biostudies-literatureVolf MAkademie Věd České RepublikyGrantová Agentura České RepublikyAlexander von Humboldt-StiftungMinisterstvo Školství, Mládeže a TělovýchovyDarwin InitiativeEuropean Science FoundationInstitute of Environmental TechnologiesNational Science FoundationJapan Society for the Promotion of Sciencee0222119https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6808442biostudies-literatureUnknown14(10)Research on canopy arthropods has progressed from species inventories to the study of their interactions and networks, enhancing our understanding of how hyper-diverse communities are maintained. Previous studies often focused on sampling individual tree species, individual trees or their parts. We argue that such selective sampling is not ideal when analyzing interaction network structure, and may lead to erroneous conclusions. We developed practical and reproducible sampling guidelines for the plot-based analysis of arthropod interaction networks in forest canopies. Our sampling protocol focused on insect herbivores (leaf-chewing insect larvae, miners and gallers) and non-flying invertebrate predators (spiders and ants). We quantitatively sampled the focal arthropods from felled trees, oPloS oneQuantitative assessment of plant-arthropod interactions in forest canopies: A plot-based approach.PMC6808442RVO 67985939Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research 26550087DEB-0841885CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0100Ref.3.3-CZE-1192673-HFST-PDEB-051567817-23862SLO120822-00219-15645Y669609Novotny VAnderson-Teixeira KRedmond CMMiller SESigut MPlowman NSBeckett SVolf MWeiblen GDAuga JMurakami MMottl ODrozd PLibra MKamata NSeifert CLNakaji TBasset YLamarre GPAButterill PTGonzalez-Akre EPyszko PKaman OLaird-Hopkins BKlimes PMolem KManumbor MSipos JAbe TTropek RfalseQuantitative assessment of plant-arthropod interactions in forest canopies: A plot-based approach.Research on canopy arthropods has progressed from species inventories to the study of their interactions and networks, enhancing our understanding of how hyper-diverse communities are maintained. Previous studies often focused on sampling individual tree species, individual trees or their parts. We argue that such selective sampling is not ideal when analyzing interaction network structure, and may lead to erroneous conclusions. We developed practical and reproducible sampling guidelines for the plot-based analysis of arthropod interaction networks in forest canopies. Our sampling protocol focused on insect herbivores (leaf-chewing insect larvae, miners and gallers) and non-flying invertebrate predators (spiders and ants). We quantitatively sampled the focal arthropods from felled trees, o2019-01-01T00:00:00Z20192025-04-04T19:02:15.849Z2019-11-09T08:01:12ZS-EPMC68084423164458610.1371/journal.pone.0222119