Effects of Clear-cutting on Forest Arthropod Communities at Two Different Vertical Levels (Crown and Ground Surface)

Forest clear-cutting operations influence biodiversity through habitat changes and food resource availability for inhabitant species. This study examined the effects of clear-cutting on forest arthropod communities. Arthropods were collected from two different forest treatment areas (clear-cut and control) in summer and autumn. In each treatment area, arthropods were sampled from both crown and ground surfaces using sweeping and pitfall trap methods, respectively. Then, the taxonomic order of the collected arthropod specimens was easily identified. Results indicate that arthropod abundance and number of taxa present were higher at ground surface than at crown levels in both clear-cut and control areas. At crown level, more homopteran species were present in clear-cut areas than in control areas in summer. At ground surface, populations of Isopoda and Opiliones were higher in control areas than in clear-cut areas, whereas numbers of Araneae, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera were greater in clear-cut areas. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis showed distinct differences between clear-cut and control communities at crown level in summer and at ground surface in autumn. Thus, our results indicate that clear-cutting significantly influences arthropod communities, and higher taxa are valuable for conducting rapid biological assessments of ecosystem disturbances.

산림 벌채가 산림의 수관 및 지표 절지동물 군집에 미치는 영향