Community structure and nutrient content of canopy arthropods in clearcut and uncut forest ecosystems

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Ecology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6300103

Schowalter, T D ^[1]; Webb, J W; Crossley, Jr, D A

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1. Univ. of Georgia, Athens

This paper describes differences in canopy arthropod community structure, major cation content, and calculated nutrient consumption between clearcut and undisturbed hardwood forest watersheds at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina, USA, during the first two growing seasons following cutting. Although canopy arthropod biomass was about 0.08% of foliage biomass on both watersheds, aphid mass increased 23-fold and ant mass increased 6-fold per unit foliage mass following cutting. These groups in general had lower nutrient concentrations than did chewing herbivores and predators. Arthropod K concentrations were 33% lower on the clearcut; Na, K, and Mg concentrations were 20 to 50% higher in 1978 than in 1977. Arthropod Mg and Ca concentrations, but not Na and K, were reduced significantly more by the greater effect of drought on the clearcut watershed. Consumption estimates based in part on consumption rates reported by others indicated increased nutrient translocation from foilage via arthropods following cutting. These data indicated that canopy arthropod responses to changes in nutrient availability following disturbance could have increased nutrient cycling rates and contributed to nutrient retention by the recovering ecosystem.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6300103
• Journal Information: Ecology; (United States), Journal Name: Ecology; (United States) Vol. 62:4; ISSN ECOLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BIOMASS
COMMUNITIES
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORESTRY
FORESTS
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
LAND USE
MINERAL CYCLING
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
NUMERICAL DATA
NUTRIENTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOUTHEAST REGION
SPECIES DIVERSITY
USA