Impacts of Urbanization and Invasive Species on Insect Diversity within the Fastest Growing Urban Corridor in the US
Disciplines
Biodiversity | Biology | Entomology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Urban expansion areas are expanding globally, with major impacts on biodiversity. These impacts can be both positive and negative though they likely depend on the region where urbanization is happening as well as land management practices. Here, I propose to study the impacts of urbanization on biodiversity in the city of Atlanta, a part of the fastest-growing urban corridor in the United States. Within Atlanta, I will sample 36 sites across an urban gradient to determine the impact of land management practices on biodiversity using ants as an indicator. Ants are ubiquitous to terrestrial habitats and are therefore a good indicator species of biodiversity due to their abundance, high diversity, well-established methods of collection and ability to be identified to species. I will test the hypothesis that urbanization will have a largely negative impact on ant diversity, with the highest species diversity found in remnant forests and parks. However, southeastern cities, including Atlanta, host a number of invasive species that may affect this pattern, including a recently expanded invasive ant that specializes in forest habitats. Therefore, I will test a second hypothesis that the presence of invasive species will lead to decreased ant diversity in forest remnants compared to other regions where this invasive species is absent. The majority of similar studies have focused on cities in the northeastern United States or abroad, but far less is known about the impacts of urbanization on insect diversity in the Southeast. This work will provide valuable insight into the combined effects of urbanization and invasive species on biodiversity in the Southeast which is essential for informing future land management decisions.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Environmental Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Clint Penick
Impacts of Urbanization and Invasive Species on Insect Diversity within the Fastest Growing Urban Corridor in the US
Urban expansion areas are expanding globally, with major impacts on biodiversity. These impacts can be both positive and negative though they likely depend on the region where urbanization is happening as well as land management practices. Here, I propose to study the impacts of urbanization on biodiversity in the city of Atlanta, a part of the fastest-growing urban corridor in the United States. Within Atlanta, I will sample 36 sites across an urban gradient to determine the impact of land management practices on biodiversity using ants as an indicator. Ants are ubiquitous to terrestrial habitats and are therefore a good indicator species of biodiversity due to their abundance, high diversity, well-established methods of collection and ability to be identified to species. I will test the hypothesis that urbanization will have a largely negative impact on ant diversity, with the highest species diversity found in remnant forests and parks. However, southeastern cities, including Atlanta, host a number of invasive species that may affect this pattern, including a recently expanded invasive ant that specializes in forest habitats. Therefore, I will test a second hypothesis that the presence of invasive species will lead to decreased ant diversity in forest remnants compared to other regions where this invasive species is absent. The majority of similar studies have focused on cities in the northeastern United States or abroad, but far less is known about the impacts of urbanization on insect diversity in the Southeast. This work will provide valuable insight into the combined effects of urbanization and invasive species on biodiversity in the Southeast which is essential for informing future land management decisions.