Publication Date
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
John O. Stireman, III, Ph.D. (Advisor); Don Cipollini, Jr., Ph.D. (Committee Member); Volker Bahn, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Invasive species threaten ecosystems and economies. Globally, biological invasions are estimated to have cost over $2.1 trillion since 1970. In Eastern North American woodlands, invasive plants are rapidly displacing natives. This is concerning, because invasive plants may not support the diverse and abundant arthropod communities essential to ecosystem function. Despite the conceptual understanding of invasive shrubs’ potential to transform forest communities, scant research has focused on the effect of invasive plants on higher trophic levels here in Ohio. To address this gap, I examined the diversity and abundance of arthropod communities, caterpillar performance, and caterpillar predation on two invasive shrubs, Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) and border privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium), relative to native counterparts. Lo. maackii supported a depauperate community; however, Li. obtusifolium hosted a surprisingly robust community. Nevertheless, both invasives proved poor hosts for caterpillars and were less preferred by foraging insectivores.
Page Count
141
Department or Program
Department of Biological Sciences
Year Degree Awarded
2023
Copyright
Copyright 2023, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
ORCID ID
0009-0002-4059-7844
