The distribution pattern of centipedes in four primeval forests of central Slovakia

We investigated the distribution pattern of centipedes (Chilopoda) in four primeval forests of the western Carpathians, central Slovakia. The forests are located in two different mountain ranges (Kremnické vrchy and Pol’ana Mountains), which are exposed on either the southern (Boky, Rohy) or northern slopes (Pol’ana, Badín). In these forests, the influence of coarse woody debris (CWD) on centipede distribution was studied, by distinguishing sampling sites on the forest floor, close to CWD (c-CWD) and distant from CWD (d-CWD). In total, we collected 2,706 individuals from 20 species of centipedes. Average species richness and number of individuals per forest ranged from 8 to 12 species/m² and from 244 to 486 individuals/m². The oak forests on south facing slopes harboured several species, which did not occur in the more northern exposed fir-beech forests. Number of species as well as individuals, however, varied more within than between individual forests. Increase of species number and density was mainly caused by CWD and was more pronounced on the southern slopes (P<0.001), characterized by high temperatures and low precipitation, than on the northern slopes (n.s. to P<0.01), characterized by low temperatures and high precipitation. It was found that CWD did not generally increase (species) diversity.     

横断山区东部四种林型地表甲虫的物种多样性

2001年7月8—14日在横断山区东部选择皆伐后经过管理的人工次生林(MSF)、无人管理的农耕区次生林(USF)、邻近天然的冷杉林(NAF)和杜鹃矮曲林(NRF)4种林型,共设置样地20块,以巴氏罐诱法收集地表甲虫的物种组成和数量数据,并以地表甲虫的种类和数量分布为属性做主成分分析和聚类分析,研究森林皆伐和管理行为对地表甲虫物种多样性的影响。共采集地表甲虫标本4292号,步甲科、觅葬甲科和隐翅虫科分别占总数46．8％、13．1％和11．4％,是数量最多的类群;金龟科、象甲科和拟步甲科的数量也各在5％以上,为常见类群。其中,步甲科的个体数量在NRF显著多于其他林型,在USF显著少于其他林型;觅葬甲科在两个天然林显著多于两个次生林;拟步甲科在NRF显著多于其他林型;花萤科在MSF和NAF显著多于USF;叩甲科在USF显著多于MSF和NAF;象甲科在NRF和MSF明显多于USF;叶甲科在NRF明显多于USF。地表甲虫的个体数量从USF、MSF、NAF到NRF逐渐增多,而均匀度指数则逐渐降低;MSF内物种丰富度和多样性指数分别显著高于USF和NRF。主成分分析和聚类分析表明,除了USF与其他林型有明显差异外,其他林型间有一定的相似性,但MSF与天然NAF间相似性较低。以上结果表明,森林砍伐后并种植人工林措施改变了该地区地表甲虫群落的物种分布格局,有助于恢复物种多样性。     

Effects of forest fragmentation on species richness and composition of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae and Brachinidae) in urban landscapes

To clarify the effects of forest fragmentation in urban landscapes on the abundance, species richness, dominance, and species composition of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae and Brachinidae), we compared the beetles collected in 12 pitfall traps from April to July and from September to November between three continuous suburban forests and eight isolated urban forests (0.06–1.02 ha), most of which were in the precincts of shrines and temples in Hanshin District, Honshu, Japan. A total of 28 species and 4178 individuals of ground beetles were collected. Segregation of urban forests from continuous suburban forests has changed the species composition and resulted in the loss of some large‐sized forest species and the addition of some non‐forest species. Simpson's index of dominance (λ) also increased in the urban forests. The richness of forest species markedly decreased with the reduction in forest area but not with the distance from continuous forests, although the species richness of non‐forest species did not change with them. Also, species composition changed only with forest area. These findings indicate that continuous forests do not necessary serve as a “mainland” for urban forest species and that every urban habitat, however small in size, acts as a temporary reservoir of species. In comparison with populations of small‐sized species, populations of large‐sized forest species appeared to decline more readily during forest fragmentation.     

The influence of habitat type on the population dynamics of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in marshland

This study presents qualitative and quantitative research on communities of ground beetles (Carabidae) occurring in 2001 and 2003 in three types of habitats located near Bydgoszcz city, Poland (UTM CD19), on the Vistula river floodplain: elm and ash riparian forest (RF), poplar monoculture (P), and unintensively-farmed meadows (M). During both studied years 57 species of ground beetles were found in riparian forests (RF), 56 species in plot P and 47 in plot M. In 2001 from all sample plots 3845 beetles were collected; in 2003- 9589. In both years most specimens came from plot RF (3123 in 2001 and 6224 in 2003). From plot P 2656 specimens of ground beetles were collected and from plot M 1430 specimens. Statistically significant differences were found in the abundance of Carabidae, among sampling areas and the years of study.     

吉林蛟河阔叶红松林地表甲虫多样性时间动态分析

阔叶红松林是长白山林区代表性植被类型,具有较高的生物多样性。研究吉林蛟河阔叶红松林中地表甲虫多样性的时间动态,比较优势类群对时间变化的响应,为森林中地表甲虫的保护与利用提供科学依据。在2012—2013年5月中旬至8月下旬整个地表甲虫的活跃期,利用巴氏罐法在吉林蛟河阔叶红松林4个样地中共采集地表甲虫9849头,隶属于22个科79种,步甲科Carabidae、埋葬甲科Silphidae和隐翅虫科Staphylinidae为优势类群。地表甲虫的物种数、个体数和多样性指数均在7月上旬时达到最高,时间对个体数有显著影响(P0.05)。地表甲虫多样性各指数间相关性较低,个别种类对环境变化比较敏感。步甲科个体数在7月上旬显著高于其他时间,物种数与个体数的时间动态不一致,步甲科对8月上旬的适应能力强于埋葬甲科和隐翅虫科。埋葬甲科在7月上旬个体数量极显著高于其他各时间(P0.01),物种数与个体数的时间动态相一致。埋葬甲科对7月下旬适应能力强于隐翅虫科,其对时间变化的反应最敏感,当环境条件适宜时,其数量能够迅速增加。不同时间隐翅虫科的物种数与个体数变化相对较小,对时间变化的敏感程度最低。由于生活习性的特殊化,使得捕食性和腐食性地表甲虫活跃的高峰期也可能与被捕食者在各时期的数量有关。     

Characteristics of soil animal community in the subalpine/alpine forests of western Sichuan during onset of freezing

Seasonal freeze–thaw cycle is a common phenomenon in the subalpine/alpine forest region, and may have a significant influence on the structure and function of soil animal community. To understand the characteristics and dynamics of soil animal community as well as its response to repeated freeze–thaw events in this region during onset of freezing, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the composition, abundance, and diversity of soil fauna in primary fir (Abies faxoniana) forest, fir and birch (Betula albosinensis) mixed forest and secondary fir (A. faxoniana) forest, which were three representative forests in the subalpine and alpine forest region in western Sichuan. Soil samples were collected from November 3 to November 27, 2008, which was defined as onset of freezing based on the simultaneous monitoring of soil temperature. Soil macrofauna were picked up by hand in the fields. Mesofauna were separated and collected from the soil samples by Baermann and Tullgren methods, respectively. By preliminary identification, 40,942 individuals were collected, which belonged to 7 phyla, 15 classes and 25 orders in the three sampling forests. 16,557, 14,669 and 9716 individuals were found in primary forest, mixed forest and secondary forest, respectively. In comparison with the mineral soil layer, the soil organic layer had higher density and groups of soil fauna. Furthermore, following the repeated freeze–thaw events, density and groups of soil fauna experienced a distinct decrease in both soil organic layer and mineral soil layer, and this trend in soil organic layer was more significant in the primary forest, owing to higher intense and more frequent freeze–thaw cycles in soil organic layer of the primary forest. The results revealed that soil animals were sensitive bio-indicators to environmental changes, such as repeated freeze–thaw events and dry–wet cycle. Meanwhile, the results also implied that the dynamics of the structure and function of soil animal community during the onset of freezing was of ecological significance to understand the wintertime ecological process in soils.     

Changes in ground beetle diversity and community composition in age structured forests (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

We examined diversity, community composition, and wing-state of Carabidae as a function of forest age in Piedmont North Carolina. Carabidae were collected monthly from 396 pitfall traps (12×33 sites) from March 2009 through February 2010, representing 5 forest age classes approximately 0, 10, 50, 85, and 150 years old. A total of 2,568 individuals, representing 30 genera and 63 species, were collected. Carabid species diversity, as estimated by six diversity indices, was significantly different between the oldest and youngest forest age classes for four of the six indices. Most carabid species were habitat generalists, occurring in all or most of the forest age classes. Carabid species composition varied across forest age classes. Seventeen carabid species were identified as potential candidates for ecological indicators of forest age. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed separation among forest age classes in terms of carabid beetle community composition. The proportion of individuals capable of flight decreased significantly with forest age.     

How can we quantitatively study insects whose larvae live beneath the forest floor? A case study at an experimental long‐term log‐removal site in Japan

This study quantified the numbers and sex ratio of adult Sericania hidana (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a subalpine forest in 2017. Data from an area littered with coarse woody debris (CWD) created by a typhoon in 1959 were compared with those from an area where CWD had been cleared by salvage logging. Three types of traps were used: flight interception traps (FITs) with a black light, pitfall traps (PITs), and soil emergence traps (SETs). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were analyzed to evaluate S. hidana diets and habitats. Overall, there were more S. hidana in the unsalvaged sites than in the salvaged sites. The FITs captured only males but SETs captured both males and females. The SETs on CWD captured more S. hidana than did SETs on soil in both the salvaged and unsalvaged sites. The PITs captured only a few individuals; thus, PITs are not suitable for studying this insect, although such traps were previously reported to capture S. hidana adults. Stable isotope analyses suggested that S. hidana feeds on a variety of plant materials, including living plants and CWD. These results suggest that CWD has long‐term effects on insect populations. Soil emergence traps provide an effective method to quantitatively evaluate insect ecology, and FITs can effectively screen for the existence of insects.     

Comparing the precision,accuracy, and efficiency of branch clipping and sweep netting for sampling arthropods in two Jamaican forest types

ABSTRACT Devising methods for sampling arthropods presents many challenges, including understanding possible differences in results obtained by different individuals (precision), investigating differences between estimates and the actual variable of interest (accuracy), and assessing the effort and cost of a given method (efficiency). We assessed the precision, accuracy, and efficiency of sweep netting and branch clipping, two common methods of sampling arthropods, in mangrove and second‐growth scrub forests in Jamaica, West Indies, in 2009. Three individuals used both methods sequentially to sample arthropods in the territories of American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla). We found that both branch clipping and sweep netting lacked precision because different individuals produced different estimates of either arthropod abundance (number of individuals per sample) or biomass. In both forests, more arthropods were sampled with sweep netting, in terms of biomass and abundance, and several orders of arthropods were collected that were missed by branch clipping. We also detected the absence of a predictable habitat‐based difference in arthropod biomass with sweep netting, but not with branch clipping. Sweep netting took longer overall (field and processing time combined) and was therefore less efficient. Despite problems with precision and efficiency, our results suggest that sweep netting may be a more accurate method than branch clipping for sampling foliage arthropods in some forest habitats. Our study also reveals the importance of recognizing and controlling for individual bias and of choosing arthropod sampling methods most appropriate to each study species and habitat type.     

小兴安岭阔叶红松林地表甲虫Beta多样性

Beta多样性用来衡量集群内物种组成的变异性,可以被分解为空间物种转换和物种集群镶嵌两个组分,是揭示群落构建机制的重要基础。目前开展了较多的地上生态系统beta多样性研究,然而地下生态系统beta多样性进展缓慢。以小兴安岭凉水和丰林自然保护区为研究地区,于2015年8、10月采用陷阱法对阔叶红松林进行调查,揭示地表甲虫(步甲科、隐翅虫科、葬甲科)的beta多样性。结果表明:(1)凉水共发现39种、856只地表甲虫,丰林共发现43种、1182只地表甲虫。8月凉水明显具有较高的全部甲虫(三个科的总和)物种多样性和丰富度,10月正好相反。(2)凉水和丰林之间地表甲虫beta多样性的差异仅发现于8月的步甲科和葬甲科之间。(3)凉水和丰林地表甲虫的beta多样性主要由空间物种转换组成,物种集群镶嵌对beta多样性的贡献很小,说明地表甲虫物种组成变异主要由本地物种之间较高的转换引起。研究表明小兴安岭阔叶红松林地表甲虫的beta多样性主要由空间物种转换组成,在揭示群落构建机制过程中,其内部物种交换和环境调控不容忽视。     

Hand searching versus pitfall trapping: how to assess biodiversity of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in high altitude equatorial Andes?

The use of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as bioindicators of environmental change depends on the reliability and the effectiveness of the sampling methods. Those that have been tested in the temperate zone and in tropical forests still await experimentation in tropical high-altitude environments. For the first time, pitfall trapping and hand searching have been compared in Ecuadorian páramo above 4000 m a.s.l., in terms of practical effectiveness. The study was performed on six volcanoes and was based on the comparison of 28 sampling sessions (pitfall trapping and hand searching) performed along two different elevational belts [lower superpáramo (LSP) and upper superpáramo (USP)]. Analyses of sampling sessions showed that detected species richness is slightly higher with hand searching than with pitfall trapping, regardless of the elevation. Additionally, hand searching is more time-effective than pitfall trapping. The performance of the sampling method slightly varies when species assemblage composition is analysed in relation to elevational belts. In the LSP, hand searching and pitfall trapping should be simultaneously used to obtain exhaustive inventories of carabid biodiversity, since different species are likely to be collected by each method. In the USP, hand searching and pitfall trapping efficiency is very similar, but hand searching allows to collect a slightly larger number of species. Lastly, the sample-based rarefaction curves showed that four temporal replicates are mandatory to obtain a robust dataset and an exhaustive inventory of the true species richness and species assemblages composition. Our findings suggest a combined use of hand searching and pitfall trapping in the LSP, while both methods can be used alone for surveying carabids in the USP. Furthermore, hand searching is recommended if the aim is to obtain an inventory of species diversity, whereas pitfall trapping seems more convenient for fine grain ecological and comparative studies.     

The effects of forestry on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in boreal forests

As compared to natural forests, managed boreal forests are younger, more homogeneous in terms of tree age and species composition, and consist of smaller fragments. Here we examine the effects of such characteristics caused by forestry on carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the boreal region. The main results are the following. (1) Fragmentation of forests and the size of a fragment appear not to be crucial for the survival of the majority of forest carabids, as they tend to be distributed over various successional stages, but species requiring old-growth habitats suffer. (2) For carabids there appear to be no or very few edge specialist species, and forest-open land edges appear to be effective barriers for species associated with forest or open habitat. However, generalist species easily cross the edge, and edges of forest fragments may be invaded by species from the surrounding open habitat. (3) Habitat change following clear-cutting dramatically changes the composition of carabid assemblages: species restricted to mature forests disappear and open-habitat species invade, while habitat generalists survive at least in the short term. Carabid diversity can probably best be maintained if forest management mimics natural processes, maintains natural structures and includes the natural composition of vegetation and other structural elements (such as dead wood) within the stands, provided that these forest features can be maintained and recreated through forest management practices. At a larger scale, the whole spectrum of forest types and ages (especially old-growth forests), and different successional processes (especially fire) should be maintained. These require the development and use of innovative logging methods, and the planning, implementation, and assessment of landscape-scale ecological management strategies.     

丰林典型阔叶红松林地表鞘翅目成虫空间异质性及其与环境因子的空间关联性

土壤动物群落空间异质性及其与环境因子的空间作用关系, 是揭示土壤生态系统格局与过程及生物多样性维持机制的重要基础。作者于2015年生长季节(8月)、寒冷季节(10月)在丰林典型阔叶红松林动态监测样地内, 采用陷阱法调查地表鞘翅目成虫群落, 基于地统计空间分析方法, 揭示步甲科和隐翅虫科群落个体数和物种数及优势种的空间格局, 并分析这些空间格局与土壤含水量和地形因子的空间关联性。两次采样共捕获步甲科成虫26种617只, 隐翅虫科19种222只。8月群落个体数和物种数表现为中等变异, 10月为强变异, 群落组成在两个月间具有显著差异。生长季节(8月)和寒冷季节(10月)步甲科和隐翅虫科群落多表现为中等的空间自相关性, 空间分异由随机性因素和结构性因素共同决定。单个物种的个体数多具有中等的空间异质性特征, 且其空间分异主要由随机性因素和结构性因素共同调控。生长季节群落的个体数、物种数和优势种个体数多形成斑块和孔隙镶嵌分布的空间格局。物种之间及物种与环境因子之间多为复杂的空间关联性, 这些关联性主要受到结构性因素或随机性因素的单一调控。典范对应分析(canonical correspondence analysis, CCA)结果表明, 8月土壤含水量对步甲科和隐翅虫科物种分布影响显著, 10月凹凸度对步甲科分布影响显著, 海拔对隐翅虫科分布具有显著影响。本研究表明地表步甲科和隐翅虫科在生长季节形成明显的空间格局而在寒冷季节空间格局不明显, 为不同尺度地表土壤动物空间异质性和生物多样性维持机制研究提供了理论基础。     

Impact of rubber plantation on carabid beetle communities and species distribution in a changing tropical landscape (southern Yunnan, China)

Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) have widely been used to assess biodiversity values of different habitats in cultivated landscapes, but rarely in the humid tropics. This study aimed to investigate effects of land use change on the carabid assemblages in a tributary valley of the Mekong River in tropical southern Yunnan, China. The study area includes habitats of traditional land use systems (rice production and shifting cultivation successions) and was dominated by natural forests until about 30?years ago. Since then, large areas of forest have been, and still are, successively transformed into commercial rubber monoculture plantations. In total, 102 species of Carabidae (including Cicindelinae) were recorded from 13 sites over different seasons, using pitfall traps, Malaise traps and aerial collectors in trees. Cluster analysis and indicator species analysis showed that three types of habitat (rice field fallows, early natural successions and natural forest) possess a degree of uniqueness in species composition. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that the environmental factors explaining 80% of the total variation in carabid assemblage composition are the degree of vegetational openness of a habitat and its plant species diversity. Rice field fallows had significantly higher numbers of species and individuals than any other type of habitat and are probably dominated by species originating from other regions. Carabid assemblages of young rubber plantations (5 and 8?years) were quantitatively similar to those of forests, but without species of significant indicator value. With increasing plantation age (20 and 40?years), the number of carabid species decreased. Increasing age and a further spatial expansion of rubber plantations at the expense of forest areas will have negative impacts on the native forest carabid assemblages with strongest effects on forest specialists and rare species.     

Carabid Beetle and Spider Assemblages along a Forested Urban–Rural Gradient in Southern Finland

To investigate the effects of urbanization on carabid beetles (Carabidae) and ground dwelling spiders (Araneae) a study was completed along a 20km urban–rural forest gradient in the Helsinki–Espoo area of southern Finland. To study changes in assemblage structure, abundance and species richness, these taxa were collected in the year 2000 using pitfall traps, which had been placed in four forest sites within each of the urban, suburban and rural zones. We expected to find changes in the abundances and species richnesses in the two taxa across the urban–rural gradient, but did not find any. Our second and third hypotheses, stating that generalist species and small-bodied species should gain dominance along the gradient from rural to urban sites, were partly supported as carabid specialists were more characteristic of suburban and rural environments whereas generalists were more likely to be collected from rural areas compared to suburban or urban sites. Furthermore, medium to large-sized carabid individuals were more likely to be collected in the rural sites compared to urban forests. We found no evidence for significant changes in spider abundance or species richness across the urban–rural gradient in relation to body size or habitat specialization. We suggest that urbanization does not have significant effects on the total abundances and species richnesses in these two taxa. However, individual species responded differently to urbanization, and there were significant differences in the specialization and body sizes of carabids across the gradient.     

Rapid inventory of the ant assemblage in a temperate hardwood forest: species composition and assessment of sampling methods

Ants are key indicators of ecological change, but few studies have investigated how ant assemblages respond to dramatic changes in vegetation structure in temperate forests. Pests and pathogens are causing widespread loss of dominant canopy tree species; ant species composition and abundance may be very sensitive to such losses. Before the experimental removal of red oak trees to simulate effects of sudden oak death and examine the long-term impact of oak loss at the Black Rock Forest (Cornwall, NY), we carried out a rapid assessment of the ant assemblage in a 10-ha experimental area. We also determined the efficacy in a northern temperate forest of five different collecting methods--pitfall traps, litter samples, tuna fish and cookie baits, and hand collection--routinely used to sample ants in tropical systems. A total of 33 species in 14 genera were collected and identified; the myrmecines, Aphaenogaster rudis and Myrmica punctiventris, and the formicine Formica neogagates were the most common and abundant species encountered. Ninety-four percent (31 of 33) of the species were collected by litter sampling and structured hand sampling together, and we conclude that, in combination, these two methods are sufficient to assess species richness and composition of ant assemblages in northern temperate forests. Using new, unbiased estimators, we project that 38-58 ant species are likely to occur at Black Rock Forest. Loss of oak from these forests may favor Camponotus species that nest in decomposing wood and open habitat specialists in the genus Lasius.     

Diversity of canopy and understorey spiders in north-temperate hardwood forests

1 We characterized and compared diversity patterns of canopy and understorey spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) on sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) and American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in hardwood forests of southern Québec, Canada.
2 We sampled canopies of 45 sugar maple and 45 American beech trees and associated understorey saplings in mature protected forests near Montréal. Samples were obtained by beating the crown foliage at various heights and by beating saplings around each tree.
3 Eighty-two species were identified from 13 669 individuals. Forty-eight species and 3860 individuals and 72 species and 9809 individuals were collected from the canopy and the understorey, respectively.
4 Multivariate analyses (NMDS ordination and NPMANOVA) showed the composition of canopy and understorey assemblages differed significantly, and canopy assemblages differed between tree species. Rank-abundance distribution models fitted to the canopy and understorey data indicated that different mechanisms structure the assemblages in both habitats. Three abundant spider species were significantly more common in the canopy; ten species were collected significantly more often in the understorey.
5 The forest canopy was shown to be an important reservoir for spider diversity in north-temperate forests.     

Comparison of carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) occurrence in rain forest and human-modified sites in south-eastern Madagascar

High species diversity and endemism make Madagascar one of the world's biodiversity hot spots. However, forest cover and, thereby, biodiversity are decreasing rapidly due to human activities. Most of Madagascar is now covered by secondary vegetation, which is species-poor and contains many introduced species. In this study, the effect of human impact through alteration in vegetation on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was assessed. The study was conducted in montane rain forest in the Parc National de Ranomafana (south-eastern Madagascar), and in a nearby village area with various types of secondary vegetation. Beetles were collected by hand and by pitfall traps from ten sites from both areas. A total of 246 specimens belonging to 54 species were collected. Pitfall traps yielded only six specimens, which clearly shows that pitfall trapping is not a feasible method for catching carabids in such habitats. From the forest in the national park, 38 species were collected and from the village area 28 species. Species compositions and the dominant species were different: 12 species were found from both areas, while 16 species were unique to the village area and 26 species were unique to the forest. Half of the species were singletons and three most abundant species formed 31% of the total number of individuals. We conclude that because forest-dwellers do not occur in the human-modified environment, such species are at great risk of becoming extinct if current rates of forest decline continue in Madagascar.     

大巴山北坡地表甲虫的物种多样性

采用巴氏罐诱法取样,对大巴山北坡3种主要林型（林区人工林、农耕区天然次生林和农耕区人工林）地表甲虫的类群组成、数量分布进行了分析,并采用对应趋势分析和聚类分析法,研究了3种林型地表甲虫类群组成和数量分布的相似性.结果表明：2002年8月9—13日,研究区共捕获地表甲虫1094号,其中,隐翅虫科和叶甲科分别占40.59%和33.18%,步甲科、球蕈甲科、金龟科、象甲科、蚁甲科和缨甲科均各占1%以上,这8科地表甲虫是该地区常见的类群;地表甲虫的个体数量从林区人工林、农耕区天然次生林到农耕区人工林依次减少;农耕区人工林的科丰富度指数明显低于林区人工林和农耕区天然次生林.大巴山北坡农耕区天然次生林地表甲虫的类群组成和数量分布与林区人工林差异明显,农耕区人工林与林区人工林和农耕区天然次生林各有部分相似性.     

Use of species richness estimators improves evaluation of understory plant response to logging: a study of redwood forests

The recovery of native understory plant communities after timber harvest has received a great amount of attention worldwide. However, most of these studies have ignored the potentially significant effects that differences in habitat across forest development may have on the species–area relationship, even though sampling efficacy among forest developmental stages may differ markedly as a result of equal sampling within stages. We examined vascular plant community structure in coastal redwood forests of northern California (USA) in forest patches in each of four forest stages that develop with forest age: Initiation, Closure, Mature, and Old-growth. We also used a set of traditional and novel approaches to assess sampling efficacy and guide our sampling design. We initially sampled 75 circular plots (0.04 ha) in stands within each forest stage across a 1,347 km² area. The species–area relationship suggested we had adequately sampled all stages after the first season of data collection, but non-parametric richness estimators (Incidence-based Coverage Estimator or ICE) and Michaelis–Menten means (MMMeans) rarefaction curves, indicated inadequate sampling of the older stages. Thus, we added four more samples within the Old-growth forest stage, establishing a more equitable sample of all stages. Our full data set demonstrated significant differences between plant communities in previously harvested forests (‘managed’ = Initiation, Closure, and Mature) and ‘unmanaged’ forests (Old-growth). Though several understory species were present in all stages, a suite of Old-growth indicator and restricted species suggest that recovery of some species may take long periods in managed forests. Interestingly, a separate suite of common understory species were lacking in Old-growth, and species richness in this stage was lower than in the mature managed forests. We discuss how this departure from the prediction of peak richness in Old-growth may relate to fire suppression in Old-growth forests. Lastly, analysis of our initial, smaller sampling of plots suggested that Old-growth plots were the least species rich. However, additional sampling of the Old-growth stage demonstrated that Old-growth plots were as rich as Closure plots. This has important implications for all studies concerned with measuring recovery after forest disturbances; stage-dependent habitat-mediated differences that affect sampling efficacy may not be captured by traditional sampling methods.