Full metadata
Title
Seed Beetle Abundance and Diversity in Urban and Rural Sites
Description
The spread of urbanization leads to habitat fragmentation and deterioration and changes the composition of ecosystems for species all over the world. Different groups of organisms are impacted differently, and insects have experienced loss in diversity and abundance due to changing environmental factors. Here, I collected seed beetles across 12 urban and rural sites in Phoenix, Arizona, to analyze the effects of urbanization and habitat variation on beetle diversity and abundance. I found that urbanization, host tree origin, and environmental factors such as tree diversity and density had no impact on overall beetle diversity and abundance. Beetles were found to have higher density on hosts with a higher density of pods. In assessing individual beetle species, some beetles exhibited higher density in rural sites with native trees, and some were found more commonly on nonnative tree species. The observed differences in beetle density demonstrate the range of effects urbanization and environmental features can have on insect species. By studying ecosystem interactions alongside changing environments, we can better predict the role urbanization and human development can have on different organisms.
Date Created
2018-05
Contributors
- Paduano, Gabrielle (Author)
- Savalli, Udo (Thesis director)
- Sweat, Ken (Committee member)
- Division of Teacher Preparation (Contributor)
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor)
- Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
25 pages
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Series
Academic Year 2017-2018
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.47830
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
System Created
- 2018-04-17 12:00:27
System Modified
- 2021-08-11 04:09:57
- 3 years 1 month ago
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