Seasonal and temporal patterns of rainfall shape arthropod community composition and multi-trophic interactions in an arid environment.

ABSTRACT: In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, rainfall and rainfall temporal distribution shape species communities and multi-trophic interactions. Whereas the relationship between climate change-induced decline of precipitation and plants is well know, there is little knowledge of these relationships with consumers, such as arthropods of different trophic levels. In a 6-year period we studied precipitation effects and microhabitat conditions on multi-trophic interactions of ground-dwelling arthropods in an arid savannah. We analysed the effects of seasonal rainfall, plant cover and soil texture on community composition and activity density of arthropods of different trophic levels and investigated the critical window of vegetation and occurrence arthropods in relation to rainfall. Our result show, th

SUBMITTER: Fischer C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8904780 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature