Here, we use data from twelve differently managed cocoa agroforestry systems in Indonesia to investigate the abundance, diversity and composition of spider communities at three spatial scales: (i) stratum, i.e. litter, herb and cocoa canopy layer, (ii) plot-level shade, litter and weed management and (iii) landscape context, i.e. distance to natural forest.
We established 100 25-m2 placed placed randomly in 10 forest fragments and 10 forest interior patches, in which all herb species were recorded, litter accumulation, soil temperature and moisture were estimated.
Out of total biomass, 77% contribution was that of P. kesiya, 13.5% of broad-leaved tree species, 0.12% of shrub, 0.03% of herb, and 0.5% of litter (Baishya and Barik 2011).
The willow-herbs lose their beauty when they run to seed; the split pods and feathery awns are untidy in appearance, and as the plants die down they leave an unsightly litter; the willow-herb in autumn is not attractive.
Bettongia penicillata used areas with Triodia and litter but few herbs for shelter, while burrows of M. lagotis avoided shrubs.
Soil cover varied between and within urban and periurban sites from true litter layers, to understory herbs, to bare soil.
Understorey vegetation (grass, herbs, creepers, shrubs) and dry leaf litter accumulated underneath the canopy of different tree species (D. sissoo, Albizzia spp).
Figure 3 Vegetation community of the lower hills: eucalypt woodland with a sparse understorey of shrubs, herbs and grasses and with leaf litter dominating the groundlayer (EVC box ironbark forest).
The lower hills were gentler slopes of eucalypt woodland, with a sparse understorey of shrubs, herbs and grasses and with leaf litter dominating the groundlayer (Figure 3). Figure 2 Vegetation community of the upper hills: eucalypt forest with a shrubby or grassy understorey (EVC shrubby dry forest / grassy dry forest).
The above ground vegetation was sorted into the live fractions of functional groups (namely: grasses, herbs, Equisetum sp., deciduous shrubs and mosses) and the litter fraction was separated into the non-photosynthesising part of the moss (here after denoted 'brown' moss) and vascular plant litter.
