Species Richness Of Coleoptera Research Articles

The day after mowing: Time and type of mowing influence grassland arthropods.

Recent losses in the abundance and diversity of arthropods have been documented in many regions and ecosystems. In grasslands, such insect declines are largely attributed to land use, including modern machinery and mowing regimes. However, the effects of different mowing techniques on arthropods remain poorly understood. Using 11 years of data from 111 agricultural grassland plots across Germany, we analyzed the influence of various grassland management variables on the abundance and abundance-accounted species richness of four arthropod orders: Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera. The analysis focused on detailed mowing information, for example, days after mowing and mower type, and compared their effect with other aspects of grassland management, that is, rolling, leveling, fertilization, and grazing. We found strong negative effects of mowing on all four arthropod orders, with arthropod abundance being lowest directly after mowing and steadily increasing to three to seven times the abundance after 100 days post-mowing. Likewise, Hemiptera and Coleoptera species richness was 30% higher 100 days after mowing. Mower width showed a positive effect on Orthoptera abundance, but not on the other arthropods. Arthropod abundance and Coleoptera species richness were lowest when a mulcher was used compared to rotary or bar mowers. In addition to mowing, intensive grazing negatively affected Orthoptera abundance but not the other orders. Mowing represents a highly disturbing and iterative stressor with negative effects on arthropod abundance and diversity, likely contributed by mowing-induced mortality and habitat alteration. While modifications of mowing techniques such as mower type or mowing height and width may help to reduce the negative impact of mowing on arthropods, our results show that mowing itself has the most substantial negative effect. Based on our results, we suggest that reduced mowing frequency, omission of mowing in parts of the grassland (refuges), or extensive grazing instead of mowing have the greatest potential to promote arthropod populations.

The impact of forest characteristics, and bird and insect diversity on the occurrence of the Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major and Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus in South Korea

ABSTRACT Capsule Although the Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major and Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus have overlapping ranges in South Korea, they occur in areas with different forest structures and the occurrence of each species is associated with their main foods. Aims To investigate the biotic factors related to the occurrence of the Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Grey-headed Woodpecker, two species that frequently inhabit overlapping regions in South Korea. Methods Correlations between the occurrence of the two woodpecker species, forest characteristics, and bird and insect species richness were evaluated based on large-scale public data from the National Ecosystem Survey and a Forest Type Map. Results The occurrence of Great Spotted Woodpeckers was associated with forest stands with at least 75% coniferous trees, whereas the occurrence of Grey-headed Woodpeckers was negatively associated with forested areas with canopy cover exceeding 50%. The occurrence of both species was strongly and positively correlated with the species richness of forest birds. The occurrence of Great Spotted Woodpeckers was correlated with the species richness of Coleoptera, while that of the Grey-headed Woodpecker was correlated with the species richness of Hymenoptera and Diptera. Conclusion The co-occurrence of the two woodpecker species within shared habitats can be explained by low competition due to differences in preferred forest characteristics and in the food sources used by each species.

Coleoptera found in marine strandlines on New Zealand beaches: species diversity, seasonal trends and the effect of beach substrate

ABSTRACTThe terrestrial invertebrates found in association with marine strandlines constitute a world-wide ecological system. This study examined the beetle assemblages (Insecta: Coleoptera) in strandlines on New Brighton beach near Christchurch and at 35 other sites on Banks Peninsula in the South Island of New Zealand. In a total of 535 thirty-minute hand searches, 81 distinct beetle taxa (identified species & recognisable taxonomic units) were recorded, representing 25 coleopteran families. Regular sampling at New Brighton over the course of three years identified a clear seasonal increase in Coleoptera species richness in the summer, and revealed that some of the commoner species (e.g. Haplanister crypticus, Lagrioida brouni and Cafius litoreus) occurred in every calendar month. The collections from Banks Peninsula suggested that sampling strandlines on sandy beaches tended to produce more beetle species than those on shingle or boulder shores. Species accumulation analysis indicated that additional species are still likely to be recorded for this region, although many of these species will be vagrants in the strandline habitat. This study provides an initial catalogue of beetle species for strandlines in this region of New Zealand, along with valuable information on aspects of life history and ecology. Further research is needed to enhance the limited biogeographic data available for these beetle species and, by repeated sampling, determine which species can be considered resident within the strandline habitat.

Diversity and abundance of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera in multiple-species reforestation plantings to offset emissions of carbon dioxide

ABSTRACT Multiple-species (floristically diverse) plantings of trees and shrubs in former agricultural landscapes to offset (sequester) emissions of carbon dioxide are a recent component of Australian landscapes. Although their potential to mitigate biodiversity loss is recognised, this ecological function has not been investigated, in particular with respect to insect diversity. Over two summers, we used light trapping to sample Lepidoptera (moths) and Coleoptera (beetles) in multiple-species plantings in two distinct locations in Victoria (plantings of four ages per location) as well as in nearby remnant forest and in pasture. At both locations, we found that plantings had a greater abundance of Lepidoptera than remnants but that the abundance in plantings was comparable to the abundance in pasture. The species richness of Lepidoptera in plantings did not differ significantly from that in remnants but was significantly greater than that in pasture. The abundance and species richness of Coleoptera in plantings was lower than in remnant forests but higher than in pasture. The community composition of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera in plantings was intermediate between that of remnant forest and pasture, i.e. possibly transitional between the two vegetation types. Dissimilarity between all vegetation types was nevertheless high, reflecting that the abundance of individual taxa reflects the influence of temporally and spatially dependent factors, e.g. host plant size and suitability. Greater abundances of grass-feeding Lepidoptera in plantings explained much of the dissimilarity between plantings and remnant forests. Proximity to remnant forest was an important determinant of the community composition of Lepidoptera but not of Coleoptera. Moth forewing length (relevant to vagility which is an indicator of dispersal capacity) appeared less important to proximity relationships than larval host plant specificity, i.e. whether grass or dicot-feeding. The location of sequestration plantings relative to remnant forest as well as their composition (including the persistence of pasture grasses) will determine the attractiveness of the resources provided to insect herbivores and hence the rate at which they are colonised. Plantings near remnant native forest benefit insect diversity but adoption of novel silvicultural practices could hasten the rate at which they become functional mimics of native forests and support more comparable communities of insect. Potential trade-offs between increased establishment costs and more complex carbon accounting might need to be investigated to cost biodiversity credits associated with dual accreditation schemes.

A Report on Insect Community and Their Habitat Association in Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh

Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary located in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh is a river island formed by the river Siang and Sibia. It is the only kind of sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh which is surrounded by water bodies and most of the land covered with thatch grasses. The primary objective of the present study was to collect preliminary data on the insect diversity in this sanctuary. For this, the data were collected in four habitats viz. grassland, woodland, river bank and Jeep ghat camp area during February 04–07, 2015. The findings were analysed using Shannon index, Simpson index, Buzas and Gibson’s evenness measure, Berger–Parker index and Fisher-alpha index. During the survey undertaken, 44 species of insects belonging to 10 orders and 25 families were documented. Lepidoptera represented by 9 species showed the highest species richness as per Shannon index followed by Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera represented by 6, 15, 5 and 4 species respectively. However, Simpson’s diversity index calculated the highest species richness of Coleoptera followed by Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera. The maximum number of species inhabited in the grassland (22). Among the habitats studied, the highest species richness was found in woodland followed by riverbank, grassland and the camp area. Ceratosolen solmsi marchali was estimated as the most abundant insect species in camp area, Distoleon tetragrammicus and Schizodactylus monstrosus in riverbank, Globitermes globosus and Acrida bicolour in grassland and Mycalesis heri in woodland habitat. Though, it was a preliminary survey species like yellow winged grasshopper Gastrimargus musicus, sand dune cricket S. monstrosus and globoid nest termite G. globosus can be pictured as potential flagship insects in the sanctuary. Besides, it showed the variation of diversity in entomofauna among the habitats indicating habitat specific dependence of the insect assembly in the sanctuary.

Biodiversity of Coleoptera and other invertebrates in urban gardens: a case study in a New Zealand city

AbstractInvertebrate biodiversity was investigated in 55 domestic gardens in the city of Dunedin in southern New Zealand. The influence of habitat types within the gardens (lawns, open beds, and closed canopy beds) on invertebrate community structure was investigated by pitfall trapping. Species richness of Coleoptera, the proportion of native species, and effects of pesticide use by householders was examined.The most abundantly trapped taxa were Collembola, Amphipoda, and Diptera. Most taxa were represented in all three habitat types, but Collembola, Diptera, and Araneae were most frequently collected in lawns and Isopoda in open beds.The use of pesticides had no effect on total trap catch, but detritivore numbers were higher in gardens where no insecticide had been used. Opiliones and Acarina were captured in greater numbers in gardens where herbicides had not been used.Over 1400 Coleoptera were identified to 164 species/morphospecies. Species richness averaged 12 species per garden. Staphylinidae, Curculionidae, and Carabidae were the most abundantly collected Coleoptera, both for species and individuals. Species richness was not affected by vegetation type. The coleopteran fauna was predominantly native (80–90%) for species and individuals.The capture of a new to New Zealand weevil species (Exomias pellicidus(Boheman)) suggests that urban studies could play a role in alerting authorities to biosecurity incursions. The study stimulated considerable interest in invertebrates from householders, which might help fill the gap between acquiring environmental awareness and encouraging changes in behaviour towards support for native biodiversity.

Elevation and experimental snowmelt manipulation affect emergence phenology and abundance of soil‐hibernating arthropods

1. Effects of climate change, such as higher average temperatures and earlier snowmelt, are already apparent, especially in alpine regions. However, community responses of functionally important arthropod taxa to changing climatic conditions are mostly unknown.2. In this study, an earlier snowmelt was simulated at 15 plots along an elevational gradient in the German Alps. At each study site, soil emergence traps were established for sampling soil‐hibernating arthropods on earlier and control snowmelt treatments during the growing season. The abundance and emergence phenology of the five most common arthropod orders (Araneae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera) were analysed, as well as the species richness of Coleoptera.3. There was increasing abundance and species richness of Coleoptera along the elevational gradient, indicating that at higher altitudes more individuals and species hibernate in the soil. Abundances of Diptera also increased with elevation. By contrast, abundances of Hemiptera declined with increasing elevation, while abundances of Araneae and Hymenoptera did not show significant elevational patterns. Arthropods at higher elevations emerged, on average, 5 weeks later than arthropods at lower elevations, because of a longer‐lasting snow cover. The earlier snowmelt treatment resulted in higher abundances of Araneae and Hymenoptera compared with the control plots, indicating that the time of snowmelt influenced the abundance of predators, such as spiders or parasitic wasps, more than that of herbivores.4. An earlier emergence of certain arthropod guilds and a change in relative abundance of guilds might desynchronise species interactions, leading to a possible loss of biodiversity.

Vertical Stratification of Beetles (Coleoptera) and Flies (Diptera) in Temperate Forest Canopies

Forest canopies support high arthropod biodiversity, but in temperate canopies, little is known about the spatial distribution of these arthropods. This is an important first step toward understanding ecological roles of insects in temperate canopies. The objective of this study was to assess differences in the species composition of two dominant and diverse taxa (Diptera and Coleoptera) along a vertical gradient in temperate deciduous forest canopies. Five sugar maple trees from each of three deciduous forest sites in southern Quebec were sampled using a combination of window and trunk traps placed in three vertical strata (understory, mid-canopy, and upper-canopy) for three sampling periods throughout the summer. Coleoptera species richness and abundance did not differ between canopy heights, but more specimens and species of Diptera were collected in the upper-canopy. Community composition of Coleoptera and Diptera varied significantly by trap height. Window traps collected more specimens and species of Coleoptera than trunk traps, although both trap types should be used to maximize representation of the entire Coleoptera community. There were no differences in abundance, diversity, or composition of Diptera collected between trap types. Our data confirm the relevance of sampling all strata in a forest when studying canopy arthropod biodiversity.

Impacts of an Invasive Non-Native Annual Weed, Impatiens glandulifera, on Above- and Below-Ground Invertebrate Communities in the United Kingdom

Vegetation community composition and the above- and below-ground invertebrate communities are linked intrinsically, though few studies have assessed the impact of non-native plants on both these parts of the community together. We evaluated the differences in the above- (foliage- and ground-dwelling) and below-ground invertebrate communities in nine uninvaded plots and nine plots invaded by the annual invasive species Impatiens glandulifera, in the UK during 2007 and 2008. Over 139,000 invertebrates were identified into distinct taxa and categorised into functional feeding groups. The impact of I. glandulifera on the vegetation and invertebrate community composition was evaluated using multivariate statistics including principal response curves (PRC) and redundancy analysis (RDA). In the foliage-dwelling community, all functional feeding groups were less abundant in the invaded plots, and the species richness of Coleoptera and Heteroptera was significantly reduced. In the ground-dwelling community, herbivores, detritivores, and predators were all significantly less abundant in the invaded plots. In contrast, these functional groups in the below-ground community appeared to be largely unaffected, and even positively associated with the presence of I. glandulifera. Although the cover of I. glandulifera decreased in the invaded plots in the second year of the study, only the below-ground invertebrate community showed a significant response. These results indicate that the above- and below-ground invertebrate communities respond differently to the presence of I. glandulifera, and these community shifts can potentially lead to a habitat less biologically diverse than surrounding native communities; which could have negative impacts on higher trophic levels and ecosystem functioning.

The potential of parasitoid Hymenoptera as bioindicators of arthropod diversity in agricultural grasslands

Summary 1. As measuring biodiversity in its entirety is impractical, there is a need for bioindicators. This study tested the hypothesis that parasitoid Hymenoptera are potential bioindicators that provide a useful means to assess the wider biodiversity of arthropod populations in agro‐ecosystems. There are a range of theoretical arguments to support such a claim, including the high trophic position of these taxa within the arthropod communities in which they occur, and the unique nature of their biological relationships with the majority of terrestrial arthropod groups. 2. A survey of 48 commercial farms was conducted and Generalized Linear Models used to investigate relationships between six taxa—parasitoid Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Araneae and plants (species richness and sward height)—in agricultural grasslands. As well as relationships between these groups, the relationship of each individual group to the overall biodiversity of all other arthropod groups was explored. 3. Both abundance (r2 = 0·58) and taxon richness (r2 = 0·54) of parasitoid Hymenoptera had stronger relationships with overall arthropod taxon richness than any other arthropod group investigated. Parasitoid abundance also had a positive relationship with species richness of Coleoptera (r2 = 0·23) and Hemiptera (r2 = 0·47). 4. An historical data set demonstrated how the relationship between parasitoid abundance and overall arthropod taxon richness changes over the growing season. July, when the relationship was strongest, is potentially the most useful time to sample. 5. For use in routine monitoring, it is important that an effort be made to understand the seasonal influence on the relationship in the context being studied. Equal sampling effort must be made for all sites being compared and sites should be sampled as close together in the season as is possible. 6. Synthesis and applications. We show that, within agricultural grasslands, both the abundance and taxon richness of parasitoid Hymenoptera are more closely related with overall arthropod diversity than any other arthropod group investigated. The use of parasitoid abundance provides a simple and practicable monitoring tool for tracking change in wider arthropod diversity in agro‐ecosystems.

Abundance–body mass relationships among insects along a latitudinal gradient

Abstract We investigated the relationship between abundance and body size (body mass) of 162 insect herbivore species on the host plant Acacia falcata along its entire coastal latitudinal distribution (eastern Australia), spanning a gradient in mean annual temperature of 4.3°C. We extend previous research by assessing these relationships at different spatial scales (latitudes pooled, among latitudes and within latitudes) and at different taxonomic levels (insect phytophages pooled, phytophagous Coleoptera and Hemiptera, and five component suborders/superfamilies). Insect species were collected from two orders (Hemiptera and Coleoptera) and five component suborders/superfamilies. There were no consistent trends in the relationships (linear or polygonal/hump‐shaped) between abundance and body mass when latitudes were pooled, among latitudes, or when phytophagous insect species were separated into their component suborder/superfamily groups. The reason for the lack of consistent trends might be due to the insect herbivores not fully exploiting their host plant and the relative absence of competition among herbivore species for food resources. This is further assessed in relation to the lack of a consistent pattern in species richness of Coleoptera and Hemiptera herbivores from the same dataset and rates of chewing and sap‐sucking herbivory along the same latitudinal gradient. Future studies of abundance–body size relationships are discussed in relation to sampling across environmental gradients and accounting for the influence of host plant identity and insect phylogeny.

Fire and fire surrogate treatment effects on leaf litter arthropods in a western Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest

Frequent, low-intensity fires were a common feature of Sierran forest ecosystems, but suppression policies over the past century have left many forests at risk for catastrophic wildfires. Recent policies highlight the use of prescribed burning or harvesting as fire risk reduction tools, but few studies have investigated the impacts of these management practices on the leaf litter fauna of Sierran forests. This study examines how three fire and “fire surrogate” treatments, prescribed burning, overstory thinning with understory mastication, and combined thinning and burning, impact diversity and abundance of Coleoptera and other leaf litter arthropods. Pitfall trapping was used to collect litter arthropods before and immediately after treatments in replicated forest compartments. The diverse Coleoptera assemblage was dominated by only a few common species, with many rare species represented by only one or two individuals. Rank–abundance diagrams indicated that much of the change in the beetle assemblage due to the treatments was a result of changes in the numbers of rare species. Indicator species analysis showed several species closely allied with the treated compartments, but few with the untreated controls. Both NMS and CCA ordination show considerable change in overall assemblage structure on compartments treated with fire, but less change in the thinned compartments. Coleoptera species richness was slightly higher in burned compartments. Some common beetle species, families of beetles, and other common groups such as ants and spiders showed changes in abundance due to the treatments, but the changes were taxon-specific and showed no general pattern. Overall impacts of the treatments appear to be moderate, and the increased habitat heterogeneity at the compartment level may provide additional habitat for many rare species to coexist. We conclude that the use of fire and fire surrogate treatments in Sierran mixed-conifer forests is justified from the standpoint of their effects on leaf litter arthropods, but the history of management at the site and the scale of treatments must be carefully considered.

Species richness of Coleoptera in mature managed and old-growth boreal forests in southern Finland

The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of old-growth spruce ( Picea abies) forest was compared with that from managed mature and overmature forests in southern Finland. Samples were collected from 9–11 sample plots in each case using 10 window-flight traps in each stand. These yielded a total of 43,289 beetles and 553 species of which 232 were associated with dead wood. The species richness of these saproxylic species was significantly higher in old-growth forests than in managed forests, and had very significant positive correlations with most dead-wood variables. Seventy eight percent of the saproxylic species were more abundant in old-growth than in mature managed forests, and their assemblages in managed and old-growth forests were distinctive with almost no overlap. On the other hand, species richness and assemblages of non-saproxylic species did not differ between the managed and old-growth forests. Obviously these species do not require as much attention as saproxylic species when conservation measures are planned in managed forests. An increase in the general level of decaying wood would improve the situation of many declining saproxylic species. Although the species richness of Coleoptera as a whole was higher in overmature than in mature managed stands, the value of long-rotation stands in preserving species assemblages typical of old-growth forests may be limited.