COS 129-6 - Litter invertebrates: effects of soil and plant nativity in urban forests

Abstract: Small urban forests represent one of the few remaining reservoirs of biodiversity in the densely populated temperate deciduous biome. Litter invertebrates not only make up an important part of this diversity, they help to maintain ecosystem services in those same forests. We sampled 420 points across 30 locations in the Mid-Atlantic region of the eastern United States. These points were part of the FRAME (FoRests Among Managed Ecosystems) program, which explores the layers of biotic and abiotic conditions affecting the health and function of small forests. Leaf litter samples taken at these points were measured and placed in large Berlese funnels for 72 hours, after which the invertebrates in the litter had fallen into a preservative liquid for subsequent identification. This process yielded approximately 40,000 invertebrate specimens in over 100 different families; families fell within the Insecta, Myriapoda, Isopoda, and other higher taxa. We found strong positive relationships between soil calcium content and nonnative plant invasion. This plant-soil relationship was in turn part of a complex relationship between different guilds of invertebrates (detritivores, herbivores, fungivores) and overall forest condition.