Ainoa Pravia Phd Thesis

Ainoa Pravia Phd Thesis

THE RESPONSE OF ARTHROPOD ASSEMBLAGES TO PEATLAND RESTORATION IN FORMERLY AFFORESTED BLANKET BOG Ainoa Pravia Fernández BSc Biology, University of Oviedo (2007) MSc Wildlife Biology & Conservation, Edinburgh Napier University (2010) A thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the University of Aberdeen May 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. 1 List of Figures .................................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... 14 Signed Declaration ............................................................................................................ 18 The Peat Bog in Forsinard ................................................................................................. 19 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 20 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................... 21 Glossary ............................................................................................................................ 22 Nomenclature & Coding of Carabid Species ..................................................................... 27 Nomenclature & Coding of Moth Species ........................................................................ 28 Abstract............................................................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 33 1.1 General Introduction: Peatland Habitats .................................................................... 34 1.2 Importance of Peatlands: Ecosystem Functions & Services ........................................ 35 1.2.1 Biodiversity........................................................................................................... 37 1.2.2 Carbon Storage and Sequestration....................................................................... 37 1.2.3 Other Ecosystem Services..................................................................................... 38 1.2.4 Ecosystem Services in Ecological Restoration, Conservation & Policy ................. 38 1.3 Status of UK Peatlands ................................................................................................ 39 1.4 Peatland Biodiversity ................................................................................................... 40 1.5 Drivers of Peatland Degradation................................................................................... 42 1.5.1 Impacts of Peatland Afforestation ........................................................................ 44 1.6 Peatland Restoration...................................................................................................... 46 1.6.1 Habitat Restoration ............................................................................................... 46 1 1.6.2 Habitat Monitoring................................................................................................ 47 1.6.3 Restoration of Afforested Peatlands State of Knowledge .................................... 48 1.7 Field Study Site............................................................................................................... 49 1.8 Taxonomic & Functional Diversity Measures................................................................. 54 1.9 Study Taxa...................................................................................................................... 56 1.10 Research Objectives & Thesis Structure....................................................................... 58 1.10.1 Chapter 3 - Restoration Trajectory of Arthropod Assemblages & Carabid Communities................................................................................................................... 59 1.10.2 Chapter 4 - Restoration Trajectory of Carabid Functional Traits.......................... 60 1.10.3 Chapter 5 - Restoration Trajectory of Moth Communities & Functional Traits.... 60 1.10.4 Chapter 6 - Effect of Brash Management on Arthropod Assemblages and Carabid Communities ................................................................................................................. 61 CHAPTER TWO - METHODOLOGY..................................................................................... 62 2.1 Study Site........................................................................................................................ 63 2.2 Restoration in Forsinard Flows ..................................................................................... 65 2.2.1 Site Description...................................................................................................... 65 2.2.2 Site Selection for Pitfall Trapping ......................................................................... 67 2.3 Sampling Methods......................................................................................................... 72 2.3.1 Pitfall Trapping & Arthropod Identification........................................................... 72 2.3.2 Moth Trapping & Identification.............................................................................. 78 2.4. Ancillary Data................................................................................................................. 79 2.4.1 Measurement of Soil Variables ............................................................................. 80 2.4.2 Vegetation Sampling ............................................................................................. 80 2.4.3 Measurement of Landscape Variables.................................................................... 84 2.5 Functional Traits.............................................................................................................. 87 2.6 Statistical Analyses.......................................................................................................... 90 2 CHAPTER THREE - RESTORATION TRAJECTORY OF ARTHROPOD ASSEMBLAGES&CARABIDCOMMUNITIES ..................................................................... 91 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 92 3.2 Materials & Methods .................................................................................................. 94 3.2.1 Site Description & Study Design............................................................................ 94 3.2.2 Arthropod Sampling with Pitfall Traps.................................................................. 96 3.2.3 Ancillary Data........................................................................................................ 97 3.2.4 Data Analysis......................................................................................................... 98 3.3. Results.......................................................................................................................... 101 3.3.1 Restoration Trajectory........................................................................................... 102 3.3.2 Biotic variables..................................................................................................... 104 3.3.3 Abiotic variables.................................................................................................... 106 3.3.3.1 Variation Partitioning................................................................................. 107 3.3.4 Bioindicators.......................................................................................................... 111 3.4. Discussion ................................................................................................................... 112 3.4.1 Stepwise Trajectory of Afforested Bog Arthropod Assemblages.......................... 112 3.4.2 Interspecific Competition and Nestedness do not Filter Carabid Communities..... 115 3.4.3 Abiotic Factors Filter Arthropods Assemblages and Carabid Communities........... 116 3.4.3.1 Variation Partitioning.................................................................................. 116 3.4.3.2 Habitat Preferences.................................................................................... 118 3.4.4 Indicators of Restoration Progress........................................................................ 118 3.4.4.1 Arthropod Taxa........................................................................................... 118 3.4.4.2 Carabid Species........................................................................................... 119 3.4.5 Limitations of the Study......................................................................................... 121 3.4.6 Conclusions............................................................................................................ 122 3.5 Appendix 3 .................................................................................................................... 123 3 CHAPTER FOUR - RESTORATION TRAJECTORY OF CARABID FUNCTIONAL TRAITS........... 132 4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................

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