Changes in carabid beetle assemblages as Norway spruce plantations age

Abstract

Several managed native forest stands have been reforested with conifer trees inEurope during recent centuries. These habitat alterations have influenced ground-dwelling invertebrates. We studied carabid beetle assemblages from a native beech forest (70-y-old), and a recently established (5-y-old), a young (15-y-old), a middle-aged (30-y-old) and a mature (50-y-old) Norway spruce plantation by pitfall trapping to explore the effect of reforestation on carabid beetles. The total number of carabid species, and the forest species were highest in the beech forest. The number of open-habitat species was highest in the youngest, relatively open monoculture. Ordination also confirmed changes in carabid composition with change in the studied habitats. Newly proposed forest affinity indices, based on species specificity, fidelity, and on a combination of specificity and fidelity were significantly higher in beech forest than in spruce plantations. We found these affinity indices especially useful in revealing the ecological character of the studied carabid assemblages. Regression analyses showed that leaf litter cover, herbs, shrubs, canopy closure and prey abundance were related to the structure of carabid-beetle assemblages.

Distribution and composition of carabid beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) communities across the plantation forest cycle—Implications for management

“…The ordination scores of the early and end rotation stages were more similar than to those of the mid-rotation stage, suggesting a more similar carabid community between the relatively more open canopy stages of the forest cycle. Magura et al (2006) in their study of carabid beetle assemblages in Norway spruce plantations recorded distinct changes in the carabid assemblage structure as the forest ages.…”

“…Traditionally, biodiversity assessments tended to concentrate on large vertebrates and especially birds; however this has often proved unsuitable as most are highly mobile generalists that lack established tolerance levels and correlations with ecosystem change (Hilty and Merenleder, 2000). In recent times increasing numbers of studies use invertebrates Oxbrough et al, 2005;Magura et al, 2006). In this context, the indicator potential of Carabidae has been shown in many previous studies (Butterfield et al, 1995;Vanbergen et al, 2005).…”

Recovery of ground-dwelling assemblages during reforestation with native oak depends on the mobility and feeding habits of the species

“…early phase, within 1-3 years after the clear-felling (Szyszko,423 1983; Niemelä et al, 2007;Koivula, 2011;Schwerk and Szyszko, 424 2011 shaping local diversity of ground beetles (Koivula, 2011). Namely, phases with a closed tree canopy (Niemelä et al, 1993(Niemelä et al, , 2007Elek 480 et al, 2001;Magura et al, 2002Magura et al, , 2003Magura et al, , 2006Pohl et al, 2007; requirements in these stands due to their ecological flexibility.…”

Shift of rove beetle assemblages in reforestations: Does nativity matter?

“…3 (Magura et al 2015). These treatments eliminate 398 the specific microsites and considerably alter the habitat 399 structure and microclimatic conditions, causing shift in the 400 ground-dwelling beetle assemblages (Magura et al 2006; 401 Roberge and Stenbacka 2014). In the case of ground bee-402 tles almost all studies confirmed that clear-cutting of native 403 forests and the subsequent treatments caused considerable 404 changes in the composition of assemblages, which were 405 most markedly detectable in the early phase (1-3 years) of 406 reforestation (Magura et al 2003(Magura et al , 2015Niemelä et al 407 2007).…”