Paper · 1979 · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

The relationships of plant and insect diversities in succession

T. R. E. SOUTHWOOD; V. K. BROWN; P. M. READER

4
claims
5
verbatim quotes
444
citations
2
research areas
—
Not open access

Abstract

The basic features of an intensive study on the various stages of a secondary succession, from fallow field to birch woodland, are described. The α-β diversities of the green plants, and two orders of insects, Hetcroptera and adult Coleoptera, are described. For the vegetation, in addition to taxonotnic diversity, structural diversity, with both spatial and architectural components, was recognized. It was found that up to a successional age of 16 months, the taxonomic diversities of plants and insects rose; thereafter the diversity of the plant species declined far more than the insect species diversity. It was concluded that in the later successional stages the maintenance of a high level of taxonomic diversity of these orders of insects is correlated with the rising structural diversity of the green plants, which virtually compensates for their falling taxonomic diversity. The larger fungi appear to show a similar trend to the insects.

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Claims 4

Observationobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Plant and insect taxonomic diversity rose through 16 months of succession.

Taxon
plantsViridiplantaee0
Outcome
taxonomic diversities of plants and insectse0
Direction
rosee0
Qualifier
up to a successional age of 16 monthse0

Verbatim

e0

“It was found that up to a successional age of 16 months, the taxonomic diversities of plants and insects rose;”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 402–512 · show in text ↑
Observationobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

After 16 months, plant species diversity declined more than insect species diversity.

Taxon
plante0
Outcome
diversity of the plant speciese0
Direction
declinede0

Verbatim

e0

“thereafter the diversity of the plant species declined far more than the insect species diversity.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 513–611 · show in text ↑
Associationauthor interpretationoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Later insect taxonomic diversity was correlated with rising structural diversity of green plants.

Taxon
green plantsViridiplantaee0
Interactor
insectsInsectae0herbivore
Outcome
taxonomic diversity of these orders of insectse0
Qualifier
later successional stagese0
Setting
later successional stagese0

Not reportedOrgan / stageDirection

Verbatim

e0

“in the later successional stages the maintenance of a high level of taxonomic diversity of these orders of insects is correlated with the rising structural diversity of the green plants”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 634–819 · show in text ↑
Observationauthor interpretationoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Larger fungi appeared to follow a diversity trend similar to insects.

Taxon
plantt0
Interactor
larger fungie0other
Outcome
larger fungi appear to show a similar trend to the insectse0

Verbatim

e0

“The larger fungi appear to show a similar trend to the insects.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 888–951 · show in text ↑
t0

“plant and insect diversities”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 21–49 · show in text ↑