Effect of clear-cutting on the diversity and distribution of Collembola in western Newfoundland balsam fir-Dryopteris and Equesetum-rubus forests

• Main Author: Arulnayagam, Daisy Chandrika
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1995
• Subjects: Rotten; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/4151/; https://research.library.mun.ca/4151/1/Arulnayagam_DaisyChandrika.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/4151/3/Arulnayagam_DaisyChandrika.pdf

The diversity and distribution of Collembola in western Newfoundland balsam Ill- forests were studied to determine if these forests return to their original conditions in respect to their biota, especially the collembolan community, when they regenerate after clear-cutting. The study was carried out in two different balsam fir forests of three different ages. They included balsam fir Dryopteris (FD) and balsam fir Equisetum-Rubus (FE) forest of 40 year old regrowth, 60 year old regrowth and old uncut forests. Within each type of forest two replicate sites of each of the three different ages were selected. Three types of samples, pitfall trap samples, microhabitat samples, and soil samples, were collected from the FI) forest. Soil samples were collected from the FE forest. -- Pitfall traps were used in the FD forest in summer 1992. Most of the species collected in pitfall traps were large, surface dwelling collembolans. Fifteen species were collected in the old forest and 14 and 19 species were collected in 40 and 60 year old forests, respectively. Tomocerus flavascens, T. minor, Entomobrya multifasciata, Orchesella cincta and Neanura muscorum were the dominant species in all sites. Pitfall traps did not reveal differences in collembolan communities between the different aged forests. -- Various microhabitats were sampled in the FD forest in summer 1993, including rotten wood, tree holes, deciduous leaves, moss from live and dead tree, lichen from live and dead tree, and bark from live and dead tree. Thirty-five species of Collembola were collected from all microhabitats in the old forest. Twenty-seven and 32 species were collected in 40 year and 60 year old forests respectively. Folsomia penicula and Isotomiella minor were the dominant species in the microhabitats on the ground. One species, Uzelia setifera, was collected only in the microhabitats on trees. -- Soil samples were collected in summers 1992, 1993 and June 1994 in the FD forest and in summer 1994 in the FE forest. Ten samples, each a cube of surface ...