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Edge Effect on Macroinvertebrates of a Cut Region Near Primary Forest
Toni Enloe
Jack Greene
Charles Lee
Annmarie Merager
Robert Simmons
Jenny Snyder
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this investigation was to study the edge effect of a cut region near a primary forest. This was done by sampling and identifying macroinvertebrates along a 55 meter transect that extends 50 meters into the primary forest and 5 meters into the clearing. The protocols for taking the samples were to sweep 1 meter north of the transect and beat 1 meter south of the transect at the –5 m, 0 m, 5 m, 10 m, 20 m, and 50 m points along the transect which followed a line running 110 degrees east, southeast. The diversity of macroinvertebrate morphospecies found in the sample are indicated in the following table. The species diversity and number within each order decreased as we sampled from the cut region into the primary forest. The density of the vegetation (the habitat) being sampled decreased along that same gradient. The species diversity of plants decreased as samples were taken from the cut region into the primary forest as well. The lack of sunlight in the primary forest resulted in less vegetation at waist level where the sampling occurred. Limits to this test were the inability to sample at more than one height in the primary forest, especially in the canopy well above our heads.
DATA
Diversity of Macroinvertebrate Morphospecies Within Each Order
|
|
-5
Meters (Field) |
0
Meters (Edge) |
5
Meters (Forest) |
10
Meters (Forest) |
20
Meters (Forest) |
50
Meters (Forest) |
|
Sweep
Sample |
Hymenoptera - 3 Orthoptera
- 1 Coleoptera
- 1 Arachnid
- 2 |
Diptera
– 2 Coleptera
– 2 Homoptera
– 2 Arachnid
– 1 |
Hemiptera
– 1 Arachnid
– 1 Coleoptera
– 2 |
Hymenoptera
– 1 Coleoptera
– 1 |
Coleoptera
– 2 Diptera
– 1 Hymenoptera
– 1 |
Diptera
– 1 Hymenoptera
– 3 |
|
Beat
Sample |
Coleoptera
– 1 Arachnids
– 2 |
Isopod
– 1 Hymenoptera
– 1 Hymenoptera
– 2 |
Hymenoptera
– 1 Arachnid
– 1 |
Hymenoptera
– 2 |
Arachranid
– 1 Hymenoptera
– 1 |
Hymenoptera
– 1 Arachnid
– 1 |
