A comparison of relative abundance and biomass of ground-dwelling arthropods under different forest management practices

Habitat structural characteristics and relative abundance and biomass of ground-dwelling arthropods were compared among four replicated stand treatments: intense burning and salvage logging; clearcutting follwed by roller-chopping (100% soil surface disturbance); clearcutting followed by bracke seeding (30% soil surface disturbance); and naturally regenerated mature, forested sand pine scrub. Arthropods were classified by taxa and by mean maximum width. Monthly trends in abundance and biomass of arthropods captured are described. Mature forest differed from the three disturbance treatments in most habitat structural features, but disturbance treatments were similar. Total numbers and dry weight did not differ among treatments but more individuals and biomass of arthropods less than 5 mm mean maximum width occurred in burned sites. These were significantly more arthropods 10 mm or less in mean maximum width than over 10 mm, but arthropods 5–10 mm had the highest biomass. The relative abundance of some taxa differed among treatments, and taxa differed in monthly capture rates. Total numbers and biomass of captured arthropods were greatest from late May through November.