Bird Predation and Vegetation Structure Affecting Spruce-Living Arthropods in a Temperate Forest

Gunnarsson, Bengt

doi:10.2307/5885

Cited by 106 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Weediness and undersowing increase the availability of structural support for webs, but there is also, as we have seen, potential for augmenting the density of ground zone web spiders by increasing the structural heterogeneity of the soil surface (Thornhill, 1983;Alderweireldt, 1994;Samu et al,1996). Rich structure and the close spatial packing of different microhabitats could also support higher spider densities by reducing mortality, since there are various strands of evidence that have led authors to consider the risk of predation to be high when spiders move between microhabitats (Edgar, 1969;Enders, 1975Enders, , 1976Enders, , 1977Vollrath, 1985;Bradley, 1993;Gunnarsson, 1996).…”

Section: Mechanisms Whereby Diversifications May Affect Spidersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of agricultural diversification on the abundance, distribution, and pest control potential of spiders: a review

Sunderland¹,

Samu

2000

Entomologia Exp Applicata

309

210

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A review of the literature showed that spider abundance was increased by diversification in 63% of studies. A comparison of diversification modes showed that spider abundance in the crop was increased in 33% of studies by 'aggregated diversification' (e.g. intercropping and non-crop strips) and in 80% of studies by 'interspersed diversification' (e.g., undersowing, partial weediness, mulching and reduced tillage). It is suggested that spiders tend to remain in diversified patches and that extending the diversification throughout the whole crop (as in interspersed diversification) offers the best prospects for improving pest control. There is little evidence that spiders walk in significant numbers into fields from uncultivated field edges, but diversification at the landscape level serves to foster large multi-species regional populations of spiders which are valuable as a source of aerial immigrants into newly planted crops. There are very few manipulative field studies where the impact of spiders on pests has been measured in diversified crops compared with undiversified controls. It is encouraging, however, that in those few studies an increased spider density resulted in improved pest control. Future work needs are identified.

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Section: Mechanisms Whereby Diversifications May Affect Spidersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of agricultural diversification on the abundance, distribution, and pest control potential of spiders: a review

Sunderland¹,

Samu

2000

Entomologia Exp Applicata

309

210

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“…Active hunters (non-web builders) utilise aspects of the habitats' architecture for concealment and creating preferential positions for prey location (Uetz, 1991). Habitat structure can also provide protection from predators (Gunnarsson, 1996). This is particularly important for the larger active hunters (such as Lycosids and Clubionids), which may be at greater risk of predation from birds (Askenmo et al, 1977).…”

Section: Pre-thicket Standsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural indicators of spider communities across the forest plantation cycle

Oxbrough

Gittings

O’Halloran

et al. 2005

Forest Ecology and Management

113

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Given the expansion of plantation forests in Ireland over recent years, there is a need to assess their impact on biodiversity and to identify how sustainable forest management strategies can incorporate biodiversity. We aimed to assess the impact of plantation forests on spider communities and identify structural indicators of their diversity. Pitfall traps were used to sample spiders in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) plantations at different stages of the forest cycle and cover of vegetation, dead wood and soil organic content were measured within each site. Ordinations revealed that spider assemblages were separated by both forest development and canopy species across the forest cycle. The pre-thicket ash and spruce assemblages were similar, whereas canopy species had a greater effect in the more structurally developed stands. The mature ash plots formed a distinct group from the other stands. Overall species richness was highest in the spruce and ash pre-thicket stands, and in the mature spruce stands with a more open canopy.Mature ash stands had the lowest species richness. Lower field layer vegetation was positively correlated with total spider species richness and open habitat specialist species richness whereas canopy closure had a negative effect on these species variables. Forest spider species were positively correlated with litter cover, depth and twig cover. To enhance the diversity of open and forest spider species within a stand, the growth of lower field layer vegetation should be encouraged at all stages of the forest cycle, whilst retaining features typical of a mature forest. Within a plantation, a mosaic of different aged stands will sustain both open and forest specialists to enhance diversity. The distinct assemblages found in the mature plantations indicate that on a landscape scale, the establishment of both ash and spruce plantations will enhance overall diversity.

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“…However, grass height and proportion of burned grass cover where significant predictors of the foraging sites of the two bird species studied. Influences of vegetation structure on avian foraging behaviour and on predator-prey relationship as reported in previous studies (Bowman and Harris, 1980;Crowder and Cooper, 1982;Martin and Roper, 1988;Gunnarsson, 1996;Whelan 2001;Warfe and Barmuta, 2004;Janssen et al, 2007) might have played a role in the selection of utilised foraging sites by the bird species. Also, utilisation of areas with high proportion of burned grasses as done by the Sunlark yet points to the beneficial effects of habitat burning on some fauna.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Conversely, tall grass cover and less burned grasses characterising the foraging sites of the Familiar Chat might be influenced by the birds consciousness of its own predators during foraging thus selection of such complex areas might provide a buffer against possible predators (Bowman and Harris, 1980;Martin and Roper, 1988;Gunnarsson, 1996;Warfe and Barmuta, 2004;Janssen et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of birds, at population levels, response could be numerical such as changes in population density (as a result of emigration) or functional, such as changes in foraging behaviour (Lyons et al, 2008). Any change in foraging behaviour if it must be termed optimal however, should include ability to select areas providing the best resource either in terms of food availability or vegetation attributes that offers protection during foraging such as density of trees or shrubs (Kotler and Brown, 1988;Gunnarsson, 1996;Marshall and Cooper 2004;McNamara and Houston, 2008). A freshly burned habitat therefore provides the opportunity for comparison between bird species in their ability to quickly untangle optimal foraging sites in the face of sudden change in habitat structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Comparison of Foraging Site Characteristics of Two African Resident Insectivorous Birds in a Burned Habitat

Chaskda¹,

Mwansat²

2014

Ethiop. J. Env Stud & Manag

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Detailed investigation of the foraging site utilised by avian species may reveal the habitat factors important in their conservation. This study compared the foraging sites of the Sunlark, Galerida modesta and Familiar Chart, Cercomela familiaris (both African resident insectivorous birds) a week after fire engulfed about one third of the 300 ha of the Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Foraging sites were compared based on proxies of food availability (ant, grasshopper and other insect abundance) and vegetation structure. Data on food availability and vegetation structures were obtained by quadrate sampling while foraging spots were determined from four stratified transects each surveyed four times during the study. Food availability was not a significant predictor of foraging site characteristics between the two bird species. However of the nine vegetation variables measured, grass height and proportion of burned grass cover per foraging site significantly distinguished the foraging sites of the two bird species; Sunlark foraged more at sites with shorter grasses and high proportion of burned grass cover as compared to the Familiar Chat. The characteristics of the foraging sites observed might have implications on the foraging success of the birds in line with literature on the Influences of vegetation structure on avian foraging behaviour.

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Bird Predation and Vegetation Structure Affecting Spruce-Living Arthropods in a Temperate Forest

Cited by 106 publications

References 37 publications

Effects of agricultural diversification on the abundance, distribution, and pest control potential of spiders: a review

Effects of agricultural diversification on the abundance, distribution, and pest control potential of spiders: a review

Structural indicators of spider communities across the forest plantation cycle

A Comparison of Foraging Site Characteristics of Two African Resident Insectivorous Birds in a Burned Habitat

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