D3056: Spider dynamics in restored prairie ecosystems

Monday, November 11, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

JB

Jenna Byrne

Michigan State University
Rolling Meadows, Illinois

Co-Author(s)

Cynthia Fiser (she/her/hers)

Graduate Research Assistant
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Doug A. Landis

University Distinguished Professor
Michigan State University
Williamsburg, Michigan

Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) has a multitude of experimental field crop treatment plans, including prairie strips, old growth prairies and restored prairies. The goal of this study was to survey the biodiversity of general predators, specifically spiders across the different treatment plans in the field crops and then between the old growth prairies and restored prairies. Methods included pitfall traps placed in throughout fields, in prairie strips, and in high and low density areas of the prairies. The results concluded that wolf spiders(Lycosidae) and sheet weaver spiders(Linyphiidae) in all treatment plans and between old growth and restored prairies.