The influence of the lunar cycle on ground-dwelling invertebrates in an Arabian desert
The influence of the lunar cycle on ground-dwelling invertebrates in an Arabian desert
Ground-dwelling, desert invertebrates were sampled using pitfall traps during six consecutive full and new moons to test the hypothesis that the lunar cycle influences catches. Invertebrates were placed in four functional groups: predaceous arthropods, social insects, detritivores, and herbivores. There were significant differences in the abundance and number of taxa of predaceous arthropods between full and new moons. The catch of total arthropods and detritivores was higher on stable gravel substrates than on mobile sand substrates. Fewer predaceous arthropods were active during full moons than new moons, possibly because of the increased risk of vertebrate predation. Substrate was more likely to influence diversity and abundance of non-predaceous invertebrates than moon phase. Both factors must be taken into account when designing sampling regimes for biodiversity assessment in deserts.
invertebrates, abu dhabi, desert, moon, lunar cycle, activity, diversity, united arab emirates
171-182
Tigar, Barbara J.
6d8edba2-9618-404e-974a-d40f81196f50
Osborne, Patrick E.
c4d4261d-557c-4179-a24e-cdd7a98fb2b8
October 1999
Tigar, Barbara J.
6d8edba2-9618-404e-974a-d40f81196f50
Osborne, Patrick E.
c4d4261d-557c-4179-a24e-cdd7a98fb2b8
Tigar, Barbara J. and Osborne, Patrick E.
(1999)
The influence of the lunar cycle on ground-dwelling invertebrates in an Arabian desert.
Journal of Arid Environments, 43 (2), .
(doi:10.1006/jare.1999.0541).
Abstract
Ground-dwelling, desert invertebrates were sampled using pitfall traps during six consecutive full and new moons to test the hypothesis that the lunar cycle influences catches. Invertebrates were placed in four functional groups: predaceous arthropods, social insects, detritivores, and herbivores. There were significant differences in the abundance and number of taxa of predaceous arthropods between full and new moons. The catch of total arthropods and detritivores was higher on stable gravel substrates than on mobile sand substrates. Fewer predaceous arthropods were active during full moons than new moons, possibly because of the increased risk of vertebrate predation. Substrate was more likely to influence diversity and abundance of non-predaceous invertebrates than moon phase. Both factors must be taken into account when designing sampling regimes for biodiversity assessment in deserts.
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Published date: October 1999
Keywords:
invertebrates, abu dhabi, desert, moon, lunar cycle, activity, diversity, united arab emirates
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Local EPrints ID: 75501
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/75501
ISSN: 0140-1963
PURE UUID: 03f0f5fa-ccce-4c30-9019-3ffbd3ff4a8c
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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:49
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Author:
Barbara J. Tigar
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