Arthropod Abundance, Diversity, and Biomass during Bird Breeding Season in Camden White Gum and Slash Pine Plantations in the Southeastern United States

摘要

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) plantations have potential to increase availability of small-diameter hardwoods for traditional wood products and bioenergy feedstocks, and are grown for this purpose in areas of the southeastern United States, including southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. However, consequences of eucalyptus plantations for fauna in the southeastern United States have not been investigated. In this study, we compared terrestrial and arboreal arthropod abundance, biomass, family richness, and diversity over 2 years between newly established Camden white gum (Eucalyptus benthamii) plantations and young slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations of similar age (1-2 years old) and older age (6-7 years old), but similar height. Overall, arthropod family richness, biodiversity, biomass, and terrestrial arthropod abundance were similar for eucalyptus and slash pine stands of both age classes. Arboreal arthropods were least abundant in young eucalyptus stands. Terrestrial arthropod abundance decreased 78% from 2014 to 2015, likely due to annual variation in weather. The similarity in arthropod communities between eucalyptus and slash pine plantations suggests that insectivorous fauna such as breeding birds may be able to feed effectively within young eucalyptus plantations. However, continued monitoring is needed throughout the entire rotation of these plantations to discern if the similarities persist.