Conservation value of roadside verges for stenotopic heathland Carabidae: corridors or refugia?

It has been shown that, in The Netherlands, sandy roadside verges may aid the survival of stenotopic Carabidae associated with open habitats such as heathland and sandy grassland. It is suggested that roadsides serve as corridors linking heathland fragments, thus maintaining a metapopulation structure, which helps avoid regional extinction. However, a counter-argument is that verges encourage dispersal into unsuitable habitats, and function as sinks in which individuals die without reproducing. The stenotopic species recorded from roadside verges but not in adjacent open habitats all had high powers of dispersal. The least successful dispersers were found only in open habitats and in verges closely connected to them. From this, the conclusion that verges function as corridors can be drawn. We reinterpret these data to suggest that stenotopic species were breeding on the roadside verges, and that they acted as refugia rather than corridors. We also present evidence from a roadside verge in the Breckland region of East Anglia, England. We show that many stenotopic species breed on the verge, which thus functions as a refugium. For Carabidae dependent on early successional habitats, survival may be more likely on disturbed roadside verges than on nature reserves in the absence of regular management disturbance.     

Effects of vegetation management by mowing on ground-dwelling arthropods

Species-rich grasslands are rare in the Netherlands and need consistent vegetation management to retain their characteristic biodiversity. Roadside verges are important refuges for grassland plants since the mowing management no longer aims at traffic safety only but also strives for botanical diversity. Although arthropods are highly abundant in roadside verges, the effect of different mowing practices on this group is largely unknown. During 4 years, we studied ground beetles, weevils, ants and ground-dwelling spiders with pitfall traps in experimental plots in roadside verges with five different mowing treatments: (i) no management, (ii) and (iii) mowing once a year with and without hay removal, (iv) and (v) mowing twice a year with and without hay removal. This was done in a plant productivity gradient; the experiment was repeated in low-, medium- and high-productive verges. In the low-productive site, the effect of management on the arthropods only existed in a higher abundance in plots mown twice per year with hay removal. In the medium- and high-productive sites, mowing twice a year with hay removal resulted not only in highest abundances but also in highest arthropod species richness. Mowing twice without hay removal and mowing once with removal showed intermediate values, while mowing once per year without removal and particularly the absence of management resulted in low diversity and low abundance. To promote ground-dwelling arthropods in medium-to-high-productive grassland verges, we recommend a management of mowing twice a year with the removal of hay. It is reasoned that some form of rotational management, aiming at leaving some vegetation refuges intact after mowing events, may further promote arthropod survival. However, caution should be taken that these refuges are not too large, as overall suitability for ground-dwelling arthropod decreases rapidly in such patches. Out of several studied vegetation characteristics, the number of flowering plant species (medium-productive verge) and total flower abundance (high-productive verge) appeared to represent suitable, and easily monitored, proxies that significantly mirror arthropod diversity.     

Elevation and experimental snowmelt manipulation affect emergence phenology and abundance of soil‐hibernating arthropods

1. Effects of climate change, such as higher average temperatures and earlier snowmelt, are already apparent, especially in alpine regions. However, community responses of functionally important arthropod taxa to changing climatic conditions are mostly unknown. 2. In this study, an earlier snowmelt was simulated at 15 plots along an elevational gradient in the German Alps. At each study site, soil emergence traps were established for sampling soil‐hibernating arthropods on earlier and control snowmelt treatments during the growing season. The abundance and emergence phenology of the five most common arthropod orders (Araneae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera) were analysed, as well as the species richness of Coleoptera. 3. There was increasing abundance and species richness of Coleoptera along the elevational gradient, indicating that at higher altitudes more individuals and species hibernate in the soil. Abundances of Diptera also increased with elevation. By contrast, abundances of Hemiptera declined with increasing elevation, while abundances of Araneae and Hymenoptera did not show significant elevational patterns. Arthropods at higher elevations emerged, on average, 5 weeks later than arthropods at lower elevations, because of a longer‐lasting snow cover. The earlier snowmelt treatment resulted in higher abundances of Araneae and Hymenoptera compared with the control plots, indicating that the time of snowmelt influenced the abundance of predators, such as spiders or parasitic wasps, more than that of herbivores. 4. An earlier emergence of certain arthropod guilds and a change in relative abundance of guilds might desynchronise species interactions, leading to a possible loss of biodiversity.     

Trophic structure of a boreal forest arthropod community revealed by stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analyses

Terrestrial arthropods are important components of boreal ecosystems but relatively little is known about their trophic structure within communities. We measured δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in a broad range of arthropod taxa (Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, Orthoptera, Araneae) from boreal forest in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada. Isotopic measurements supported previous conventional investigations on foraging niches based on stomach content analysis and direct feeding observations but additional, new information was also obtained using the stable isotope approach. Significant differences were observed in both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values between various orders and families or superfamilies within orders. Higher variance in stable isotope values for scavengers (e.g. carrion beetles; Coleoptera, Silphidae) and generalists (e.g. ground beetles; Coleoptera, Carabidae) was found compared to specialists (e.g. grasshoppers; Orthoptera). Consistent isotopic differences between terrestrial and aquatic species were not found. However, aquatic insect δ¹³C values tended to be lower than those of their terrestrial counterparts. We discuss the potential for using stable isotope methods to reconstruct trophic linkages and interaction involving arthropods.     

Effect of boundary type and season on predatory arthropods associated with field margins on New Zealand farmland

Pitfall traps were used to monitor predatory arthropod numbers along two types of field boundary, a post and wire fence line and a Cupressus macrocarpa hedge, along the same paddock margin in Canterbury, New Zealand, over 24 months. The seven most abundant predator groups recorded were: Araneae > Phalangiidae > Staphylinidae > Coccinellidae > Chilopoda > Hemerobiidae > Carabidae. Araneae, Phalangiidae, Staphylinidae, Chilopoda and Hemerobiidae were found in larger numbers at the wire fence than at the hedge site, whereas the numbers of Carabidae and Coccinellidae adults exhibited no field margin preference. However, more species of Araneae and Staphylinidae were caught at the hedge site, whereas species richness of carabid beetles was greatest at the wire fence. Principal component analysis clearly separated the samples collected from the two habitats based on the assemblages of Araneae, Staphylinidae and Carabidae, and certain species in each of these taxonomic groups appeared to be particularly associated with one boundary type or the other. All the main taxonomic groups exhibited clear seasonal patterns, with distinct peaks in abundance occurring at certain times of the year. The results of the study reinforce the idea that management of field boundaries can be used to manipulate the type and abundance of particular groups of predatory arthropods, and that seasonal patterns should be taken into account in schemes of integrated pest management so that any adverse effects of biocide application on these beneficial species may be minimised.     

Seasonal Distribution and Diversity of Ground Arthropods in Microhabitats Following a Shrub Plantation Age Sequence in Desertified Steppe

In desertified regions, shrub-dominated patches are important microhabitats for ground arthropod assemblages. As shrub age increases, soil, vegetation and microbiological properties can change remarkably and spontaneously across seasons. However, relatively few studies have analyzed how ground arthropods respond to the microhabitats created by shrubs of different plantation ages across seasons. Using 6, 15, 24 and 36 year-old plantations of re-vegetated shrubs (Caragana koushinskii) in the desert steppe of northwestern China as a model system, we sampled ground arthropod communities using a pitfall trapping method in the microhabitats under shrubs and in the open areas between shrubs, during the spring, summer and autumn. The total ground arthropod assemblage was dominated by Carabidae, Melolonthidae, Curculionidae, Tenebrionidae and Formicidae that were affected by plantation age, seasonal changes, or the interaction between these factors, with the later two groups also influenced by microhabitat. Overall, a facilitative effect was observed, with more arthropods and a greater diversity found under shrubs as compared to open areas, but this was markedly affected by seasonal changes. There was a high degree of similarity in arthropod assemblages and diversity between microhabitats in summer and autumn. Shrub plantation age significantly influenced the distribution of the most abundant groups, and also the diversity indices of the ground arthropods. However, there was not an overall positive relationship between shrub age and arthropod abundance, richness or diversity index. The influence of plantation age on arthropod communities was also affected by seasonal changes. From spring through summer to autumn, community indices of ground arthropods tended to decline, and a high degree of similarity in these indices (with fluctuation) was observed among different ages of shrub plantation in autumn. Altogether the recovery of arthropod communities was markedly affected by seasonal variability, and they demonstrated distinctive communal fingerprints in different microhabitats for each plantation age stage.     

Land‐use effects on the functional distinctness of arthropod communities

Land‐use change is a major driver of the global loss of biodiversity, but it is unclear to what extent this also results in a loss of ecological traits. Therefore, a better understanding of how land‐use change affects ecological traits is crucial for efforts to sustain functional diversity. To this end we tested whether higher species richness or taxonomic distinctness generally leads to increased functional distinctness and whether intensive land use leads to functionally more narrow arthropod communities. We compiled species composition and trait data for 350 species of terrestrial arthropods (Araneae, Carabidae and Heteroptera) in different land‐use types (forests, grasslands and arable fields) of low and high land‐use intensity. We calculated the average functional and taxonomic distinctness and the rarified trait richness for each community. These measures reflect the range of traits, taxonomic relatedness and number of traits that are observed in local communities. Average functional distinctness only increased significantly with species richness in Carabidae communities. Functional distinctness increased significantly with taxonomic distinctness in communities of all analyzed taxa suggesting a high functional redundancy of taxonomically closely related species. Araneae and Heteroptera communities had the expected lower functional distinctness at sites with higher land‐use intensity. More frequently disturbed land‐use types such as managed grasslands or arable fields were characterized by species with smaller body sizes and higher dispersal abilities and communities with lower functional distinctness or trait richness. Simple recommendations about the conservation of functional distinctness of arthropod communities in the face of future land‐use intensification and species loss are not possible. Our study shows that these relationships depend on the studied taxa and land‐use type. However, for some arthropod groups functional distinctness is threatened by intensification and conversion from less to more frequently disturbed land‐uses.     

Shrubs and species identity effects on the distribution and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods in a Gobi desert

Disentangling the relationship between shrub vegetation and ground-dwelling arthropods at multiple levels of taxonomic resolution is essential to developing a suitable management strategy for the conservation of shrub-associated arthropod biodiversity in shrubland ecosystems. Using Gobi desert (dominated by shrub species Nitraria sphaerocarpa and Reaumuria soongorica) occurring widely in inland arid areas of northwest China as a model system, we sampled ground-dwelling arthropods by pitfall trapping method under canopies of both shrubs and in intershrub bare areas during spring, summer and autumn. Our aim was to determine whether the presence and species identity of shrubs influence the distribution of ground-dwelling arthropods and whether the influence of shrub presence and species identity differs among trophic and taxonomic groups. At the community level, total arthropod abundance and species richness were significantly greater under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats, whereas more arthropods were captured under N. sphaerocarpa than under R. soongorica. At the trophic group level, the abundance of predator and decomposer arthropods was significantly greater under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats, whereas herbivore and decomposer arthropods were more abundant under N. sphaerocarpa than under R. soongorica. At the family level, the abundance of Carabidae, Gnaphosidae, Karschiidae, Tenebrionidae and Thomisidae was consistently much greater under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats, whereas that of Formicidae, Philodromidae and Tettigoniidae did not differ between the shrub microhabitats and the intershrub bare habitats. However, the abundance of Curculionidae under R. soongorica and the abundance of Geotrupidae under N. sphaerocarpa were significantly lower than that in intershrub bare habitats. N. sphaerocarpa was commonly preferred by arthropods in the families of Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae, whereas R. soongorica was commonly preferred by arthropods in the family Geotrupidae, but shrub species identity did not affect the abundance of the remaining families. Our results suggest that shrubs and species identity play important roles in structuring ground-dwelling arthropod communities, but the response of arthropods differed among trophic or taxonomic groups. This study may have important implications for the conservation of invertebrate biodiversity in Gobi desert ecosystems.     

Bird communities of highway verges: Influence of adjacent habitat and roadside management

We have investigated the effects of landscape traversed and roadside structure on the use of highway verges by birds. Three contrasted landscapes were chosen in terms of human land use and vegetation structure: an intensive farmland, a pine plantation, and a matoral. The roadside sections varied in vegetation structure, width and profile. We recorded birds present in roadsides and adjacent habitats by transect counts over all seasons. Roadside bird species appeared for a great part similar to those of adjacent habitats. However, diversity and abundance in verges did not depend on that of adjacent habitats. Woody roadsides were comparable to hedges, as trees (and shrubs) in verges enhanced species richness and abundance of birds in the farmland and woodland sites. Width and profile of verges had less influence. In all sites, typical species of the habitat traversed partly avoided roadsides. On the contrary, numerous species associated with ‘rare’ habitats in one site preferred roadsides, provided that verge vegetation contrasted with the dominant habitat. It is concluded that birds responses to highways can vary greatly with landscape traversed and verge vegetation. Highway verges could be favorable to birds, if they constitute a complementary habitat to the dominant habitat within a landscape.     

Arthropod Biodiversity in the Canopy of Vochysia divergens (Vochysiaceae), a Forest Dominant in the Brazilian Pantanal

The canopy of an invasive tree species in the Pantanal floodplains, Vochysia divergens Pohl (Vochysiaceae; height 12 m) was sprayed once with 5% synthetic pyrethrum during the dry, non-flooded season near Poconé, Mato Grosso. About 4200 arthropods collected (43.7 ind./m 2) represented 14 orders. The Hymenoptera dominated (21.4 ind./ 2 ; mostly ants), followed by Coleoptera, Araneae and Diptera (85% of the total catch). Of the 26 Coleoptera families (6.2 ind./ 2) the Curculionidae, Scolytidae, Elateridae and Dryopidae were most abundant (70% of the total catch), and on trophic level the herbivores dominated (42%). This is the first quantitative canopy study of a tree species in the northern Pantanal floodplains. The type of data needed on arthropods from tree canopies in future studies to aid in the management and conservation of Pantanal floodplains is discussed.     

Effects of bird predation on canopy arthropods in wandoo Eucalyptus wandoo woodland

Abstract: As top predators, birds may have significant effects on arthropod abundances and affect the trophic structure of arthropod communities through predation of lower order predators (e.g. spiders) and by competition for prey. We investigated the effects of bird predation on canopy arthropods in south‐western Australia by using plastic bird mesh to exclude insectivorous birds from the foliage of wandoo Eucalyptus wandoo saplings. Exclosure resulted in an increase in the number of herbivorous and predatory arthropods. Total arthropods (with and without ants), spiders, adult Coleoptera, and larval Lepidoptera were significantly more abundant on meshed than unmeshed saplings. All size‐classes of arthropods, taxa grouped, were more abundant on meshed than unmeshed saplings, but with no evidence of a disproportionate increase of the largest arthropods on meshed saplings. All size‐classes of spiders increased in abundance on saplings from which birds were excluded. There were significant differences in the total abundance of arthropods (with and without ants), spiders (Araneae), sucking bugs (Homoptera), adult beetles (Coleoptera), larval moths (Lepidoptera), and wasps and ants (Hymenoptera) for both unmeshed and meshed saplings between sample periods. These seasonal patterns of abundance and differences between sample periods appeared to be determined by seasonal weather patterns, with the lowest numbers associated with drier and hotter conditions in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. The conclusion reached is that eucalypt forest birds have limited effects on temporal variation in canopy arthropod abundances, but depress abundances, and affect the size and trophic composition of the fauna. Given the cascading effects of birds as predators on arthropods, successful conservation management of eucalypt ecosystems, including plantations and revegetation, should be planned to maximize bird numbers and diversity.     

黄河下游农业景观中不同生境类型地表节肢动物优势类群

生物多样性是连接景观异质性与生态系统服务的桥梁。在区域尺度上,以指示类群代替地表节肢动物类群,可以有效的开展生物多样性的保护工作。但是,在黄河下游农业景观中,关于地表节肢动物指示类群的研究报道较少。以黄河下游农业景观中4种生境类型(农田、林地、树篱和沟渠)为研究样地,且在农田生境中划分不同尺度(尺度1,3.6 hm2、尺度2,14 hm2和尺度3,28 hm2),通过调查不同生境中地表节肢动物分布及其多样性,结合地表节肢动物优势类群的辨识,分析了优势类群和地表节肢动物多样性的相关性,确定了研究区内地表节肢动物多样性的指示类群。结果发现:研究区内地表节肢动物优势类群为膜翅目、鞘翅目和蜘蛛目。树篱和林地生境的地表节肢动物多样性指示类群是膜翅目,农田生境中地表节肢动物多样性指示类群是鞘翅目,沟渠生境中地表节肢动物多样性指示类群是蜘蛛目。农田生境中优势类群间无相关性(P0.05);林地、沟渠和树篱生境中鞘翅目与蜘蛛目之间存在显著正相关(P0.01);林地和沟渠生境中,鞘翅目与膜翅目之间存在正相关(P0.05)。在农田生境中优势类群之间的相关性存在尺度依赖性,随着空间尺度的增大,相关性有一定的增强。在尺度2和尺度3上膜翅目和鞘翅目均存在正相关(P0.05),并且随着尺度增加而呈上升趋势。研究表明,黄河下游农业景观中不同生境类型地表节肢动物多样性的指示类群差别较大,其中树篱和林地生境具有较高的相似性,而农田生境地表节肢动物优势类群相关性存在尺度依赖性。在黄河下游农业景观中,以优势类群多样性代替地表节肢动物类群的多样性,可以在条件不足、时间紧迫的情况下更加有效的开展生物多样性的保护工作。     

Arthropods associated with the crown of Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) palm trees in three different environments from Brazilian Cerrado

Canopy arthropods, mainly from palm trees, are little known in the Brazilian Cerrado. In order to describe the arthropod community structure associated with the crown of Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae), we sampled 150 palm trees in six "veredas" of the Federal District, Brazil, in wild, rural and periurban areas in the rainy season. The arthropods within abandoned bird nests, mammal refuges, leaves and organic matter were manually collected, preserved in ethanol 70% and separated by order, family, morphospecies and feeding guilds. Stem height and diameter of the palm crowns were measured and leaves and bird nests were counted. We collected 3,862 arthropods, from 15 orders, 45 families and 135 morphospecies. The most abundant orders were Coleoptera (28.6%), Blattodea (21.8%), Collembola (11.4%) and Hemiptera (10.2%). The families Blaberidae, Entomobryidae, Reduviidae, Oniscidae, Staphylinidae, Carabidae and Formicidae, represented 82.1% of all individuals collected. The majority of morphospecies was not abundant, 71 (52.6%) were represented by less than 1 individual/tree. Coleopterans accounted for the highest number of morphospecies (43.7%) followed by Araneae (20.0%). The analysis of the arthropod feeding guilds showed prevalence of predatory/hematophagous ones (36.0%). Arthropod richness and abundance presented smaller values for periurban environment. The number of bird nests presented positive correlation with abundance and richness; this was not found when considering the measurements of the palm trees. The importance of M. flexuosa for the maintenance of the arthropod fauna of the "veredas" in Cerrado biome is discussed.     

Visitor assemblages at flowers in a tropical rainforest canopy

Abstract Canopy crane‐based studies have been carried out to quantify the sets of arthropods that visit the flowers of a suite of common species of trees, palms and vines within the Cape Tribulation study area. Those Orders that increase significantly in abundance between the budding and flowering stages of inflorescences are identified, and multivariate and univariate comparisons have been made first, among coflowering plant species and second, at different seasons for the same plant species. The analysis has been repeated for both the profile of higher arthropod taxa in the samples and for the relative abundances of families of Coleoptera: one of the Orders most frequently suggested as critical in the pollination biology of Australian rainforests. In all cases significant differences are identified among species confirming that the visitor profile is a plant species‐specific phenomenon. Profiles within plant species at different times also differed. At the ordinal level significant differences in visitor profiles associated with coflowering plants, were observed, variously, in Thysanoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Within the Coleoptera significant differences occurred in relative abundances of Scarabaeidae, Phalacridae, Latridiidae and Curculionidae. Seasonal differences in visitation to Syzygium gustavioides, Normanbya normanbyi and Calamus radicalis, reflected differences in Diptera, Lepidoptera, Homoptera, Thysanoptera, Hymenoptera and Araneida. Within the Coleoptera, the Elateridae and Curculionidae varied significantly between occasions. The various forms of flower/arthropod interaction that may be represented in these results are discussed, as are the implications for pollination.     

Arthropod prey of shelterbelt-associated birds: linking faecal samples with biological control of agricultural pests

Abstract  The value of insectivorous birds as agents for biological control of arthropod pests has been little studied, especially in Australia. This paper reports on the extent to which arthropods from various pest and non-pest taxa feature in the diets of birds captured in farm shelterbelts in central western New South Wales. The parameters examined were the types of arthropod fragments in bird faeces and percentage volume and frequency of occurrence of each component. The faecal data were compared with samples of the arthropod fauna trapped in shelterbelts during the period the birds were captured. In 26 of 29 faecal samples, arthropod fragments were the predominant components, the most common being from Coleoptera, Hymenoptera (especially Formicidae), Orthoptera and Araneae. The recognisable pest taxa in faecal samples were Scarabaeidae and wingless grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum (Sjöstedt) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). The results indicate that the native bird species common in farm shelterbelts preyed on a range of arthropod taxa including several that are pests of crops and pastures. Accordingly, conservation of birds in farmlands could contribute to suppression of arthropod pests.     

东北黑土区耕作措施对地表节肢动物多样性的影响

【目的】调查不同耕作措施下东北黑土地表节肢动物群落类群多样性以及营养功能群结构, 有利于揭示地表节肢动物多样性对土地管理措施的响应。【方法】本研究于2012年7－9月在黑龙江海伦中国科学院海伦农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站采用陷阱法对东北典型黑土区免耕、 少耕、 平翻、 旋耕和组合5种耕作措施长期定位试验区的地表节肢动物群落组成、 类群多样性以及功能群结构进行调查, 计算各处理地表节肢动物类群相对多度、 类群丰富度、 Shannon Wiener多样性指数、 Pielou均匀度指数、 Simpson优势度指数、 Cody指数和Srensen指数。【结果】本次调查共收集黑土农田地表节肢动物个体数为2 942, 隶属7目18科。免耕样地收集节肢动物15科, 占所有类群83.34%; 少耕和组合样地均为11科, 占61.12%。所有耕作措施下鞘翅目和蜘蛛目类群相对多度最高, 步甲科为黑土农田优势地表节肢动物类群。免耕样地节肢动物类群丰富度和多样性指数最高, 少耕样地最低。除旋耕样地外, 其他耕作样地地表节肢动物功能群均以捕食性为主。群落相似性指数分析表明, 不同耕作措施间群落相似性不同, 免耕与组合之间相似性较高, 而平翻与组合之间较低。【结论】步甲科是黑土农田地表节肢动物群落中的优势类群。不同耕作措施影响近地表土壤以及植被微生境, 进而影响地表节肢动物群落组成、 数量和营养功能群。免耕样地具有较高节肢动物类群丰富度和捕食性动物类群, 有利于维持黑土农田地表节肢动物多样性。     

Arthropods within the woody element of hedgerows and their distribution pattern

1 The diversity and abundance of arthropods within hedgerows was investigated using insecticide fogging. In total, 13 390 arthropods were collected from 181 m³ of hedge (2% of the total volume). The taxonomic diversity of the total sample included 51 families in 13 orders, all within the phylum Arthropoda. Five orders accounted for 90% of all arthropods: Araneae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera. The predators were the dominant functional group accounting for 40% of the total sample. 2 The linear distribution of hedgerow arthropod assemblages was investigated by sampling arthropods in 13 hedges at seven equidistant points along each hedge. Abundance of most arthropod taxa and the four functional groups (predators, parasitoids, herbivores and scavengers) consistently showed a clumped distribution along hedges, with high numbers at both ends and in the middle section. Hedge ends were defined either as a node, where the hedge intersected with another hedge, or as a gateway prior to an adjacent landscape feature such as a wood. Aggregation of arthropods at the nodes may reflect preferable microclimatic conditions at hedgerow junctions, whereas aggregation at a gap suggests the gap acted as a barrier to movement. The aggregation at the centre remains unexplained but may be a manifestation of the movement of individual arthropods along the hedgerow. 3 The great abundance and diversity of arthropods found in the present study emphasizes the status of hedges as one of the most important noncrop habitats on farmland. The arthropods that they contain may act as food for other farmland species, aid pest control and contribute to crop pollination.     

Thermal properties and fauna on the bark of trees in two different African ecosystems

Summary The thermal properties of 26 African tree species in two different ecosystems were studied using thermocouples. In a subtropical moist forest were three bark types of trees: species with thin and smooth bark types with low values of insulation across the bark; species with a more structured bark type and medium insulation values; and species with deep-fissured or scaly bark types and high insulation values. Only these latter trees are able to survive openings in the subtropical forest and stand alone on edges of forest gaps. In the savanna all tree species showed adaptations in the structure of their bark in different forms: many tree species shade their trunks. Some have low bark insulation and these are known to be sensitive to fires. Some tree species show high bark insulation and do not shade their trunks. Tree species with white bark avoid overheating of their surface by reflection of the radiation. The arthropod community living exclusively on the bark was investigated for the first time on South African trees, on ten tree species. In the two different ecosystems this habitat is occupied by different arthropod groups. In the subtropical forest Acari, Araneae, Opiliones, Isopoda, Myriopoda, Blattodea, Psocoptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Nematocera (Diptera) are the main arthropod groups living exclusively on the bark of trees. In the savanna Pseudoscorpiones, Araneae, Collembola, Blattodea, Psocoptera, Coleoptera, Neuroptera, Termites, Formicidae, Hymenoptera and Brachycera (Diptera) are the main arthropod groups living exclusively on the bark of trees. Within one ecosystem on one bark type the dominant species are similar; richly structured bark types have a richer fauna. In the forest, bark arthropod diversity is related to the bark structure of the constituent trees, and the arthropod communities on the bark would reflect changes in the structure of the forest. Forests comprising tree species with different bark types would have a richer total bark arthropod fauna. Specialists on richly structured bark types would die out if tree species composition were altered by man to give stands consisting only of tree species with smooth bark types. Bark arthropods in a subtropical moist forest have different proportions of herbivorous and fungivorous compared to carnivorous species than those on the bark of trees in a savanna.     

Road verges as habitat for small mammals in Britain

There are 370 000 kilometres of roads in Great Britain, mostly bordered by a verge that is potential habitat for small mammals. The present study assessed the importance of road verges as small mammal habitat and investigated the influence of some key features on rodent abundance. Five rodent and three shrew species were live‐trapped on 14 road verges in late summer 1994 and nine verges in autumn 1996 in north Cambridgeshire, UK. On average, between three and four species were captured per verge. Bank Voles Clethrionomys glareolus, Wood Mice Apodemus sylvaticus and Field Voles Microtus agrestis were the most abundant species, with mean densities of 45.5, 40.2 and 29.5 animals km^–1 in summer and 52.8, 181.9 and 47.2 animals km^–1 in autumn. Numbers varied between verges and this was significantly correlated with particular features on the verge. Bank Vole and Field Vole numbers showed a significant positive correlation with the dimensions of hedges and the width of the tall grass area, respectively. Wood Mice were also more numerous on verges with big hedges but the relationship between mouse abundance and verge structure was complex. The number of mice in 1994 was positively and significantly correlated with hedge features and with the width of the short grass sightline, whereas, in autumn 1996, they were only significantly correlated with total verge width (positive association) and ditch width (negative association).     

Sampling epigeal arthropods: an evaluation of fenced pitfall traps using mark-release-recapture and comparisons to unfenced pitfall traps in arable crops

The efficiency of fenced pitfall traps for estimating the density of commonly occurring epigeal predatory beetles was examined using mark-release-recapture. Most beetles of those recovered were recaptured within one week of their release. For seven of the ten species tested recapture rates were over 70%, with higher rates for the larger species. The predatory arthropod species composition captured using fenced pitfall traps was compared to unfenced pitfall traps in winter wheat, spring barley and winter oilseed rape. Compositional analysis revealed that the dominance structure of seven carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) taxa differed between the trap types and month of sampling in winter wheat and spring barley, but differences were small with the exception of a few taxa. Linear relationships between the two techniques were found for some carabid and rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). The dominance structure of seven linyphiid spider (Araneae: Linyphiidae) taxa differed between the two trap types in wheat but not barley, although large differences were restricted to two taxa. No linear relationships between the two techniques were found for any of the Linyphiidae examined. Rove beetles were more effectively sampled using the fenced compared to unfenced pitfall traps.