Collaborative Research: Periodical Cicadas and Forest Community Dynamics

火灾、干旱和生物入侵等大规模干扰可造成重大生态后果。然而，当它们在空间和时间上不可预测时，很难研究它们的影响。这项研究将确定周期性蝉对森林系统动态的影响。周期性的蝉每17年或13年出现一次，这取决于物种，在地下以树根为食。2004年的出现可能是地球上最大的昆虫爆发之一，提供了一个难得的机会来严格审查一个重大生物干扰的影响。初步研究表明，蝉有强烈的偏好树种，有利于年轻的演替森林网站，并对树木生长的慢性影响。我们将对比高密度与无蝉站点的森林组成，并将通过早期演替森林的网状块来操纵蝉殖民。蝉对不同宿主物种的长期影响将通过分析树木年轮来研究。这项研究将提高我们对干扰事件和森林动态的理解，并可能成为其他较难预测的生物干扰的有用模型。此外，这项研究提供了一个独特的机会，教育当地社区的森林系统，并积极参与学生在一个令人兴奋的事件，结合“科学作为过程”的学习活动。

Broad-scale disturbances such as fire, drought and biological invasions can have major ecological consequences. However, it is difficult to study their effects when they are unpredictable in space and time. This research will determine the effect of periodical cicadas on the dynamics of forest systems. Periodical cicadas emerge every 17 or 13 years, depending upon species, after extended below-ground feeding on tree roots. The 2004 emergence is likely to be one of the largest insect outbreaks on Earth, providing the rare opportunity to critically examine the impact of a major biological disturbance. Preliminary work suggests that cicadas have strong preferences among tree species, favor young successional forest sites, and have chronic effects on tree growth. We will contrast forest composition in high density vs. cicada-free sites, and will manipulate cicada colonization by netting blocks of early successional forest. Long-term effects of cicadas on different host species will be examined through the analysis of tree rings. This research will improve our understanding of disturbance events and forest dynamics, and may serve as a useful model for other, less predicable biotic disturbances. Further, this research provides a unique opportunity to educate the local community about forest systems, and to actively involve students in an exciting event that incorporates "science as process" learning activities.