A comparison of sampling methods and temporal patterns of arthropod abundance and diversity in a mature, temperate, Oak woodland

• DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2022.103873
• Publication Date: 2022-11-18T18:29:26Z
• Authors: Liam M. Crowley; Katharine Ivison; Abigail Enston; Dion Garrett; Jon P. Sadler; Jeremy Pritchard; A. Robert MacKenzie; Scott A.L. Hayward
• Keywords: Temperate deciduous forest; Pitfall trap

Arthropods underpin fundamental ecological processes such as herbivory, pollination and nutrient cycling, are often responsive to subtle changes in environmental conditions. Thus, their abundance phenology may be crucial indicators of system-wide responses climate change. The new Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR) Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) facility provides a unique opportunity assess arthropod diversity mature deciduous forest the effect sampling method seasonality. This is an essential first step before attempting measure potential impacts change, elevated CO2, on populations. Two criteria are: i) diverse methods order effectively particular, differences between structural layers woodland system, e.g., ground, sub-canopy canopy layers, ii) temporal resolution that can identify seasonal patterns change (phenology). paper sets out methodological approaches employed achieve these objectives. A total 22,568 invertebrates from 108 families were sampled across 12 months continuous using range techniques floor canopy. Diptera most abundant had greatest number represented (45). Phenology generally followed anticipated cycle, with increasing spring summer. Temperature was best predictor within Malaise pitfall traps. Precipitation not correlated any monthly trap data. Yellow pan traps collected more arthropods than white or blue Canopy beating yielded greater understory samples. These data provide important baseline which future eCO2 over 10-year BIFoR FACE experiment, highlight importance employing methods, replication measuring factors appropriate timescales.