Graduation Year
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.
Degree Granting Department
Biology
Major Professor
Gary Huxel, Ph.D.
Co-Major Professor
Ronald Sarno, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Melissa Grigione, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Gordon Fox, Ph.D.
Keywords
Insects, Burn, Sandhill, Longleaf pine
Abstract
Leaf litter samples were used to study arthropod diversity in the University of South Florida Ecological Research Area. Arthropods were collected from different plots of different prescribed burn frequencies (1year, 2 year, 5 year, 7 year and no burn frequencies). Differential responses of arthropods to burn frequency were studied. It was expected that burn frequency would affect arthropod richness and diversity and that the pattern of diversity and richness would follow the Intermediated Disturbance Hypothesis. It was also expected that richness and diversity would be correlated with the amount of leaf litter present. Preliminary results suggest that there are short-term and long-term differences among arthropod communities in response to fire history and vegetation and that the amount of leaf litter may influence the distribution of arthropod taxa.
Scholar Commons Citation
Bellanceau, Celina, "Effects of Prescribed Fire on the Diversity of Soil-Dwelling Arthropods in the University of South Florida Ecological Research Area, Tampa, Florida" (2007). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/624
