Insects in urban brownfields: analyses of species occurrences, community composition, and trait frequencies along a successional gradient

Urban brownfields (derelict sites) are home to a variety of species. Brownfield habitats show high spatio-temporal dynamics, forcing species constantly track suitable habitat. The thesis provides insight into the mechanisms of leafhopper and grasshopper species survival in brownfield habitats. Within a habitat modelling framework, species reactions to the successional gradient from scarce and low to dense and high vegetation were studied as well as the relative influence of four driving factors (site age, vegetation structure, soil conditions, landscape context). Vegetation structure was of major importance. Unlike species numbers, species composition changes largely during succession. Models overall showed good transferability in space and time, drawbacks are discussed in detail. The relationship between the occurrence of certain biological traits and site age was analysed. Pioneer traits turned out to be feeding on herbs, polyphagy, egg overwintering and 2 generations/year. Species with such pioneer traits were particularly common both within the brownfield species pool and species observations.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Oldenburg

Year

2007

Author dc:creator

• Strauß, Barbara

• [Keine Schlagwörter von Autor/in vergeben.]

Repository record source_url

http://oops.uni-oldenburg.de/50

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oops.uni-oldenburg.de:50