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

Abstract

HighlightsWe studied the recovery of ground beetles and millipedes during reforestation. We found no differences in species richness of forest carabids after canopy closure. The species richness of forest millipedes was the highest in the mature forest. Ground beetles recovered after the closure of canopy, while millipedes did not. Stenotopic forest species associated with microhabitats did not recover. the quantitative character species analysis also confirmed that reforestation with native oak after 51 mechanical soil treatment had detrimental effects on both studied ground-dwelling arthropod groups. 52The diversity and composition of ground beetles with high dispersal ability and less specific feeding habit 53 recovers after the closure of the canopy, while similar recovery do not occur regarding millipedes with 54 low dispersal ability and specific feeding habit. Our results suggest that soil preparation and light tilling 55 should be omitted during the reforestation and cultivation of the reforested stands.

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

“…The rove 379 beetle assemblages of the samples from the native oak 380 plantation and red oak plantation were similar to each other 381 (stress value: 0.2516; Fig. 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).…”

“…71 Several studies revealed that reforestation has significant 72 effects on ground-dwelling arthropods (Finch 2005;73 Magura et al 1997;Niemelä et al 1993). In particular the 74 direct destruction of original habitats by intensive pre-and 75 post-treatments (clear-cutting, grubbing, tilling and deep 76 loosening) causes significant changes in the structure of 77 arthropod assemblages (Magura et al 2002(Magura et al , 2015. The 78 majority of published studies investigated the effects of 79 reforestation and accompanying forest managements on 80 ground beetles or spiders (Pohl et al 2007).…”

“…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). 408 In the studied area, trees were planted in parallel rows in 409 the plantations and spaces between the rows were regularly 410 managed until the closure of the canopy, which created an 411 open, bare soil surface and allowed sunlight to penetrate 412 more deeply, influencing the soil temperature and soil 413 moisture (Anderson et al 1976).…”

“…However, 135 with ageing of native tree plantations the environmental 136 conditions, such as accumulation of native leaf litter and 137 decaying woody materials with associated organisms, 138 become more similar to those of the mature forest. This 139 increasing similarity in environmental conditions con-140 tributes to the recolonisation and establishment of perma-141 nent populations of ground-dwelling beetles (Brockerhoff 142 et al 2008;Magura et al 2015). Therefore, we expected 143 that the (2) reforestation with native tree species has less 144 harmful effects on rove beetles than reforestation with non-145 native tree species.…”

Mite infection of Carabus violaceus in rural forest patches and urban parks

“…Ground beetles are excellent ecological indicators; numerous studies focused on their responses to urbanization and human disturbance (5,6). Most of the papers concentrate on the assemblages, and do not examine the populations and/or individuals, but see (7).…”