Transcript Leaf Litter Diversity: Influences on Arthropod Diversity

Leaf Litter Diversity: Influences on Arthropod
Diversity
Taylor Patterson
Individual Research Project
SEE-U 2000 - B2C
Background Information
• Study of biotic diversity
• Leaf litter parent material is consumed by a
wide array of arthropods as a primary food
source
• Divergent insects are attracted to certain
leaf litter species
• Will increase in litter variety influence this
attraction?
Hypothesis
• Does species of leaf
litter parent material
influence diversity of
arthropods lured?
• Does leaf litter
diversity cause total
number of arthropods
to increase in
abundance?
• Will the range of
morphospecies
variation increase or
decrease?
Methodology
• Leaf litter debris was collected from Arizona Sycamore
(Platanus wrightii) and common Oak (Quercus virginiana)
• 3 treatments of 5 each: single species Sycamore, single
species Oak, and mixed species Sycamore/Oak were
deposited in chicken wire cubes
• Uniformly watered with 1/3 liter
• Duration of 6 days
• Litter weight of 350 g. was collected from each cube
• Specimens were recovered using mesh sift, insect sheet
and aspirators
• Arthropods were catalogued to morphospecies
Data: Table 1-A
Sycamore
94 total
arthropods
45 total
morphospecies
Oak
48 total
arthropods
26 total
morphospecies
Sycamore
Mixture
94 total
arthropods
45 total
morphospecies
Oak
48 total
arthropods
26 total
morphospecies
Mixture
150 total
arthropods
56 total
morphospecies
150 total
arthropods
56 total
morphospecies
Data: Chart 1-1
Results
• Single species Sycamore attracted 94
individuals from 45 distinct morphospecies
• Single species Oak attracted 48 specimens
from 26 species
• Mixed species leaf litter attracted 150
individual arthropods from 56
morphospecies
• Jacard Index of Beta Diversity: 3 treatments
are very unsimilar
Conclusion
• Broadened litter diversity affirmatively
influences the abundance of arthropods
present
• Broadened litter diversity affirmatively
influences the variety of morphospecies
noted
• Most diverse leaf treatment was the most
plentiful and variant in terms of insects
present