TIE:

THIRD PLACE - SESSION A (Botony, Zoology, Geology and Geography)

Arthropod Biodiversity of Red Oak Canopies in the

Maryville College Woods

Jenna Wade, Maryville College

Large quantities of insects reside in forest canopies.   Most studies have been completed in tropical rainforests, with little attention given to temperate forests.   In this study, the canopies and understories of four Southern Red Oaks located in the Maryville College Woods in Maryville, Tennessee were sampled over a period of 8 weeks using a composite flight-interception trap. A total of 2,142 arthropods were collected from 11 Orders and 65 Families. Shannon's and Simpson's diversity indices indicated minimal difference between each sampling site, however, Sorenson's quantitative index measuring community similarity revealed more distinct differences. The least similar communities were the ridgetop sample tree canopies versus the floodplain canopies, which shared 49% of the Families found in them. The most similar communities were all of the canopies compared to the understories, sharing 67% of the Families found in them.