Effects of Forest Fragmentation and Honeysuckle Invasion on Forest Lepidoptera in Southwest Ohio

by Doyle, Annie Lynn

Habitat loss and exotic species invasion is a rapidly growing threat facing forest animal communities worldwide. The goal of the current study is to assess the impact of forest fragmentation and the associated invasion of honeysuckle on immature tree-feeding Lepidoptera communities in southwestern Ohio. Caterpillar abundance, richness, and honeysuckle density were sampled along 100 meter transects conducted in ten forest fragments. Generalized linear models were developed to determine the effects of fragment area, landscape forest cover, and honeysuckle density on caterpillar abundance and richness. Caterpillar abundance and richness was positively related to landscape forest cover and fragment area. However, these effects were strongly dependent on honeysuckle densities within fragments. These results indicate that habitat fragmentation and invasive species interact to influence forest Lepidoptera communities. In an examination of the effects of honeysuckle on arthropod herbivory, honeysuckle appears to cause associational susceptibility of tree saplings.