Changes in arthropod populations (numbers of individuals identified to the
family level in most cases) were studied during the decomposition of coarse
woody debris (CWD) in the Atchafalaya River Basin of Louisiana. The arthropod
study was linked with a CWD decomposition study installed after disturbance
by Hurricane Andrew. Arthropod numbers were compared between two canopy disturbance
classes and between two spatial orientations of CWD (i.e. suspended above- and
in contact with the soil). Results during 30 months in the field suggested little
influence of canopy disturbance or spatial orientation of CWD on arthropod numbers.
Counts were most frequently dominated by Collembola and Acarina and peaked after
18-24 months within larger debris.