Secondary succession of arthropods and plants in the Arizona Sonoran Desert in response to transmission-line construction

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Environ. Manage.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5022571

Johnson, C D; Beley, J R; Ditsworth, T M; Butt, S M

At a site about 16 km south of Black Canyon City, Arizona, density of arthropods on an undisturbed plot after an access road was built for powerline construction was much greater than on a disturbed plot. Mites, springtails, leafhoppers, scale insects, ants and thrips were significantly reduced on the disturbed area. Diversity increased on the disturbed plot after construction, but density decreased. A slight increase in similarity (H', Clambda) of the arthropod communities of the two plots appears to be related to the modest increase in cover on the disturbed area. Globe-mallow, goosefoot and a four-o'clock were pioneer species and occurred only on the disturbed area. There was a significant reduction in cover of all plant species on the disturbed plot after construction, but there was a steady increase of annual forbs at the end of the study. The results indicate that restoration of numbers of arthropods on the disturbed area is dependent on the total plant cover on the plot, apparently regardless of the composition of the plant species involved. It is obvious in this area that the plant communities will remain dissimilar, with the pioneering herbaceous plants on the disturbed plot dominating. Construction of a powerline apparently has had little impact on the structure of the arthropod community on the disturbed area, as proportions of three trophic categories of arthropods have not been radically altered. The results of this study, when compared to other studies in the Sonoran Desert and in desert grasslands disturbed by powerline construction, indicate that lengthy secondary succession does occur in the Sonoran Desert. Early arthropod invaders were found to be mainly herbivores, with few parasites or predators, and an equilibrium was eventually reached between colonizers and space requirements. 35 references, 3 figures, 3 tables

• Research Organization: Northern Arizona Univ., Flagstaff
• OSTI ID: 5022571
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 16:2; ISSN JEVMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
530200* -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Assessment of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
ANIMALS
ARID LANDS
ARTHROPODS
CONSTRUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HABITAT
INVERTEBRATES
PLANTS
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
REVEGETATION
SPECIES DIVERSITY