Impact of the Invasive Shrub Lonicera maackii on Shrub-Dwelling Araneae in a Deciduous Forest in Eastern North America

Abstract

Abstract Invasive Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) creates a dense shrub layer in eastern deciduous forests that negatively impacts native herbs and tree seedlings. Given the well-studied influence of habitat structure on spider abundance and guild composition, we examined the effects of this invasive shrub on spiders in forests of southwestern Ohio. Because spiders are sensitive to shrub architecture, we predicted that increased vegetative cover caused by invasion of L. maackii would increase diversity and abundance of spider taxa and guilds. We used paired plots (e.g., honeysuckle present and honeysuckle-absent) in ten deciduous forest locations to sample spiders and measured vertical cover of woody vegetation in the shrub layer. Abundance of spiders overall, spider families (Anyphaenidae, Araneidae, Salticidae, Theridiidae) and spider guilds (foliage runners, orb weavers, space web builders, stalkers), was higher in honeysuckle-present than in honeysuckle-absent plots, but diversity was not affected...