Vertical sampling in tree canopies: Implications for documenting and estimating arthropod diversity and abundance

Understanding the vertical distribution patterns of arthropods in forest canopies is tantamount in developing and implementing sampling strategies that can more accurately document and estimate arthropod diversity and abundance.  Vertical stratification of arthropods has been documented in temperate forests, with 51 species of insects demonstrating this behavior within the canopy of eastern hemlock in the southern Appalachians.  This study was initiated to evaluate vertical sampling effects on the assessment of species diversity, specimen abundance, and species richness estimates. Results will be discussed.