Keep calm and beetle on: how volcanic eruptions affect arthropod biodiversity

Among natural experiments in biodiversity dynamics, the “clean slate” imposed by a volcanic eruption is one of the most dramatic. Although the rapid recolonization of aerially dispersed arthropods (e.g. spiders) is well known, less information exists for ground-dwelling arthropods. In this study, we use multi-year pitfall trap transects to track post-eruption arthropod succession on two Chilean volcanoes. By comparing this ecological response to that of beetles on post-eruption Mt. Saint Helens, we can also determine whether broader trends persist across hemispheres and biota.