Distribution of arthropods in relation to forest patch size, edge, and stand characteristics

Abstract

We studied the abundance of arthropods in relation to forest patch size, edge orientation, distance from the forest - open-land edge, and stand characteristics in pine-dominated forests in northern Finland. Arthropod samples were collected using the sweep-net method. The total catch of arthropods, catches from the field layer and deciduous shrubs, the numbers of flying arthropods, small (<1 mm) arthropods, and the numbers of seven different arthropod taxa (viz. Linyphiidae (Arachnida), Cicadellidae (Homoptera), Diptera, Brachycera (Diptera), Nematocera (Diptera), and Hymenoptera and Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera)) were lower in large forest patches (>5 ha) than in small patches (5 ha). The edge orientation and the type of adjacent open area (clearcut area or treeless mire) had no impact on the abundance of arthopods in the patches. The distance from the forest edge affected the total abundance of arthropods, small arthropods, flying arthropods, and Coleoptera (especially Cantharidae) in that all decreased in number from the forest edge to the interior of the forest stand. The abundance of many arthropod taxa correlated positively with the numbers of saplings, deciduous shrubs, and spruces. It was clear that the existence of these vegetation characteristics mainly explained the observed differences in the abundance of arthropods between forest patches of different sizes and also between forest edges and stand interiors.