Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Arthropoda--Iowa--Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge; Prairie plants--Iowa--Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge; Biodegradation; Arthropoda; Biodegradation; Iowa--Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge;
Abstract
The abundance of soil microarthropods and of corresponding decomposition rates in native prairie remnants and reconstructed prairies at Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge were investigated. Soil microarthropods were collected with litter bags and extracted using modified Berlese-Tullgren funnels for the months of June through October of 1997. Litter decomposition rates were found to be lowest in reconstructed prairies and highest in native prairie remnants. Microarthropod abundance, however, appeared to be inversely correlated with decomposition rates. It appears that native prairie remnants are more productive than reconstructed prairies due to higher decomposition rates. However, the prairies that have been reconstructed for only three years have significantly greater decomposition rates than the newly reconstructed prairies. This suggests that over time, reconstructed prairies may become as productive as the native prairies.
Year of Submission
1998
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
James P. Dunn
Second Advisor
Daryl D. Smith
Third Advisor
Paul D. Whitson
Date Original
1998
Object Description
1 PDF file (72 leaves)
Copyright
©1998 Lisa M. Busch
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Busch, Lisa M., "Comparison of Litter Decomposition Rates and Soil Arthropod Abundance in Different Stages of Prairie Reconstruction" (1998). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2256.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2256
Comments
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