http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
effects of silvicultural practices on soil and leaf litter arthropods in an east Texas pine plantation
Soil and litter arthropods are important in many forest ecosystem processes, particularly decomposition. These arthropods therefore affect the movement of nutrients and energy within an ecosystem and are useful as bioindicators of forest ecosystem condition and change. This study was initiated in response to concerns about site productivity declines due to intensive forestry practices. The effects of harvesting and site preparation treatments on the soil and litter arthropod community of a loblolly pine plantation in east Texas, USA were measured using soil and litter corers and pitfall trapping. Abundance, relative abundance, and diversity of arthropods were measured over a two-year period. Overall differences between pre- and post-harvest samples were minimal. In the first year of post-harvest sampling, total abundance and diversity were lower in the more intensive harvesting and site preparation treatments. However, a rapid recovery of both abundance and diversity was observed in these treatments in the second year. Different arthropod taxa responded differently to different treatments. Small, soft-bodied arthropods (such as non-oribatid mites and some Collembola) were lower in abundance in the more intensive treatments, particularly the more intensive site preparation. These trends may be due to increased temperature and moisture fluctuations at the soil surface. Fertilization with DAP had a very strong positive effect on abundance and diversity, but relative abundance of major taxa was not altered. Analyzing abundance data using a variety of arthropod classification systems suggested that different functional groups responded to treatments differently. Trends in abundance using these classification systems were similar to those observed with taxonomic classification. The results of this research differ from other similar studies. This suggests that trends observed in one geographic location may not be applicable elsewhere. The overall results reported here suggest that the nutrient status of the study site improved rapidly over two years following tree harvest. Fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus would appear to be necessary in such sites to maintain nutrient levels. Of the treatments investigated, the bedding site preparation procedure would appear to pose most risks to long-term site productivity.
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Includes bibliographical references: pages 173-192.