Ground-dwelling arthropod association with coarse woody debris following long-term dormant season prescribed burning in the longleaf pine flatwoods of north Florida

Abstract

A 5·year study of long· term (40 years) study plots was conducted on the Osceola National·Forest in northern Florida to determine how dormant-season fire frequency (annual, biennial,quadrennial, or unburned) affects ground-dwelling macroarthropod use of coarsewoody debris in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mil1.) forests. Pitfall traps were used to samplearthropods near logs or metal drift. fences of equallength. Samples were identified to genus01' the lowest practical taxonomic level. Overall, significantly more arthropods and moreartln.·opod biomass were captured near drift fences than near logs. Similarity of arthropodscaptured near logs or drift fences ranged from 64.4% in annually burned plots to 69.2% inquadrennially burned plot.s, with no signifiCant differences noted.

Citation

Hanula, J.L., Wade, D.D., O'Brien, J.O., Loeb, S.C. 2009. Ground-dwelling arthropod association with coarse woody debris following long-term dormant season prescribed burning in the longleaf pine flatwoods of north Florida. Florida Entomologist 92 (2):229-242.