Abstract
Sabal palmetto (cabbage palm) is a native palm species used commonly in urban landscaping throughout Florida. In addition to its aesthetic appeal and high tolerance to the variable environmental conditions found in Florida, the use of cabbage palms in landscaping should be expected to promote urban wildlife because the tree provides food and nesting sites for various organisms, including arthropods. In this study, we compared arthropod number, abundance, and biodiversity in cabbage palms between natural and landscaped environments. Trees in natural environments supported more individuals and greater species richness than trees in landscaped environments. Environmental factors, such as human activity and depauperate botanical communities, might explain why landscaped cabbage palms supported fewer arthropods. This suggests that landscaping with isolated native trees, such as the cabbage palms in this study, in an otherwise lawn-manicured environment might have adverse effects on biodiversity as predicted by island biogeography. Natural and landscaped palms supported a similar diversity of transient arthropods, which were primarily involved either directly or indirectly with pollination. Transient arthropods were found flying around cabbage palms, which might explain the ability of the arthropods to use landscaped trees. Increased use of native species such as S. palmetto in urban landscapes should have a positive effect on urban wildlife that can disperse broadly, such as flying arthropods and birds.
