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Yann Clough. Photo.

Yann Clough

Professor

Yann Clough. Photo.

Local and landscape drivers of arthropod diversity and decomposition processes in oil palm leaf axils

Author

  • Dominik Ganser
  • Lisa H. Denmead
  • Yann Clough
  • Damayanti Buchori
  • Teja Tscharntke

Summary, in English

Oil palm expansion results in a loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. However, there are factors that influence the severity of these impacts and enhancing biodiversity within plantations is important. In the present study, we examined the role of epiphytes for supporting arthropod communities in oil palm plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia. We considered the effects of landscape context and local characteristics (epiphyte cover, herbicide use and local microclimate) on arthropod communities and litter decomposition in oil palm leaf axils. We surveyed arthropods and measured decomposition rates at two different heights on 80 oil palms located at the centre and edge of eight plantations. We found that oil palms at the edge of plantations hosted a higher abundance and more arthropod taxa than oil palms in the centre of plantations. Moreover, organic matter mass and height of the leaf axil were important for arthropod communities, and the decomposition rate was negatively related to ant abundance. However, epiphyte cover did not influence arthropod communities. The results of the present study show that leaf axils with more organic matter and at a higher location on the oil palm promote arthropod biodiversity. Furthermore, oil palm plantations adjacent to different land-use systems have enhanced biodiversity.

Department/s

  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2017-02-01

Language

English

Pages

60-69

Publication/Series

Agricultural and Forest Entomology

Volume

19

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Ecology

Keywords

  • Ecosystem services
  • epiphytes
  • Formicidae
  • landscape context
  • landscape heterogeneity
  • management
  • microclimate

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1461-9555