Tree species identity, canopy structure and prey availability differentially affect canopy spider diversity and trophic composition.

ABSTRACT: Forest canopies maintain a high proportion of arthropod diversity. The drivers that structure these communities, however, are poorly understood. Therefore, integrative research connecting tree species identity and environmental stand properties with taxonomic and functional community composition of canopy arthropods is required. In this study, we investigated how the taxonomic, functional and trophic composition of arboreal spider communities is affected by tree species composition and associated differences in canopy structure and prey availability in temperate forests. We sampled canopy spiders as well as their potential prey using insecticidal fogging in monospecific and mixed stands of native European beech, native Norway spruce and non-native Douglas fir. Trophic metrics were obtained

SUBMITTER: Wildermuth B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10615988 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature