Pub Date : 2021-12-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0079
Sean M. Hartzell, Lakota Wadena
Crayfish are important components of many freshwater ecosystems and play key roles as detritivores and/or carnivores. However, dietary studies are lacking for many species. Few data are available on the diet of Allegheny Crayfish (Faxonius obscurus), a common species native to western Pennsylvania and historically introduced into the central and eastern portions of the commonwealth. We collected Allegheny Crayfish from a site in eastern Pennsylvania from April to October and dissected specimens to evaluate the seasonal diet of this species. We found that gut contents in all months sampled primarily consisted of organic detritus (e.g., dead leaves and woody debris) and inorganic detritus (e.g., sand and silt), with small quantities of macroinvertebrate material and negligible vegetal material (macrophytes or algae). Generally, the diet of this species is similar those of other crayfish in the genus Faxonius.
{"title":"Seasonal gut contents of introduced Allegheny Crayfish (Faxonius obscurus) in an eastern Pennsylvania stream","authors":"Sean M. Hartzell, Lakota Wadena","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0079","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Crayfish are important components of many freshwater ecosystems and play key roles as detritivores and/or carnivores. However, dietary studies are lacking for many species. Few data are available on the diet of Allegheny Crayfish (Faxonius obscurus), a common species native to western Pennsylvania and historically introduced into the central and eastern portions of the commonwealth. We collected Allegheny Crayfish from a site in eastern Pennsylvania from April to October and dissected specimens to evaluate the seasonal diet of this species. We found that gut contents in all months sampled primarily consisted of organic detritus (e.g., dead leaves and woody debris) and inorganic detritus (e.g., sand and silt), with small quantities of macroinvertebrate material and negligible vegetal material (macrophytes or algae). Generally, the diet of this species is similar those of other crayfish in the genus Faxonius.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45795965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0151
{"title":"Announcement of the 2022 winners of the Spychala and Women in Science Awards","authors":"","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0151","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42454453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0104
Russell L. Minton, Clinton C. Creech, D. L. Graham, Ashley D. Meyer
Soil microbial communities represent complex biological systems. Differences in these systems are attributable to a variety of factors, including soil series, plant communities, and anthropogenic land use. We assessed the microbial diversity of two ecoregions, three land usages, and seven soil series at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe, Louisiana. We found significant differences in beta diversity between ecoregions and the sites and soil series located within them. Bacteria associated with agricultural practices were significantly more abundant at Ouachita River Backswamp sites, reflecting the historical land use of these areas. We found no significant differences between a managed prairie fragment and the Backswamp sites, suggesting that the microbial communities have not changed over 20 years post restoration. Our data provide meaningful baseline measures of bacterial community diversity and abundance for the refuge and highlight the necessity of managing these valuable soil resources in conjunction with plant and animal communities.
{"title":"A survey of soil bacterial diversity across a northeast Louisiana federal wildlife refuge","authors":"Russell L. Minton, Clinton C. Creech, D. L. Graham, Ashley D. Meyer","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0104","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Soil microbial communities represent complex biological systems. Differences in these systems are attributable to a variety of factors, including soil series, plant communities, and anthropogenic land use. We assessed the microbial diversity of two ecoregions, three land usages, and seven soil series at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe, Louisiana. We found significant differences in beta diversity between ecoregions and the sites and soil series located within them. Bacteria associated with agricultural practices were significantly more abundant at Ouachita River Backswamp sites, reflecting the historical land use of these areas. We found no significant differences between a managed prairie fragment and the Backswamp sites, suggesting that the microbial communities have not changed over 20 years post restoration. Our data provide meaningful baseline measures of bacterial community diversity and abundance for the refuge and highlight the necessity of managing these valuable soil resources in conjunction with plant and animal communities.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45104335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0121
Brigette Amendano, Suzanne Spriggs, Ian N Cost
For many animals, touch is one of the most crucial senses, as it allows an animal to assess its surroundings, develop properly, and socialize. Remote touch is an essential part of avian survival, as it allows some families of birds to identify prey through changes in pressure. Some birds possess a sensitive bill tip organ filled with a large number of mechanoreceptors to perform remote touch sensation. This implies that they possess a complex trigeminal nerve system. The trigeminal nerve has three divisions (ophthalmic, V1; maxillary, V2; and mandibular, V3) that supply somatosensory information from the face and head. Birds from the families Apterygidae, Scolopacidae, Anatidae, Threskiornithidae, and Psittacidae are known to have a sensitive bill tip organ supplied by the trigeminal nerve, whereas other birds use vision, hearing, and other touch to identify prey, potentially resulting in less overall dependence on the trigeminal nerve. Here, we created nerve maps of birds from a range of orders including Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Pelecaniformes, Strigiformes, Accipitriformes, and Passeriformes. We find that species with a remote touch organ possess more observable nerve fiber bundles associated with the maxillary and mandibular trigeminal nerve divisions than species not possessing a remote touch organ. Our results indicate that birds with foraging or prey capture techniques not relying on mechanoreception through the bill possess maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve that are less robust as they enter the beak.
{"title":"A comparative description of the maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve in birds","authors":"Brigette Amendano, Suzanne Spriggs, Ian N Cost","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0121","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 For many animals, touch is one of the most crucial senses, as it allows an animal to assess its surroundings, develop properly, and socialize. Remote touch is an essential part of avian survival, as it allows some families of birds to identify prey through changes in pressure. Some birds possess a sensitive bill tip organ filled with a large number of mechanoreceptors to perform remote touch sensation. This implies that they possess a complex trigeminal nerve system. The trigeminal nerve has three divisions (ophthalmic, V1; maxillary, V2; and mandibular, V3) that supply somatosensory information from the face and head. Birds from the families Apterygidae, Scolopacidae, Anatidae, Threskiornithidae, and Psittacidae are known to have a sensitive bill tip organ supplied by the trigeminal nerve, whereas other birds use vision, hearing, and other touch to identify prey, potentially resulting in less overall dependence on the trigeminal nerve. Here, we created nerve maps of birds from a range of orders including Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Pelecaniformes, Strigiformes, Accipitriformes, and Passeriformes. We find that species with a remote touch organ possess more observable nerve fiber bundles associated with the maxillary and mandibular trigeminal nerve divisions than species not possessing a remote touch organ. Our results indicate that birds with foraging or prey capture techniques not relying on mechanoreception through the bill possess maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve that are less robust as they enter the beak.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45267656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0135
P. Dalvi, Taylor Roberts, Sanika P. Dalvi, Olivia M. Wirfel
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extremely negative impact on the already existing tuberculosis (TB) pandemic. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), whereas TB is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The consistent TB spread had been occurring well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and previously undiagnosed TB cases have become more prominent just recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the close-quarters and stagnant lifestyle that COVID-19 has pressed upon many communities generates a breeding ground for both SARS-CoV-2 and Mtb infections. There has also been an impact on the ability of those with existing TB infections to seek treatment, both financially and physically. At present, there is no effective vaccine against TB, whereas effective COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and administered worldwide. However, vaccine inequity has been inadvertently contributing to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants with dire implications for the control and eradication of TB. The COVID-19 may be controlled soon, but only after adversely affecting the global TB eradication efforts. This review focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the already existing TB pandemic and the possible ways to combat the social synergism of these two strikingly similar infections.
{"title":"Impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis: A complex global disaster","authors":"P. Dalvi, Taylor Roberts, Sanika P. Dalvi, Olivia M. Wirfel","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0135","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extremely negative impact on the already existing tuberculosis (TB) pandemic. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), whereas TB is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The consistent TB spread had been occurring well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and previously undiagnosed TB cases have become more prominent just recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the close-quarters and stagnant lifestyle that COVID-19 has pressed upon many communities generates a breeding ground for both SARS-CoV-2 and Mtb infections. There has also been an impact on the ability of those with existing TB infections to seek treatment, both financially and physically. At present, there is no effective vaccine against TB, whereas effective COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and administered worldwide. However, vaccine inequity has been inadvertently contributing to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants with dire implications for the control and eradication of TB. The COVID-19 may be controlled soon, but only after adversely affecting the global TB eradication efforts. This review focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the already existing TB pandemic and the possible ways to combat the social synergism of these two strikingly similar infections.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47950743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0088
I. Meah, D. Singleton
A bacteriophage isolated for its ability to infect the Gram-negative and ampicillin-sensitive bacterium Hafnia alvei was also able to infect a strain of ampicillin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. An apparatus was designed to allow cultures of the two bacterial species to be separated by a 0.2-μm filter. A phage-infected culture of K. pneumoniae was grown next to an uninfected H. alvei culture. Following incubation, samples from the H. alvei culture were plated on nonselective media (nutrient agar), and plated colonies were then replica plated to ampicillin-containing media. Several ampicillin-resistant colonies of H. alvei were identified. Of the potential methods for horizontal gene transfer (transformation, transduction, and conjugation), only viral transduction of antibiotic resistance is supported.
{"title":"A novel Hafnia-specific bacteriophage is capable of transduction of ampicillin resistance between bacterial species","authors":"I. Meah, D. Singleton","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.2.0088","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 A bacteriophage isolated for its ability to infect the Gram-negative and ampicillin-sensitive bacterium Hafnia alvei was also able to infect a strain of ampicillin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. An apparatus was designed to allow cultures of the two bacterial species to be separated by a 0.2-μm filter. A phage-infected culture of K. pneumoniae was grown next to an uninfected H. alvei culture. Following incubation, samples from the H. alvei culture were plated on nonselective media (nutrient agar), and plated colonies were then replica plated to ampicillin-containing media. Several ampicillin-resistant colonies of H. alvei were identified. Of the potential methods for horizontal gene transfer (transformation, transduction, and conjugation), only viral transduction of antibiotic resistance is supported.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43692651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0076
Carl J. Pratt
{"title":"In Memoriam","authors":"Carl J. Pratt","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0076","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42169931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0017
Sean M. Hartzell, Amber L. Pitt, S. Davis
Invasive crayfish can have a competitive advantage over native crayfish due to increased activity in invaded environments, allowing greater resource acquisition. We evaluated whether total exposure time (a proxy for activity, defined as time spent outside of shelter) and behavior differed between imperiled native Faxonius limosus (spiny-cheek crayfish) and invasive F. rusticus (rusty crayfish) from the Susquehanna River drainage in Pennsylvania. We conducted our study opportunistically as part of a larger study in raceways modified to simulate a stream that included a native predator, the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). We recorded video in each raceway and quantified total exposure time and duration of crayfish behaviors. Diurnal total exposure time differed significantly between species, with F. rusticus exhibiting more diurnal total exposure time than F. limosus. However, nocturnal total exposure time was not significantly affected by species. Proportion of time spent engaged in immobile and walking behavior diurnally was dependent on crayfish species, as was proportion of time spent engaging in these behaviors nocturnally. Our results suggest that F. rusticus may have an indirect competitive advantage over native F. limosus due to differences in diurnal activity and behavior.
{"title":"Invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) are diurnally more exposed than an imperiled native congener","authors":"Sean M. Hartzell, Amber L. Pitt, S. Davis","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0017","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Invasive crayfish can have a competitive advantage over native crayfish due to increased activity in invaded environments, allowing greater resource acquisition. We evaluated whether total exposure time (a proxy for activity, defined as time spent outside of shelter) and behavior differed between imperiled native Faxonius limosus (spiny-cheek crayfish) and invasive F. rusticus (rusty crayfish) from the Susquehanna River drainage in Pennsylvania. We conducted our study opportunistically as part of a larger study in raceways modified to simulate a stream that included a native predator, the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). We recorded video in each raceway and quantified total exposure time and duration of crayfish behaviors. Diurnal total exposure time differed significantly between species, with F. rusticus exhibiting more diurnal total exposure time than F. limosus. However, nocturnal total exposure time was not significantly affected by species. Proportion of time spent engaged in immobile and walking behavior diurnally was dependent on crayfish species, as was proportion of time spent engaging in these behaviors nocturnally. Our results suggest that F. rusticus may have an indirect competitive advantage over native F. limosus due to differences in diurnal activity and behavior.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41737895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0001
Carolyn G. Mahan, Andrew Van Kuren, Benjamin Gamble, James F. Finley†
We examined oak regeneration in small (2.5-acre [1-ha]) rotational clearcuts in central Pennsylvania and northern Michigan. In central Pennsylvania this approach was initiated to improve habitat for ruffed grouse and other early successional wildlife species, while in Michigan it was used to regenerate oak under harsh environmental site conditions associated with sandy soils and early frosts. In our study areas most of the small clearcut stands had greater oak regeneration than was found in a large 39.5-acre (16-ha) clearcuts. In particular, 10-year-old 2.5-acre (1-ha) clearcut stands located within a landscape of previous rotational cuts and remnant mature forest had adequate advanced oak regeneration compared with other age classes. We demonstrate that oak regeneration can be achieved within this type of landscape due to the availability of seed source within small clearcuts from adjacent forest and the reduction of herbivory by white-tailed deer due to an overall availability of plant resources. Therefore, if a rotational clearcut cycle is maintained over time, early successional wildlife habitat can be maintained while the objectives of forest regeneration are met. This type of forest management may be particularly applicable in areas where fire cannot be used to regenerate oak.
{"title":"The effect of small (1-ha), 10-year rotational clear cuts on oak regeneration in Pennsylvania and Michigan","authors":"Carolyn G. Mahan, Andrew Van Kuren, Benjamin Gamble, James F. Finley†","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0001","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 We examined oak regeneration in small (2.5-acre [1-ha]) rotational clearcuts in central Pennsylvania and northern Michigan. In central Pennsylvania this approach was initiated to improve habitat for ruffed grouse and other early successional wildlife species, while in Michigan it was used to regenerate oak under harsh environmental site conditions associated with sandy soils and early frosts. In our study areas most of the small clearcut stands had greater oak regeneration than was found in a large 39.5-acre (16-ha) clearcuts. In particular, 10-year-old 2.5-acre (1-ha) clearcut stands located within a landscape of previous rotational cuts and remnant mature forest had adequate advanced oak regeneration compared with other age classes. We demonstrate that oak regeneration can be achieved within this type of landscape due to the availability of seed source within small clearcuts from adjacent forest and the reduction of herbivory by white-tailed deer due to an overall availability of plant resources. Therefore, if a rotational clearcut cycle is maintained over time, early successional wildlife habitat can be maintained while the objectives of forest regeneration are met. This type of forest management may be particularly applicable in areas where fire cannot be used to regenerate oak.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47008104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0043
Katie S. Fischer, Lindsey Arnold, R. Daley, Tara Barbarich, H. Shannon, M. Persons, D. Matlaga
Arthropod distributions across riparian gradients remain incompletely understood. Within riparian buffers, invasive plants such as Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) may influence abiotic conditions and potentially arthropod distributions. We quantified ground spider and ground beetle activity across a Japanese knotweed-dominated riparian buffer using five months of pitfall trapping data. Results from pitfall samples suggest that spider and beetle activity is negatively correlated with the presence of Japanese knotweed along the riparian gradient. We found that beetle activity declined with increasing distance from the river, while spider activity showed the opposite trend. Spiders and beetles also differed in the timing of their activity. Overall nocturnal beetle activity was much higher than diurnal beetle or spider activity. Ground spider and beetle activity levels were lower across the knotweed-dominated riparian area, which may be attributed to reduced litter and herbaceous vegetation, reduced light penetration, drier soil, lower plant diversity, or reduced prey availability in this area.
{"title":"Contrasting patterns of ground spider and beetle activity across a Japanese knotweed-dominated riparian gradient","authors":"Katie S. Fischer, Lindsey Arnold, R. Daley, Tara Barbarich, H. Shannon, M. Persons, D. Matlaga","doi":"10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5325/jpennacadscie.95.1.0043","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Arthropod distributions across riparian gradients remain incompletely understood. Within riparian buffers, invasive plants such as Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) may influence abiotic conditions and potentially arthropod distributions. We quantified ground spider and ground beetle activity across a Japanese knotweed-dominated riparian buffer using five months of pitfall trapping data. Results from pitfall samples suggest that spider and beetle activity is negatively correlated with the presence of Japanese knotweed along the riparian gradient. We found that beetle activity declined with increasing distance from the river, while spider activity showed the opposite trend. Spiders and beetles also differed in the timing of their activity. Overall nocturnal beetle activity was much higher than diurnal beetle or spider activity. Ground spider and beetle activity levels were lower across the knotweed-dominated riparian area, which may be attributed to reduced litter and herbaceous vegetation, reduced light penetration, drier soil, lower plant diversity, or reduced prey availability in this area.","PeriodicalId":85037,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42906595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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