The Seasonal and Diurnal Activity of the Fauna Sampled by Pitfall Traps in Different Habitats

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Abstract
Floor of a wood is shown to yield higher pitfall captures of Collembola, Coleoptera, Acarina, Oligochaeta, and Gastropoda than either an open scrub or a ley, and this is considered to be due to the presence of a distinct litter layer. Distribution of locomotor activity, as measured by pitfalls, is more uniform throughout the 24 hour day-night cycle in woods than in scrub. This difference is not simply the result of the damping of climatic fluctuations in the woods, but is also related to the litter which provides extra food and extra retreats during periods of inactivity. It is concluded that these results support the hypothesis that more complex communities have a more symmetrical disposition of activity than simpler communities.

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