Document: TIM-3-52-57

Seasonal and disturbance-induced variation in canopy arthropod communities in neotropical rain forests

SCHOWALTER, T.D.*

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA ¹

Abstract:
Canopy invertebrates can greatly affect canopy porosity, hence canopy-atmosphere interactions. However, few studies have addressed canopy invertebrate communities or their responses to environmental variation. Canopy invertebrate communities were sampled on representative early and late successional tree species during wet and dry seasons in plots representing light and severe hurricane disturbance at the Luquillo Experimental Forest LTER Site in Puerto Rico and during wet and dry seasons at the Ft. Sherman Canopy Crane in Panama. Canopy communities were more diverse (higher species richness and evenness) in Panama than in Puerto Rico, on congeneric tree species, but functional organization was similar between the two sites. Invertebrate abundances and functional group organization differed significantly among tree species, but not between early and late successional tree species. Hurricane disturbance in Puerto Rico affected invertebrate community structure for at least 6 years. In particular, folivores and detritivores were more abundant in less disturbed canopies, whereas sap-suckers and molluscs were more abundant in severely disturbed canopies. In addition, seasonal changes in species abundances, community structure, and herbivory were apparent. Data on canopy invertebrate community responses to environmental variation are necessary for designing studies to predict effects of environmental changes on biodiversity, or consequent effects on ecosystem processes.

Keywords: insect, mollusc, community, succession, hurricane, Puerto Rico, Panama

This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
ANIMAL ECOLOGY