Core - invert biomass + ordinal sort

Abstract

The Core Insect Pitfall/Malaise Trapping program has been running since 2012. The novel method was first developed by Robert M Ewers. This provides not only insect specimens, but other invertebrates such as myriapods, collembola, arachnids, and occasionally provides vertebrates such as small rodents, snakes, and amphibians. All specimens and data is kept as part of the Core of the SAFE project. The majority of the data which has been exploited so far remains with the Coleoptera and Staphylinidae groups, while much of the preliminary field iding groupings are currently not used, the data remains to have serious as of yet untapped potential for future workers. Trap construction: Traps were based on a design combining pitfall, flight-interception, and malaise traps. Flying insects were directed either upwards into a "top" trap or downwards into a "bottom" trap. Components used in the construction of each trap are as follows: • 1 25cm diameter, 20cm depth, 4.5cm spout aperture Blue Plastic "top" funnel. • 1 20cm diameter, 20cm depth, 2cm spout aperture Blue Plastic "bottom" funnel. • 1 Xcm four pointed star cloth, acting as a malaise tent "director", held at approximately 90 degrees to the trap with clear fishing line. • 1 Xcm diameter, 90 degree grey plastic elbow pipe, one end modified to include appropriate teeth to screw collection bottle onto which. • 1 Xml "bottom" collection bottle, modified with mesh lined holes to allow water to escape to prevent overspilling. • 1 Xml "top" collection bottle, unmodified. • 1 77cm length cross-intersecting clear plastic (PVC) flight interception vane, supported by 4 (metal) 68.5cm aluminum poles. • 8 white plastic Zip-Ties. • 70% ethanol solution to fill the collection bottles. Trapping strategy: The pitfall style bottom trap are dug flush into the ground where possible and the hole preserved between trapping periods to limit catch bias associated with soil and leaf litter disturbance (Digweed et al. 1995). Once constructed, and occasion start time recorded, the traps are left for three days before collection with collection time also recorded. Samples are then stored in a chest freezer at -10 degC, before being taken to Maliau Basin research station and sorted by order and 70% ethanol before again being stored in freezers. Justifications: This combination of traps is implemented to target invertebrates of various morphology and behaviour to take full advantage of the sampling opportunity.

The Core Insect Pitfall/Malaise Trapping program has been running since 2012. The novel method was first developed by Robert M Ewers. This provides not only insect specimens, but other invertebrates such as myriapods, collembola, arachnids, and occasionally provides vertebrates such as small rodents, snakes, and amphibians. All specimens and data is kept as part of the Core of the SAFE project. The majority of the data which has been exploited so far remains with the Coleoptera and Staphylinidae groups, while much of the preliminary field iding groupings are currently not used, the data remains to have serious as of yet untapped potential for future workers. Trap construction: Traps were based on a design combining pitfall, flight-interception, and malaise traps. Flying insects were directed either upwards into a "top" trap or downwards into a "bottom" trap. Components used in the construction of each trap are as follows: • 1 25cm diameter, 20cm depth, 4.5cm spout aperture Blue Plastic "top" funnel. • 1 20cm diameter, 20cm depth, 2cm spout aperture Blue Plastic "bottom" funnel. • 1 Xcm four pointed star cloth, acting as a malaise tent "director", held at approximately 90 degrees to the trap with clear fishing line. • 1 Xcm diameter, 90 degree grey plastic elbow pipe, one end modified to include appropriate teeth to screw collection bottle onto which. • 1 Xml "bottom" collection bottle, modified with mesh lined holes to allow water to escape to prevent overspilling. • 1 Xml "top" collection bottle, unmodified. • 1 77cm length cross-intersecting clear plastic (PVC) flight interception vane, supported by 4 (metal) 68.5cm aluminum poles. • 8 white plastic Zip-Ties. • 70% ethanol solution to fill the collection bottles. Trapping strategy: The pitfall style bottom trap are dug flush into the ground where possible and the hole preserved between trapping periods to limit catch bias associated with soil and leaf litter disturbance (Digweed et al. 1995). Once constructed, and occasion start time recorded, the traps are left for three days before collection with collection time also recorded. Samples are then stored in a chest freezer at -10 degC, before being taken to Maliau Basin research station and sorted by order and 70% ethanol before again being stored in freezers. Justifications: This combination of traps is implemented to target invertebrates of various morphology and behaviour to take full advantage of the sampling opportunity.