Mooney M18 Mite — Weight And Balance

This document is a dissertation focused on the interactions between indigenous trees and arthropod diversity in southern Afrotemperate forests. It explores how environmental factors influence tree physiology and the associated arthropod communities. The study aims to fill a gap in research regarding the biodiversity of canopy-inhabiting arthropods in these forests, which are significant for ecosystem health. The findings suggest that tree context and surrounding vegetation play crucial roles in determining arthropod diversity, highlighting the importance of conserving these unique forest ecosystems.

• The southern Cape Afrotemperate forest complex is the largest in South Africa, hosting diverse arthropod communities.
• Tree context and surrounding vegetation significantly influence tree physiology and arthropod diversity.
• Arthropods play a crucial role in litter decomposition, outperforming fungi in this ecosystem.
• The study provides a first attempt to describe canopy arthropod diversity in southern Afrotemperate forests.