Patterns of diversity and abundance in the insect community: responses to simulated plant invasion

Laura Russo, Penn State

April 22, 2010 @ 01:20 pm to 02:10 pm

10 Tyson

The addition of a new species to the plant community should elicit a response in the insect community in terms of diversity and abundance by affecting the decision of insects to forage there._ However, the response of the insect community to a plant invasion is poorly understood._ In this experiment, we simulated the invasion of the plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) into plant communities. _The response of the insect community to this invasion was measured by changes in the diversity and abundance of species. Results about the functional structure of the insect community and taxon related trends will be discussed.

Contact

Kristen Granger
klg297@psu.edu