Response of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae) to coastal heathland succession

Schirmel, Jens; Buchholz, Sascha

doi:10.1007/s10531-011-0038-8

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…These structures may provide increased niche availability, a more stable environment, and increased moisture retention that all strongly influence the distributions of many other organisms (Pollet and Grootaert 1996;Sarig et al 1999;Finke and Snyder 2008;Carpintero et al 2011;Schirmel and Buchholz 2011). All known functional groups of ants can be found in the coastal dunes with the exception of Specialist Predators.…”

Section: Odontomachus Haematodus Xmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant community structure and response to disturbances on coastal dunes of Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2014

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Coastal dunes are complex and fragile ecosystems. The decrease in environmental stressors from sea to inland creates zonation patterns of habitats, which support high biodiversity. Although coastal dunes have been examined in primary succession studies for more than 100 years, invertebrates have received much less attention than other taxa. In this study, we examined ant community composition and its relationship with vegetation structure on dunes, and used ants as indicators to reveal the influence of anthropogenic disturbances on these habitats. Quadrat sampling, hand collecting, and beating plants were used to sample ants on coastal dunes fringing the northern Gulf of Mexico. Ants representing 44 species were found, with diversity and number of functional groups increasing from foredunes to backdunes. Bush areas of the backdunes supported a unique ant community. Ant diversity was correlated with plant richness, stem number, and plant cover, but the correlation was not consistent among habitats. Ant diversity was lower in degraded, young-planted, and re-built but not in old-planted sites. In addition, different types of disturbance changed the ant community and functional groups in different ways. Our study emphasizes the importance of protecting the whole dune system, especially the backdunes, which support high diversity but are often completely destroyed by urban development. Data from this research provides a benchmark to examine trajectories of coastal dune ecosystem degradation or recovery when exposed to natural or anthropogenic disturbances.

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Section: Odontomachus Haematodus Xmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant community structure and response to disturbances on coastal dunes of Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2014

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“…Many rare and dry‐loving (xerophilic) arthropods depend on early and dynamic successional stages and are negatively affected by the development of dense vegetation and an increasing soil stabilization (De Vries, den Boer & van Dijk, ; Price, ; Buchholz, ; Drees et al ., ; Schirmel & Buchholz, ). The conservation of these habitats and their dynamics is therefore most urgently needed (Steven, ; Buchholz, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we analysed the current habitat quality of dry sand ecosystems in northwestern Germany using ground beetles as model organisms. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are known to be useful indicator taxa to analyse shifts in terrestrial ecosystems (Schirmel, ; Koivula, ; Kotze et al ., ; Schirmel & Buchholz, ) including European dry grasslands and heathlands (e.g. Falke & Assmann, , ; Mossakowski, Främbs & Baro, ; Irmler, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Losing uniqueness – shifts in carabid species composition during dry grassland and heathland succession

Buchholz

Hannig²,

Schirmel

2013

Animal Conservation

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Dry sand ecosystems, such as dry grasslands and heathlands, have suffered habitat loss and degradation due to land-use changes and are today among the most endangered habitats in Central Europe. To evaluate the impact of degradation processes on habitat quality, we investigated how succession from sparse vegetated sand ecosystems to grass-invaded and tree-dominated ecosystems and the environmental parameters associated with it influences carabid assemblages. We also determined to what extent typical xerophilic species assemblages still exist. Pitfall trapping at 28 study sites in northwestern Germany yielded 111 carabid species that were grouped using Kendall's W coefficient of concordance. Ordination revealed that the differences between the four species groups resulted from vegetation cover and soil humidity, indicating that carabid distribution clearly reflects degradation processes. Our results suggest that areas in which succession proceeds were unsuitable for assemblages typical of dry grasslands and heathlands. In all, 35 species are lost due to succession from dry grassland and heathland to grass-invaded and tree-dominated sites. We discuss implications for habitat management and restoration, since dry sand ecosystems comprise a very high number of specialized and endangered species. bs_bs_banner Animal Conservation. Print ISSN 1367-9430 Animal Conservation 16 (2013) 661-670

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“…Plants comprise a well established indicator group, and for carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) responses to environmental change are well‐known (e.g. Diekmann ; Koivula ; Schirmel & Buchholz ). Both taxa have been used successfully as indicators for successful fen restoration (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

Görn

Fischer

2015

Restoration Ecology

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The aim of the study was to assess the effects of fen rewetting on carabid beetle and vascular plant assemblages within riverine fens along the river Peene in north‐eastern Germany. Drained (silage grassland), rewetted (restored formerly drained silage grassland), and near‐natural (fairly pristine) stands were compared. Eighty‐four beetle species (7,267 individuals) and 135 plant species were recorded. The richness of vascular plant species and the number of endangered species were highest on near‐natural fens. Fourteen years of rewetting did not increase plant species numbers compared with drained fens. For carabid beetles, however, species richness and the number of stenotopic species were highest on rewetted fens. Rewetting caused the replacement of generalist carabids by wetland specialists, but did not provide suitable habitat for specialist fen carabids or for plant species of oligo‐ or mesotrophic fen communities. Therefore, raising the water table on fens with nutrient‐rich, degraded peat was not sufficient for restoring species assemblages of intact fens, although water level was the most important environmental factor separating species assemblages. Our study illustrated that insects and plants may respond differentially to restoration, stressing the need to consider different taxa when assessing the efficiency of fen restoration. Furthermore, species assemblages of intact fens could not be restored within 14 years, highlighting the importance of conserving pristine habitat.

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Response of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae) to coastal heathland succession

Cited by 36 publications

References 33 publications

Ant community structure and response to disturbances on coastal dunes of Gulf of Mexico

Ant community structure and response to disturbances on coastal dunes of Gulf of Mexico

Losing uniqueness – shifts in carabid species composition during dry grassland and heathland succession

Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north‐eastern Germany

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