Insect Apocalypse Lecture 9 - Losing their home – Habitat loss

Flashcards about habitat loss and urbanization.

Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly

State insect of Maryland facing endangerment due to habitat loss.

World Population Distribution

Becoming more urban and less rural.

Most Urbanized Continents

The Americas, Eurasia, and Australia.

United States Ecological Footprint

Country with the greatest ecological footprint.

US Urban Population (2000)

~80%.

Most Urban State

California.

Eastern Deciduous Forest

Becomes less diverse farms, then housing developments, and eventually hardscape-dominated cities.

Hardscape

Denies water to plants in urban environments.

Urbanization Impact

Reduces forest cover.

Insect Fundamental Needs

Food, fresh water, places to live.

Plant's role in Ecosystems

Foundation for food webs.

Insect Herbivore Specificity

Most are relatively specific, feeding on only one or a few genera or a single plant family.

Species Richness

Number of species.

Abundance

Number of individuals.

Residential Landscape Plant Density

69,000 plants per km2

Residential Landscape Plant Diversity

100 species

City Street Plant Density

48 plants per km2

City Street Plant Diversity

30 species

Impact of Harvesting Intensity on Insect Abundance

Harvesting intensity has a negative effect on species abundance

Urban Species Richness Compared to Rural

77.6% of rural richness

Urban Species Abundances Compared to Rural

63.7% of rural abundances

Urbanization Impact on Beetles

Large beetles declined with urbanization

Urbanization Impact on predatory beetles

Predatory beetles declined with urbanization

Cankerworms

Important pests of trees in forests and cities.

Non-native Plants

Make up greater proportions of species along the urbanization gradient.

Native Plants

Favor native species of herbivores.

Exotic Plants Impact on Herbivores

Some support few or no herbivores.

Native Plants and Biodiversity

Greater biodiversity is associated with native plants.

Chewing Herbivores in Native Landscapes

More chewing herbivores in native landscapes

Sucking Herbivores in Non-Native Landscapes

More sucking herbivores in non-native landscapes

Euphydryas phaeton

Scientific name for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly

Urban Areas

Characterized by subtraction of species diversity.

Managed Forests

Can potentially mitigate insect decline through certain practices.

Ecological Footprint

Measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems.

Flight Interception Traps

Method used to sample flying insects in the German study.

Herbivore Abundance

Decreases with increased harvesting intensity in forests.

Omnivore Richness

Decreases with increased harvesting intensity in forests.

Omnivore Abundance

Decreases with increased harvesting intensity in forests.

Meta-analysis

Study looking at the overall effects of urbanization on ground beetle communities

Carabids

Another name for Ground Beetles

Short Winged Beetles

Type of beetle that declines with urbanization

Exotic Species

Non-native species

Arthropod Communities

Studied on both native and non-native landscapes in Shrewsbury et al. 2009

Plant density

Number of plants per unit area

Plant diversity

Number of different plant species in an area

Germany Insect Study

10 year data study on effects of forest management intensity

Herbivore Biodiversity Decline

Can affect consumer levels.

Shrewsbury et al. 2009

Studied arthropod community composition on native and non-native landscapes.

Habitat Loss

A major threat to the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly.

Forest Management Intensity

Ranges from unmanaged beech forests to intensively managed pure stands of conifers.