Effects of Prescribed Fire on the Diversity of Soil-Dwelling Arthropods in the University of South Florida Ecological Research Area, Tampa, Florida
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Leaf litter samples were used to study arthropod diversity in the University of South Florida Ecological Research Area. Arthropods were collected from different plots of different prescribed burn frequencies (1year, 2 year, 5 year, 7 year and no burn frequencies). Differential responses of arthropods to burn frequency were studied. It was expected that burn frequency would affect arthropod richness and diversity and that the pattern of diversity and richness would follow the Intermediated Disturbance Hypothesis. It was also expected that richness and diversity would be correlated with the amount of leaf litter present. Preliminary results suggest that there are short-term and long-term differences among arthropod communities in response to fire history and vegetation and that the amount of leaf litter may influence the distribution of arthropod taxa.
Author: Celina Bellanceau
Language: English
Topic: Fire effects on ecosystems
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1570163434