Structure and Development of Insect Communities in an Ohio Old-field
- 1 April 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Environmental Entomology
- Vol. 6 (2) , 247-257
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/6.2.247
Abstract
This paper describes patterns in the assemblages of insects associated with nearly 200 different patches of Ohio old-field vegetation. The patches were located randomly in an old-field or upon experimental islands in a nearby pond. Experimental islands were defaunated at the beginning of the experiment. Assemblages on old-field patches vary with respect to species composition but maintain a trophic structure of 12–14 herbivore species, 5–6 saprophore species, and 2–3 carnivore species with a maximum of 5–7 parasite species (95% confidence intervals) between late June and early August. The numbers of herbivore, saprophore, carnivore, or parasite species regained by defaunated islands are similar to those seen in the old-field. Evenness and population density characteristic of old-field patches is not regained by defaunated islands.This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
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