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Impact of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on shrub-dwelling arthropods in an eastern deciduous forest

Lawrence, Jessica
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1289234685

Abstract Details

2010, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences.
The exotic shrub Lonicera maackii is a problematic invader of southwestern Ohio forests. As L. maackii invades the forest interior, it negatively impacts native plant diversity and abundance and changes the structure of understory vegetation by replacing the native shrub layer, which has a patchy distribution of plant species, with a dense shrub layer. Changes in diversity or structure of native shrub layer vegetation caused by L. maackii invasion could, in turn, affect associated arthropod fauna. Our objective was to determine whether L. maackii invasion impacted arthropod community composition and structure in the forest shrub layer. We predicted that by negatively affecting the diversity of native plant species in the shrub layer, L. maackii invasion would decrease diversity and abundance of arthropod taxa, trophic groups, and feeding specialists. Alternatively, we predicted that invasion of forests by L. maackii could increase vertical cover of the shrub layer, which could increase diversity and abundance of arthropod taxa, trophic groups, and feeding specialists. We established paired plots in ten forested locations to compare both arthropod community characteristics and characteristics of the shrub layer vegetation between invaded and uninvaded areas. Within paired plots, we captured arthropods from shrub layer vegetation using fumigants and a beating stick and then identified or classified individuals to order and family, trophic group, and specialist/generalist feeder. Additionally, within paired plots, we measured percent vertical cover of shrub layer vegetation with a profile board and identified all individuals of woody shrub layer plants to species. In areas invaded by L. maackii, we found increased or unchanged values of richness and abundance of all arthropod taxa, trophic groups, and specialist feeders. We also observed increased or unchanged values of Shannon’s diversity and evenness of all arthropod taxa and trophic groups and relative abundance of all trophic groups in invaded areas, with the exception of a decrease in evenness of detritivores. Shannon’s species diversity, richness, and evenness of shrub layer vegetation did not differ between invaded and uninvaded forest; however, percent vertical cover was higher in areas invaded by L. maackii. In contrast to our first prediction, the diversity of shrub layer vegetation did not have a major impact on arthropods in our plots. Our alternative prediction was supported only in that abundance of spiders was affected by the increase in cover provided by L. maackii. Increases in diversity, richness, and abundance of several arthropod taxa and trophic groups in invaded areas were explained by the presence of L. maackii rather than by increases in vertical cover. It was likely that L. maackii, while minimally affecting the trophic structure of the arthropod community, directly and indirectly facilitated arthropods in the invaded shrub layer by providing additional architectural complexity, habitat space, or food resources compared to the uninvaded forest shrub layer. Management implications of this study suggest that measures to prevent further spread of this invasive shrub should be continued; however, total eradication of L. maackii in currently invaded areas may not be required.
Guy Cameron, PhD (Committee Chair)
Stephen Matter, PhD (Committee Member)
George Uetz, PhD (Committee Member)
Theresa Culley, PhD (Committee Member)
56 p.
Ecology
invasive plant; arthropod community; diversity; richness; abundance; forest shrub layer

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lawrence, J. (2010). Impact of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on shrub-dwelling arthropods in an eastern deciduous forest [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1289234685

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lawrence, Jessica. Impact of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on shrub-dwelling arthropods in an eastern deciduous forest. 2010. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1289234685.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lawrence, Jessica. "Impact of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii on shrub-dwelling arthropods in an eastern deciduous forest." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1289234685

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1289234685
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.