Effects of forest site preparation methods on carabid beetle (Coleoptera:Carabidae) diversity

• Main Author: Beaudry, Suzanne
• Other Authors: Cote, Benoit (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1995
• Subjects: Ground beetles > Ecology; Biodiversity.; Prescribed burning > Environmental aspects; Logging > Environmental aspects.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=22718

The objective was to analyze the effects of logging and prescribed burning on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at a jack pine stand and white spruce plantations in order to assess short-term impacts of these forestry practices on the diversity of this beetle group. In addition, soil scarification was also included at the jack pine stand. Based on previous reports on forest disturbance influences on carabids, it is hypothesized that short-term effects of studied forestry practices do not reduce carabids' diversity. Four carabid assemblage characteristics were compared: (a) number of catches; (b) dry mass; (c) species richness; and, (d) diversity index. Species responses and dry mass distributions were also investigated. Treatments either increased or maintained studied variables compared with control sites. Diversity indices were highest in burnt-over areas. Similar response patterns of species or groups of species were observed in both forest types. The presence of regenerating sites among the natural landscape increased carabid diversity.