Predation risk for insects living in different strata: A globally distributed experiment with standardized live prey

Students: Anna Braniff, Bianca Gaitan, Cameron Olson

Faculty Mentor: Nathan Rank

Biology

College of Science, Technology, and Business

With insect populations declining, it is important to understand predation on different types of insects. This project is a global macro-ecological study with 128 locations worldwide in different habitats. We will test three hypotheses: Root-feeding insects experience more predation than leaf-feeding insects. Predation on root- and leaf-feeding insects will decline with latitude, but it will decline less for root-feeding than for leaf-feeding species. Predation by vertebrate and invertebrate predators will decline with increasing latitude. We will conduct an experiment at Fairfield Osborn Preserve using methods developed by Finnish researchers and provided to us to implement the experimental protocol in the same way at every study location across the globe. Our task is to test the hypotheses in a temperate forested area.