Brief Description of Proposed Studies.
We propose to determine the direct and indirect effects of the introduced herbivorous Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges pseudotsuga) insect on the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), a local key species in upstate New York, and many of the animal species associated with the Hemlock.

This proposal includes scientists from the Black Rock Forest (Mr. Aaron Kimple - Forest Ecophysiologist), American Museum of Natural History (Dr. Vladimir Ovtsharenko - Spider Systematist), and Columbia University (Dr. James Danoff-Burg - Evolutionary Ecologist)

A Problem
We will answer three questions during the proposed work. First, how extensive and in what ways has the feeding of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) affected tree health on a short-term basis? Second, does the superabundance of HWA enhance the diversity and abundance of the main foliar predatory spiders on that ecosystem? Last, has the HWA explosion also had indirect third and fourth order affects on overall arthropod community diversity and some of their associated ecosystem functions?

| General Information on the Project | List of Spiders | Key to Spider Families & Genera |
| Biotopical Distribution of Spiders |