| The findings of this study have implications for such conservation issues such as habitat fragmentation, reserve planning, and habitat conservation and ecosystem management This study attempted to answer questions, using an empirical study, on aspects of habitat fragmentation. Current theory about reserve design suggests that: (1) larger areas have higher diversity/abundance than smaller areas; (2) square patches have higher diversity/abundance than linear patches; and (3) patches with hospitable matrices have higher diversity/abundance than inhospitable matrices. This study also adds to the knowledge regarding invertebrate responses to fragmentation.; The experimental design was a split-plot multifactorial study. The edge factor had three levels, area had two levels, and shape had two levels. Pitfall traps were used to collect insects. Insects were identified by family and analyzed using SAS repeated measures analysis for richness, equitability, Shannon-Wiener diversity, total abundance, and family abundance. After these main analyses, data were sorted into mobility groups and feedings guilds and analyzed. Rank-abundance curves are also provided.; When viewed together, the variety of results showed a nonsignificant pattern for edge. There were no significant effects due to area alone and only a few interactions with area. Additional analyses (where data are not standardized) would support the prediction of greater diversity and abundance in large subplots. Of the three main treatments, only shape showed significant results on diversity measures, total abundance, family abundance, mobility group, or feeding guild, but higher diversity and abundance occurred in the linear instead of the square subplot. Although there was not a specific hypothesis regarding time, it is typical to expect changes in diversity and abundance over time due to the life history characteristics of breeding and emergence, and that was the most obvious result observed. The number and significance of interactions, compared to the main effects alone, indicate that the possibility of interactions of habitat fragmentation factors should be considered more thoroughly. |
