Patch shape alters spider community structure: links between microhabitat choice and sensitivity to increased edge habitat

摘要: Increased edge effects in fragmented habitats can affect the abundance of edge-dwelling organisms, but these impacts may depend on biological attributes species. Microhabitat choice, a species characteristic that reflects combinations traits, ability peripheral to take advantage increased habitat presence effects. In this field study, we built artificial shrub modules designed encourage web spiders build webs periphery. While were identical volume, they differed shape (cubic and elongated), so elongated had more subject enhanced Given tangle-web Theridion Dictyna module edges strongly terms concealment substrate generalization, two characteristics associated with lower vulnerability modification, tested hypothesis Theridion, which concealed locations greater diversity configurations compared Dictyna, would better habitat. As predicted, was significantly abundant whereas did not respond shape, even though change entailed similar increase favored for both spider groups. Our results suggest microhabitat associations organisms be linked their propensity sensitive edges, understanding links improve our predict modification biodiversity.