Abundance of wind scorpions (Solifugae: Eremobatidae) in riparian forests disturbed by grazing, fire, and flood in Central New Mexico, USA

Abstract

Historically, flood was the primary disturbance structuring riparian plant and animal communities in the southwestern United States. In many areas, however, livestock grazing and wildfire occur more frequently than flooding. Research has shown that changes in flood and fire frequency affect the composition of riparian surface-active arthropod communities (Bess et al. 2002, Ellis et al. 2001). Less is known about effects of grazing on these species. In this paper, we report abundances of the predatory pallid wind scorpion (Eremobates pallipes) in riparian forest plots subjected to flooding, wildfire, and cattle grazing.

Citation

Smith, D. Max; Finch, Deborah M. 2011. Abundance of wind scorpions (Solifugae: Eremobatidae) in riparian forests disturbed by grazing, fire, and flood in Central New Mexico, USA. In: Feldman, Susana R.; Oliva, Gabriel E.; Sacido, Monica B., eds. IX International Rangeland Congress: Diverse Rangelands for a Sustainable Society; April 3-10, 2011; Rosario, Argentina. IRC2001 Congress. p. 177.