Canadian Forest Service Publications
Habitat Islands, Forest Edge and Spring-active Invertebrate Assemblages. 2005. Pearce, J.L.; Venier, L.A.; Eccles, G.; Pedlar, J.H.; McKenney, D.W. Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 2949 - 2969.
Year: 2005
Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 28801
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
Forest management results in forest patches of varying sizes within a clearcut matrix. The result is a large amount of edge habitat and many small patches across the landscape. Here we describe the spring-active epigeal spider and carabid fauna found at the forest-clearcut edge of spruce forest in northern Ontario, Canada. We include two types of edge: the forest-clearcut interface and the small habitat patches formed by forest residuals within the clearcut. Spring-active forest spiders and carabids appear little affected by adjacent clearcutting activity, and some forest species, such as Agyneta olivacea (Emetron), Diplocentria bidentata (Emetron) and Microneta viaria (Blackwall), are more prevalent at the forested edge. Common and abundant spider species were equally recorded in forest interior and forest edge. Generally, no invasion of open-habitat species was observed within the forest, although smaller forest patches may be at higher risk.