Trees as templates for tropical litter arthropod diversity |
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Authors: | David A Donoso Mary K Johnston Michael Kaspari |
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Institution: | 1. Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Zoology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA 2. Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apdo 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador 3. Section of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0900, Austin, TX, 78712, USA 4. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
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Abstract: | Increased tree species diversity in the tropics is associated with even greater herbivore diversity, but few tests of tree
effects on litter arthropod diversity exist. We studied whether tree species influence patchiness in diversity and abundance
of three common soil arthropod taxa (ants, gamasid mites, and oribatid mites) in a Panama forest. The tree specialization
hypothesis proposes that tree-driven habitat heterogeneity maintains litter arthropod diversity. We tested whether tree species
differed in resource quality and quantity of their leaf litter and whether more heterogeneous litter supports more arthropod
species. Alternatively, the abundance–extinction hypothesis states that arthropod diversity increases with arthropod abundance,
which in turn tracks resource quantity (e.g., litter depth). We found little support for the hypothesis that tropical trees
are templates for litter arthropod diversity. Ten tree species differed in litter depth, chemistry, and structural variability.
However, the extent of specialization of invertebrates on particular tree taxa was low and the more heterogeneous litter between
trees failed to support higher arthropod diversity. Furthermore, arthropod diversity did not track abundance or litter depth.
The lack of association between tree species and litter arthropods suggests that factors other than tree species diversity
may better explain the high arthropod diversity in tropical forests. |
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