Determinants of nocturnal Lepidopteran diversity and community structure in a conifer-dominated forest

Abstract

Prediction of community response of fauna to anthropogenic or environmental disturbance requires knowledge of faunal distribution and abundance as well as an understanding of the mechanisms underlying community organization. We investigated linkages between Lepidoptera, one of the most influential insect taxa in forested ecosystems, and vegetation in riparian areas of conifer-dominated forests of western Oregon, USA. Using model selection techniques, we found that canopy cover explained variability in patterns of moth species dominance and diversity better than all other factors investigated, whereas elevation best explained patterns of moth species richness. Using canonical correspondence analysis, we determined that gradients in shrub species richness, elevation, and understory species richness accounted for the most variation in regional moth community structure. Results suggest that reductions of riparian forest canopy are likely to have the greatest impact on the variety and relative abundance of moths. Due to the relative rarity and patchy distribution of the majority of individual species, we predict that lower intensity vegetation manipulations distributed across larger spatial scales are likely to be less damaging to regional moth biodiversity than more intensive alterations at smaller scales. Finally, if global warming trends continue, upward elevational shifts in moth species distributions will make forested regions at higher elevation worthy of concerted protection.

Differential Responses of Herbivores and Herbivory to Management in Temperate European Beech

“…Several damage types were affected by plant diversity, but effects were weak and direction differed among damage types. Varying effects among damage types have also been found in other studies [16], [62], [77]. While chewing damage on beech decreased with plant diversity in our study, gall mites, mines and Phyllaphis fagi increased in abundance.…”

Large moths captures by a pest monitoring system depend on farmland heterogeneity

“…), and diversity of woody plants also reflects three‐dimensional habitat structure (e.g. Ober and Hayes ).…”

Site occupancy of foraging bats on landscapes of managed pine forest

“…Although a negative effect of vegetation clutter on presence (Ford et al, 2006;Loeb and O'Keefe, 2006;Patriquin and Barclay, 2003) and activity Humes et al, 1999;Ober and Hayes, 2010) is well-documented for some bat species, studies that have examined detection probability relative to vegetation clutter have found little influence (Amelon, 2007;Yates and Muzika, 2006;but see O'Keefe et al, 2014). Although basal area was included in detection models for 4 species/groups we examined, direction of relationship could only be determined for red/ Seminole and big brown bats.…”