Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Arthropod Diversity In Contrasting Ontario Peatlands, Grace Carscallen
Arthropod Diversity In Contrasting Ontario Peatlands, Grace Carscallen
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Peatlands are important wetland systems, but dominant macroarthropod groups endemic to peatlands and the environmental factors that affect them are poorly represented in the literature. I examined the richness, abundance, and community composition of soil and surface dwelling macroarthropods using emergence traps, peat sorting, and pitfall traps in two Ontario fens differing in water table, nutrient level, and vegetation. I found 218 arthropod morphospecies, with each site having a similar richness of emergent arthropods, but patterns of community composition differed between the two sites. The Carex (sedge) dominated site had twice as many emergent individuals, and total abundances declined dramatically …
Above- And Belowground Community Linkages In Boreal Peatlands And Climate Warming Implications, Caitlyn Lyons
Above- And Belowground Community Linkages In Boreal Peatlands And Climate Warming Implications, Caitlyn Lyons
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Aboveground plants provide resources to the belowground microbial community via plant litter and, in turn, the belowground microbial community provides nutrients for plant uptake, linking the two systems. My aim was to characterize and describe differences in plant community composition, plant litter quality and microbial community composition between two boreal peatlands in northern Ontario. These peatlands have contrasting plant and microbial communities, the Sphagnum moss-dominated peatland harboring a higher fungi to bacteria ratio compared to the Carex sedge-dominated peatland. Clear open top chambers were installed at both sites to simulate warming. Higher temperatures decreased Sphagnum moss in the Sphagnum-dominated …