Arthropod vertical stratification in temperate deciduous forests: Implications for conservation-oriented management

Ulyshen, Michael D.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2011.01.033

Cited by 188 publications

(152 citation statements)

References 169 publications

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“…Thus, there appeared to be no environmental constraints within the canopy for this group. Moreover, for species with high dispersal abilities, patterns of vertical distribution are mainly determined by the availability of resources (Ulyshen, 2011), and tachinid flies are known as highly mobile fliers (e.g., Stireman et al., 2012). However, this pattern was not observed in the highly host‐specific Chalcidoidea, as they exhibited a clear preference for the third canopy level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In comparison, the less host‐specific Ichneumonidae and Braconidae used their hosts nonrandomly, preferring the first canopy level. This phenomenon suggests some environmental (Basset, Hammond, et al., 2003; Ulyshen, 2011) and/or life history constraints within these groups, such as low dispersal capacity (Godfray, 1994) and/or limited number of eggs carried by females combined with the proximity of overwintering sites to the first canopy level (Chaij et al., 2016; Heimpel, Mangel, & Rosenheim, 1998). Moreover, most parasitoids depend on sugar resources, due to their high activity (Shaw, 2006), with sugar feeding increasing host encounter rates (Forsse, Smith, & Bourchier, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In temperate and tropical forests, the major source of insect diversity is the forest canopy (Novotny & Basset, 2005; Stork, 1988). Many arthropod species in temperate deciduous forests depend on canopy habitats, and approximately half of them are predators or parasitoids (Moran & Southwood, 1982; Ulyshen, 2011). Thus, studying herbivore–parasitoid communities in forest canopies could enhance our understanding of their structure and diversity (Stireman, Cerretti, Whitmore, Hardersen, & Gianelle, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the general paradigm is that the vertical stratification of herbivores in temperate forest canopies is weak (Basset, Hammond, et al., 2003; Fowler, 1985). However, temperate canopies have not been well studied, even though they exhibit changes in vertical foliage complexity, quality, chemistry, and toughness, as well as microclimate (Parker, 1995; Ulyshen, 2011). Therefore, we might expect the stratification of herbivores and associated parasitoids to exist in temperate forests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vertical canopy gradient shaping the stratification of leaf‐chewer–parasitoid interactions in a temperate forest

Šigut

Šigutová

Šipoš

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Knowledge about herbivores and their parasitoids in forest canopies remains limited, despite their diversity and ecological importance. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that shape the herbivore–parasitoid community structure, particularly the effect of vertical gradient. We investigated a quantitative community dataset of exposed and semiconcealed leaf‐chewing larvae and their parasitoids along a vertical canopy gradient in a temperate forest. We sampled target insects using an elevated work platform in a 0.2 ha broadleaf deciduous forest plot in the Czech Republic. We analyzed the effect of vertical position among three canopy levels (first [lowest], second [middle], and third [highest]) and tree species on community descriptors (density, diversity, and parasitism rate) and food web structure. We also analyzed vertical patterns in density and parasitism rate between exposed and semiconcealed hosts, and the vertical preference of the most abundant parasitoid taxa in relation to their host specificity. Tree species was an important determinant of all community descriptors and food web structure. Insect density and diversity varied with the vertical gradient, but was only significant for hosts. Both host guilds were most abundant in the second level, but only the density of exposed hosts declined in the third level. Parasitism rate decreased from the first to third level. The overall parasitism rate did not differ between guilds, but semiconcealed hosts suffered lower parasitism in the third level. Less host‐specific taxa (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae) operated more frequently lower in the canopy, whereas more host‐specific Tachinidae followed their host distribution. The most host‐specific Chalcidoidea preferred the third level. Vertical stratification of insect density, diversity, and parasitism rate was most pronounced in the tallest tree species. Therefore, our study contradicts the general paradigm of weak arthropod stratification in temperate forest canopies. However, in the network structure, vertical variation might be superseded by variation among tree species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Vertical canopy gradient shaping the stratification of leaf‐chewer–parasitoid interactions in a temperate forest

Šigut

Šigutová

Šipoš

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Vertical stratification has been demonstrated for many groups of insects in tropical and temperate forests (Preisser et al 1998;Basset et al 2003Basset et al , 2012Floren & Schmidl 2008) as a result of microclimatic variations in temperature, humidity or light exposure between canopy and understory, variation in resources availability, or as a consequence of inter-specific interactions (competition, predation) or niche-differentiation (Basset et al 2003;Ulyshen 2011). In both tropical and temperate forests, canopies can provide resources which are seasonally unavailable in the understory (Ulyshen et al 2010) and can offer nesting sites for specialized saproxylic organisms (Sobek et al 2009;Ulyshen et al 2011b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical stratification of selected Hymenoptera in a remnant forest of the Po Plain (Italy, Lombardy) (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae, Crabronidae, Sphecidae)

2017

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Communities of the canopy of temperate forests are still relatively unexplored. Furthermore, very little is known on how vertical stratification for some insect groups is related to biological strategies. In this study, we investigated the community composition of both canopy and understory of the families Ampulicidae, Crabronidae and Sphecidae (Hymenoptera) of the Natural Reserve of "Bosco della Fontana", a remnant lowland forest in northeastern Italy. Observed patterns in vertical stratification have been related to species foraging habits. Our study reveals that the bulk of the community of Spheciformes of the understory consists of species predating dipterans and spiders, while species associated with the canopy are mainly predators of sap-sucking honeydew producers and epiphyte grazers, like aphids, thrips, and barkflies. Comparing the communities of canopy and understory may lead to a better understanding of species ecology and provides useful information to forest managers.

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Indigenous plants promote insect biodiversity in urban greenspaces

Mata

Andersen

Morán‐Ordóñez

et al. 2021

Ecological Applications

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The contribution of urban greenspaces to support biodiversity and provide benefits for people is increasingly recognized. However, ongoing management practices favor vegetation oversimplification, often limiting greenspaces to lawns and tree canopy rather than multi-layered vegetation that includes under-and midstorey, and the use of nonnative species. These practices hinder the potential of greenspaces to sustain indigenous biodiversity, particularly for taxa like insects that rely on plants for food and habitat. Yet, little is known about which plant species may maximize positive outcomes for taxonomically and functionally diverse insect communities in greenspaces. Additionally, while cities are expected to experience high rates of introductions, quantitative assessments of the relative occupancy of indigenous vs. introduced insect species in greenspace are rare, hindering understanding of how management may promote indigenous biodiversity while limiting the establishment of introduced insects. Using a hierarchically replicated study design across 15 public parks, we recorded occurrence data from 552 insect species on 133 plant species, differing in planting design element (lawn, midstorey, and tree canopy), midstorey growth form (forbs, lilioids, graminoids, and shrubs) and origin (nonnative, native, and indigenous), to assess (1) the relative contributions of indigenous and introduced insect species and (2) which plant species sustained the highest number of indigenous insects. We found that the insect community was overwhelmingly composed of indigenous rather than introduced species. Our findings further highlight the core role of multi-layered vegetation in sustaining high insect biodiversity in urban areas, with indigenous midstorey and canopy representing key elements to maintain rich and functionally diverse indigenous insect communities. Intriguingly, graminoids supported the highest indigenous insect richness across all studied growth forms by plant origin groups. Our work highlights the opportunity presented by indigenous understory and midstorey plants, particularly indigenous graminoids, in our study area to promote indigenous insect biodiversity in urban greenspaces. Our study provides a blueprint and stimulus for architects, engineers, developers, designers, and planners to incorporate into their practice plant species palettes that foster a larger presence of indigenous over regionally native or nonnative plant species, while incorporating a broader mixture of midstorey growth forms.

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Arthropod vertical stratification in temperate deciduous forests: Implications for conservation-oriented management

Cited by 188 publications

References 169 publications

Vertical canopy gradient shaping the stratification of leaf‐chewer–parasitoid interactions in a temperate forest

Vertical canopy gradient shaping the stratification of leaf‐chewer–parasitoid interactions in a temperate forest

Vertical stratification of selected Hymenoptera in a remnant forest of the Po Plain (Italy, Lombardy) (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae, Crabronidae, Sphecidae)

Indigenous plants promote insect biodiversity in urban greenspaces

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