecosystem processes. Together, these studies demonstrate the broad, complex effects of white-tailed deer and Amur honeysuckle on belowground invasive detritivores, ecosystem processes, and forest-floor arthropods. Specifically, these findings indicate strong links between deer and earthworms and between earthworms and ecosystem processes, but weaker connections of invasive honeysuckle and these endpoints.
Thomas Crist (Advisor)
Melany Fisk (Committee Member)
David Gorchov (Committee Member)
Thomas Rooney (Committee Member)
Jing Zhang (Committee Member)
Ecology
white-tailed deer; Amur honeysuckle; ants; earthworms; decomposition; temperate deciduous forest; leaf litter; above-belowground interactions; functional diversity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mahon, M. B. (2019). Soil litter and soil-dwelling invertebrate response to experimental removal of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563282959616797

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mahon, Michael. Soil litter and soil-dwelling invertebrate response to experimental removal of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). 2019. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563282959616797.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mahon, Michael. "Soil litter and soil-dwelling invertebrate response to experimental removal of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1563282959616797

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1563282959616797
328
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.