Open AccessWillow ( Salix × rubens ) invasion of the riparian zone in south‐eastern Australia: reduced abundance and altered composition of terrestrial arthropods
Author(s) -
Greenwood Heather,
O'Dowd Dennis J.,
Lake P. S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/j.1366-9516.2004.00104.x
Subject(s) - willow , riparian zone , abundance (ecology) , ecology , biology , salicaceae , arthropod , woody plant , habitat
This study investigated the impact of invasion by an alien hybrid willow (the white‐crack willow, Salix × rubens ) on the abundance and diversity of terrestrial arthropods along the lower Tarago River in south‐eastern Australia in spring and summer. Canopy arthropods were sampled by branch clippings, flying insects by sticky traps, and arthropod stream inputs by floating pan traps in willow‐invaded and uninvaded river sections. Willow‐invaded river sections had a significantly lower abundance and diversity of canopy arthropods, but the abundance and diversity of flying insects did not differ between willow‐invaded and native sections. Overall input of terrestrial arthropods was lower in willow‐invaded sections but this depended on sampling date. In general, differences in arthropod abundance between willow‐invaded and native river sections were greater in spring than summer, which may reflect seasonal changes in resource availability in native river sections. Morphospecies composition also differed significantly between willow‐invaded and native sections. These changes in abundance, diversity, and composition of terrestrial arthropods following plant invasion of the riparian zone may indirectly alter in‐stream food webs and have important effects on higher‐order consumers in the riparian zone.