Does Vegetation Density Affect Insect Populations? An Analysis of Insect Biodiversity on the Ouachita Baptist University Campus with essays: The Musings of a Wildlife Enthusiast

Author

Zayne Ashley, Ouachita Baptist UniversityFollow

Date of Award

4-22-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Biology

First Reader

Dr. Jim Taylor

Second Reader

Dr. Ruth Plymale

Third Reader

Dr. Sarah Smith

Abstract

As insect populations continue to decrease worldwide, scientists are continuing to search for answers as to why their numbers have been decreasing for decades and how anthropogenic influences play a role. One possible deleterious effect is the clearing/removal of vegetation and overgrowth in environments where insect populations are high and may depend on said overgrowth for food and safety. This paper uses the data of a 2013 study conducted on the Ouachita Baptist University campus to compare how insect populations have changed from 2013 to 2024 in areas that have been cleared of overgrowth in between that time frame. Pitfall and pan traps were used and insects were identified to Order. The results of the study found that insect populations in the areas studied had decreased significantly in between studies (4,658 insects in 2013 compared to 1,446 in 2024). Diversity in insect Order had also decreased, as nine Orders present in 2013 were absent in 2024. These findings indicate that the clearing of overgrowth in the areas studied, as well as the passage of time, may have had a negative impact on the insect populations on campus.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Ashley, Zayne, "Does Vegetation Density Affect Insect Populations? An Analysis of Insect Biodiversity on the Ouachita Baptist University Campus with essays: The Musings of a Wildlife Enthusiast" (2025). Honors Theses. 972.
https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/honors_theses/972