Effect of canopy openness on the pressure of predatory arthropods and birds on epigeic insects

Abstract: As canopy structure produces spatial heterogeneity of litter microclimatic conditions and thus is a crucial factor affecting ground insects, we hypothesized that low canopy openness has a positive effect on the activity of ground insect predators in forest and non-forest habitats. Blowfly larvae were used as bait along the canopy openness gradient (forest interior, forest edge, base of a solitary tree and meadow) and the attack rate was assessed after 30 min of exposure. Although the predation rate has a varying pattern throughout the year in different habitats, in contrast to previous studies, we observed a significant positive trend in predation rates toward the forest interior. A significant trend in predation rate was not observed in non-forest areas. We found that the trend was strongly influenced by ants as the most active taxon of predators (65%) attacking our baits, whereas ground beetles, the second-most active predators (21%), showed the opposite trend along the canopy openness gradient.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Effect of canopy openness on the pressure of predatory arthropods and birds on epigeic insects ; volume:7 ; number:6 ; year:2012 ; pages:1021-1029 ; extent:9 ; Open life sciences ; 7, Heft 6 (2012), 1021-1029 (gesamt 9)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Šipoš, Jan ; Drozdová, Michaela ; Drozd, Pavel

Further information

• DOI: 10.2478/s11535-012-0093-5
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2409201918047.229174067699
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:30 AM CEST