Habitat heterogeneity induces rapid changes in the feeding behaviour of generalist arthropod predators.

ABSTRACT: The "habitat heterogeneity hypothesis" predicts positive effects of structural complexity on species coexistence. Increasing habitat heterogeneity can change the diversity (number of species, abundances) and the functional roles of communities. The latter, however, is not well understood as species and individuals may respond very differently and dynamically to a changing environment.Here, we experimentally test how habitat heterogeneity affects generalist arthropod predators, including epigaeic spiders, carabid and staphylinid beetles, under natural conditions by assessing their diversity and directly measuring their trophic interactions (which provide a proxy for their functional roles). The experiment was conducted in spring barley fields in Southern Sweden where habitat heterogeneity w

SUBMITTER: Staudacher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5887929 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature