Preliminary patterns of seasonal changes in species composition of surface‐active arthropods in a South African savannah

Seasonal changes in resource availability significantly impact the composition of surface-active arthropods, with distinct patterns observed among ants, beetles, and spiders. While ant abundance and species richness remained stable across seasons, beetles and spiders showed marked increases during the wet summer season compared to winter. This study, conducted in a mesic savannah within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains, South Africa, used pitfall trapping to sample arthropods over two periods (December 2018–February 2019 and June 2019–August 2019). The findings suggest that temporal and dietary niche differentiation play crucial roles in shaping arthropod assemblages, aligning with the 'niche differentiation hypothesis' and the 'resource-ratio hypothesis'.

Mavasa, R., Yekwayo, I., Mwabvu, T., & Tsvuura, Z. (2022). Preliminary patterns of seasonal changes in species composition of surface‐active arthropods in a South African savannah. Austral Ecology, 47(6), 1222–1231. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13213