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Arthropod Abundance and Diversity in Miscanthus x giganteus, Panicum virgatum, and Other Habitat Types in Southeastern Ohio

Snelick, Taylor L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1524848603112531

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Environmental Studies (Voinovich).
Bioenergy could help reduce CO2 emissions from agriculture that contribute to climate change, while at the same time supply energy to a growing population. Varying levels of inputs within bioenergy crop fields, such as pesticide use or annual tilling, can impact arthropod biodiversity and abundance. The research presented here examines the impact of habitat type (Miscanthus x giganteus, Panicum virgatum, abandoned agriculture, and forested edge) on the diversity and abundance of arthropods in small (The Ridges Land Lab) and larger (The Wilds) planted plots in southeastern Ohio. A variety of collection methods (sweep nets, flight traps, and Berlese funnels) were used over a three month period to collect arthropods from different trophic groups. Overall, 25,390 arthropods were captured with the highest abundance consistently seen in forested edge habitats, followed by abandoned agriculture, switchgrass, and lastly miscanthus. Flying insects found in the forested edge were three fold more abundant than those found in miscanthus plots, with intermediate levels in switchgrass and abandoned agriculture. Dominant flying arthropod groups included leaf hoppers, flies and rove beetles. Abundance of litter arthropods was almost two fold higher in switchgrass than in miscanthus plots: dominant taxa included oribatid mites, ants, ground beetles, and collembolans. Taxonomic richness and Shannon diversity were lower in litter samples compared to flight/ sweep samples. Compared to forested edges, miscanthus supported fewer omnivores, pollinators, and predator/parasites. Detritivorous arthropod abundances did not differ across habitat types. No significant differences were noted between arthropod diversity and abundance between the larger fields of biofuel grasses at the Wilds compared to the Ridges Land Lab. This current study shows that cellulosic ethanol crop type does have an impact on arthropod communities; with miscanthus consistently supporting the least diverse and lowest arthropod abundances compared to more diverse natural areas such as forested edges. This project is meant to be a relative measure of arthropod diversity and abundance in two different size field settings in Southeastern Ohio and results may be different in other field settings.
Kelly Johnson (Committee Chair)
Sarah Davis (Committee Member)
Arthur Trese (Committee Member)
76 p.
Agriculture; Alternative Energy; Entomology; Environmental Studies
Bioenergy; Arthropods; Habitat Conservation; Biofuels; Miscanthus; Switchgrass; insects; biodiversity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Snelick, T. L. (2018). Arthropod Abundance and Diversity in Miscanthus x giganteus, Panicum virgatum, and Other Habitat Types in Southeastern Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1524848603112531

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Snelick, Taylor. Arthropod Abundance and Diversity in Miscanthus x giganteus, Panicum virgatum, and Other Habitat Types in Southeastern Ohio. 2018. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1524848603112531.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Snelick, Taylor. "Arthropod Abundance and Diversity in Miscanthus x giganteus, Panicum virgatum, and Other Habitat Types in Southeastern Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1524848603112531

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1524848603112531
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.