Arboreal Arthropod Communities of Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in Sarasota, Florida

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

McCord, Elzie

Keywords

Urban Ecology, Arboreal Arthropod, Canopy Biology

Area of Concentration

Entomology

Abstract

Live oak trees (Quercus virginiana P. Mill) are commonly found in urban areas in Sarasota, Florida. This study evaluated the impact of development on the arthropod communities found in these trees. Urbanization variables in the landscape were assessed at a large-scale around each tree. At a local scale, the immediate habitat of each tree was evaluated for urbanization, and the isolation of the tree was quantified. Two fly families(Dolichopodidae and Muscidae) were evaluated as indicators of urbanization. Large-scale urbanization variables were not effective predictors of arthropod diversity. The scale used in this study is probably too large to evaluate sprawling urban areas like Sarasota, and may be inappropriate for arthropods; although Dolichopodid flies were negatively correlated with large-scale impermeable surfaces. Below-canopy variables (percentage of manicured lawn) were more effective predictors of diversity. Overall, the interactions of urbanization variables with arthropod communities and diversity suggests that the level of ongoing disturbances in an area has the greatest effect on arthropods.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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