| The community structure of two insect taxa, the planthoppers (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) and sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), was examined across various habitats in coastal Alabama. Specimens were collected in Malaise traps at 28 sites across Mobile and Baldwin Counties, Alabama. The fauna showed no relationship between species richness and landscape variables (i.e., latitude, longitude, soil type, elevation, surface geology, and plant community). Both taxa had significant species overlap. Planthoppers exhibited less overlap than expected at random; sawflies exhibited higher overlap than a random distribution. The planthopper and sawfly communities are predictable based on surface geology, and sawflies exhibit broad level predictability with soil type. |
