森林演替对都江堰鼠类多样性的影响

为深入了解森林演替对野生动物群落结构和多样性格局的影响,于2012—2013年在四川省都江堰般若寺林场选择5种森林演替阶段(0~5、6~10、11~20、21~30 a和天然次生林(100 a),共计21个样地)对鼠类多样性进行调查。本次调查累计捕获鼠类9种,其中仓鼠科1种,鼠科8种。5种森林演替阶段共有物种有针毛鼠(Niviventer fulvescens)、中华姬鼠(Apodemus draco)、社鼠(N.confucianus)、高山姬鼠(A.chevrieri)和大耳姬鼠(A.latronum)。不同森林演替阶段之间的鼠类物种数、个体数和多样性特征差异不显著,但天然次生林中的鼠类个体数略高于其他演替阶段。多元统计分析(NMDS和CCA排序)表明,不同森林演替阶段的鼠类群落组成相似性较高,但灌木层和草本层盖度等生境因子可影响鼠种的分布。除高山姬鼠、针毛鼠和中华姬鼠等分布较广的种类外,其他种类对微生境有一定的选择倾向。小泡巨鼠(Leopoldamys edwardsi)主要生活于演替期长的天然次生林中,社鼠和大耳姬鼠主要分布在灌木层盖度较高的生境,巢鼠(Micromys minutus)和黑腹绒鼠(Eothenomys melanogaster)主要生活在草本层盖度较高的生境,大足鼠(Rattus nitidus)适于生活在草本层和灌木层盖度均适中的生境。综上所述,不同森林演替阶段之间的鼠类多样性差异较小,但森林演替所造成的微生境变化可能影响鼠类物种的分布和多样性格局。     

宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生态恢复生境地表甲虫多样性

为了解宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生境地表甲虫群落多样性变化规律及与环境因子的关系, 并探讨不同生态恢复措施对维持地表甲虫群落多样性的影响, 2013年7-8月, 作者利用陷阱法调查了该区6种生境内的地表甲虫群落多样性。结果表明: 灌草混交林地、乔灌混交林地、生态薪炭林地中地表甲虫物种丰富度和个体数量均较高, 天然封育草地、生态经济林地和水平农田中物种丰富度较低, 生态经济林地和水平农田中甲虫个体数量显著高于天然封育草地。不同生境间, 灌草混交林地、乔灌混交林地与生态薪炭林地之间、生态经济林地与水平农田之间甲虫群落组成相似性较高。多元回归分析表明, 草本层生物量、灌木层盖度及土壤含水量是影响甲虫物种丰富度的决定因素, 林冠层盖度和枯落物厚度是决定地表甲虫个体数量的重要因素。CCA分析表明, 枯落物盖度、枯落物厚度、林冠层盖度及草本层盖度是影响地表甲虫群落组成的重要环境因子。研究表明, 灌草混交林地为地表甲虫群落多样性维持较好的生境类型, 是宁夏黄土丘陵区典型生态恢复的最优模式。     

深圳湾福田红树林群落演替

对深圳湾福田凤塘河红树林演替过程中的群落结构、物种组成、多样性变化及演替趋势的研究结果表明:(1)演替各阶段群落均由秋茄(Kandelia candel)、木榄(Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)、桐花树(Aegiceras corniculatum)、白骨壤(Avicennia marina)及老鼠簕(Acanthus ilicifolius)5个种类组成。(2)演替早期(4 a)群落高度增长较快,之后继续保持较快增长,至17 a时趋于稳定,之后增长速度缓慢。(3)4 a和17 a的群落立木级均分布在Ⅱ级—Ⅳ级,56 a和73 a的群落立木均达到最高级Ⅴ级,该两群落立木在Ⅱ级—Ⅴ级均有分布。(4)随着演替的进展,除了73 a群落盖度较56 a群落稍有下降外,其它演替群落盖度逐渐增加;群落胸高断面积表现出与盖度一致的变化趋势;群落个体密度则逐渐下降;群落物种多样性和均匀度不断提高,群落优势度则逐渐下降;群落相似性系数的变化表明在演替过程中群落物种组成结构没有发生明显变化。(5)群落变化及演替为:秋茄+桐花树群落→秋茄群落→白骨壤+秋茄群落→白骨壤群落。     

贺兰山冲积扇荒漠草地地表甲虫种间关联和群落稳定性

理解生物群落结构和种间关系,对研究群落演替以及群落稳定性具有重要意义。于2019年5—10月在贺兰山冲积扇荒漠草地采用陷阱法调查200 m×200 m空间尺度的地表甲虫群落组成,基于2×2联列表,采用方差比率法、χ~2检验、联结系数、Spearman秩相关系数、贡献定律法和主成分分析,研究了贺兰山冲积扇荒漠草地小尺度空间地表甲虫的种间关联性以及群落稳定性。结果表明：6次共捕获地表甲虫2324只,隶属于11科36属52种,直角通缘步甲个体数量占总数量的44.28%,是贺兰山冲积扇荒漠草地地表甲虫群落调查期内的优势种,不同月份优势种存在差异。5月个体数和物种数为中等变异,7和8月物种数为中等变异,其他月个体数和物种数为强变异,9月个体数变异系数最大,10月物种数变异系数最大。方差比率和W检验显示,所有月份地表甲虫群落方差总体表现为显著正联结。χ~2检验、种间关联性和Spearman秩相关分析表明,5—8月正负关联种对比大于1,9和10月正负关联种对比小于1。不同月份优势种与其他主要物种间关系基本一致。亲缘关系较近的物种间并未表现较多显著的负关联性。稳定性分析显示,所有月份地表甲虫群落均处于...     

浙江天目山种植林管理历史及粗死木残体特征影响柳杉腐木甲虫多样性（英文）

不合理的森林管理是导致腐木甲虫多样性丧失的重要原因。在中国亚热带地区, 多样性较高的天然林已被大面积的人工种植林取代, 然而, 这些人工林对腐木甲虫多样性的影响还研究甚少。本研究对浙江天目山自然保护区人工幼龄林（30~40年）、 人工老熟林（80~100年）和半天然混合林（>200年）中柳杉枯立木上的腐木甲虫群落及多样性进行比较。结果表明： 半天然混合林腐木甲虫个体数量（97.4±66.7）显著高于幼龄林（39.9±16.3）和老熟林（21.9±5.9）, 但半天然林混合林(27.9±11.2)与幼龄林(24.1±3.7)腐木甲虫物种数差异并不显著(P>0.05), 而幼龄林的腐木甲虫物种数和个体数量则显著高于老熟林(P<0.05)。腐木甲虫物种数和个体数量与样地粗死木残体体积相关性显著(P<0.05)。典范对应分析和多响应置换过程分析表明腐木甲虫群落特征在不同林型间差异显著(P<0.001)。柳杉枯立木直径、 粗死木残体的直径和数量以及林冠盖度均对腐木甲虫物种组成具有显著影响(P<0.05)。腐木甲虫营养级组成分析也表明, 半天然混合林菌食性甲虫数量显著高于种植林(P<0.001)。结果提示, 提高种植林粗死木残体的数量和质量可以增加腐木甲虫的物种丰富度, 但种植林腐木甲虫多样性可能在随后的演替阶段有所下降, 而且种植林与天然林在腐木甲虫群落组成上差异十分明显。     

贵州部分森林群落物种多样性初步研究

 本文根据贵州省178个森林群落样地的数据研究了群落物种的多样性。测定的指标有群 落物种丰富度,群落Simpson多样性指数和群落均匀度。测定结果表明;不同垂直带生物气 候条件下的森林群落有不同的多样性。相同垂直带生物气候条件下,基质生境相同时,不同森林植被亚型的群落的多样性近似,基质生境不同时,群落多样性则不同;同一群落类型的各个样地的多样性也有变化,结构不同的群落个体,其多样性指数不同,演替趋势也不同。乔木第二亚层的多样性普遍地高于乔木第一亚层。同一演替系列中,越接近顶极阶段多样性越高。多样性指数与群落物种丰富度,均匀度呈紧密的正相关,与群落个体总数没有相关。认为多样性测定在比较、说明群落的结构、类型、组织特征、生境、演替等方面有一定意义。     

紫胶林-农田复合生态系统地表甲虫多样性——以云南绿春为例

为揭示紫胶林-农田复合生态系统地表甲虫多样性, 于2006-2007年在云南省绿春县牛孔乡采用陷阱法调查了天然紫胶林、人工紫胶林和旱地的地表甲虫群落。共采集标本1 678头, 分别隶属于24科120种, 其中步甲科(Carabidae)和金龟科(Scarabaeidae)种类最丰富, 均占全部种类的12.50%。拟步甲科(Tenebrionidae)个体数量最丰富, 占个体总数的64.48%; 金龟科次之, 占个体总数的17.58%。大多数科的物种数和个体数在不同土地利用生境中的分布没有显著差异, 而步甲科、隐翅甲科(Staphylinidae)、叩甲科(Elateridae)、拟步甲科、瓢虫科(Coccinellidae)和小蠧科(Scolytidae)在不同土地利用生境中的分布有显著差异。天然紫胶林地表甲虫个体数量最少, 物种较丰富, 优势度最低, 多样性最高; 人工紫胶林个体数和物种数均丰富, 优势度和多样性居中; 旱地个体数量最多, 物种最贫乏, 优势度最高, 多样性最低。种级水平的聚类分析体现出人工紫胶林与旱地之间在种类组成上距离较近; 而科级水平的聚类反映出人工紫胶林和天然紫胶林更接近。结果提示, 紫胶林-农田复合生态系统具有区域内土地利用方式多样化的特点; 天然紫胶林在维持地表甲虫多样性水平上具有重要作用, 而人工紫胶林虽具有积极作用, 但仍需进一步恢复。     

科尔沁沙地植被恢复演替进程中群落土壤种子库研究

研究了科尔沁沙地植被恢复演替进程中各群落土壤种子库种类组成、密度以及物种多样性等特征。主要结论是:①科尔沁沙地植被退化后的恢复演替是一种次生的中途恢复演替。演替各阶段土壤种子库密度为流动沙丘<半流动沙丘<固定沙丘,从流动到半流动沙丘阶段,土壤种子库密度平均增加了709%;从半流动到固定沙丘阶段,土壤种子库密度平均增加了393%。从流动到半流动沙丘阶段是土壤种子库密度的快速增长期。②植被恢复演替过程中,土壤种子库组成均以1年生草本植物为主(优势度为60.40%~91.83%),到演替中后期阶段,多年生草本植物的种类有所增加,但其所占比例仍很小。③演替各阶段群落种子库物种多样性指数分别为0.6616、0.7736、0.7281、1.0939、1.0648和0.9682,可见种子库物种多样性最高的群落并非是演替历史最大的群落。④恢复演替系列各阶段土壤种子库间的相似性系数都较大,在0.368~1.000范围之内,任一群落总是与其下一阶段最邻近的群落具有最高的相似性系数。     

宁夏白芨滩国家级自然保护区地表甲虫群落多样性

2006年7—9月在宁夏白芨滩国家级自然保护区内选取5个不同样地,主要以巴氏罐诱法结合网捕等采集方法对各样地地表甲虫群落组成和多样性变化进行了调查。结果共获得甲虫标本1 896号,分属17科,其中拟步甲科数量最多,占25.58%;叶甲科次之,占20.99%;肖叶甲科、芫菁科和瓢虫科的数量也相对较多,它们共同构成该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。白芨滩样地地表甲虫的物种数和个体数量最丰富;长流水样地的多样性指数、均匀度指数、优势度指数最高;马鞍山样地的物种数、个体数量和与此相应的均匀度指数、多样性指数、丰富度最低。通过聚类分析显示白芨滩样地和大泉样地具有一定程度的相似性,长流水样地与磁窑堡样地相似性程度较高,马鞍山样地与其他4个地点差异最大。表明生境类型差异性与地表甲虫群落的物种多样性和相似性密切相关;荒漠化环境治理使地表甲虫栖息环境的空间异质性增大,从而增加了地表甲虫的多样性。     

短时暴雨对小兴安岭凉水阔叶红松林地表甲虫群落的影响

全球变化背景下,气候变化引起的降水异常变化对诸多生态过程和功能均有重要影响,但目前关于极端降水事件对土壤动物群落组成及多样性的影响研究非常有限。2018年7月24—25日,凉水国家自然保护区发生以大到暴雨为主的连续降雨,日降雨量达到50—100 mm,造成较严重的破坏,属于极端降水事件(短时暴雨)级别。在凉水国家级自然保护区阔叶红松林内,分别于暴雨发生前期(7月19日—24日)、暴雨结束初期(7月29日—8月3日)和后期(8月4日—8月14日),采用陷阱法捕获地表甲虫,阐明短时暴雨对地表甲虫群落组成及多样性的影响。结果表明:此次实验共捕获650只、35种,地表甲虫群落、步甲科和隐翅虫科的个体数量在暴雨发生前期、暴雨结束初期和后期并没有显著差异,说明短时暴雨对上述群落个体数量没有显著影响,而葬甲科的个体数量在暴雨结束初期显著少于暴雨发生前期和暴雨结束后期。因土壤动物群落不同类群生活习性不同,短时暴雨对地表甲虫群落不同类群与优势种的影响各不相同。例如:优势种Pterostichus maoershanensis、Pterostichus adstrictus和Aulonocarabus canaliculatus暴雨结束初期的个体数量均显著少于暴雨发生前期的个体数量,优势种P.maoershanensis暴雨结束后期的个体数量极显著少于暴雨结束初期和暴雨发生前期,优势种Nicrophorus tenuipes暴雨结束初期的个体数量极显著少于暴雨发生前期。地表甲虫群落和步甲科在暴雨发生前期、暴雨结束初期和后期的的多样性指数(H′)和优势度指数(D)呈逐渐减少的趋势,步甲科暴雨结束后期的多样性指数(H′)、优势度指数(D)和均匀度指数(J)均显著少于暴雨发生前期(P0.05)。地表甲虫群落在暴雨结束初期和后期的beta多样性均显著高于暴雨发生前期,说明地表甲虫群落在暴雨结束初期和后期存在较高的群落物种替换,即暴雨导致地表甲虫群落较大的物种组成差异。本文表明,短时暴雨对小兴安岭凉水阔叶红松林的地表甲虫群落物种组成和多样性产生一定的影响,对群落不同类群及优势物种产生不同的影响,并导致地表甲虫群落在暴雨后较大的物种替换。     

Staphylinidae and Carabidae overwintering in wheat and sown wildflower areas of different age

Species richness and abundance of staphylinid and carabid beetles overwintering in winter wheat fields and 1- to 3-year-old wildflower areas were investigated during 2000/2001 on 16 study sites in Switzerland. Abundance and species richness of overwintering staphylinids significantly increased with successional age of the wildflower areas and were always higher in older wildflower areas than in winter wheat. A similar but less distinct pattern was observed for the abundance and species richness of carabid beetles. The influence of habitat parameters (vegetation cover, fine sand content, organic matter, pH, soil pore volume, surrounding landscape structure, habitat area) on the staphylinid and carabid assemblages based on the number of individuals per species and site was analysed using canonical correspondence analysis. Vegetation cover was the most significant parameter significantly characterizing both staphylinid and carabid assemblages. The amount of vegetation cover explained 15.7% of the variance, fine sand content accounted for 13.3% and surrounding landscape structure for 10.9% of the variance in the staphylinid assemblage. In the carabid assemblage, vegetation cover was the only significant factor, explaining 24.7% of the variance. This study showed for the first time that the significance of wildflower areas as a reservoir for hibernation for generalist predatory beetles increases with progressing successional age.     

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types in Sabah, Malaysia

The diversity of beetle assemblages in different habitat types (primary forest, logged forest, acacia plantation and oil palm plantation) in Sabah, Malaysia was investigated using three different methods based on habitat levels (Winkler sampling, flight-interception-trapping and mist-blowing). The overall diversity was extremely high, with 1711 species recorded from only 8028 individuals and 81 families (115 family and subfamily groups). Different degrees of environmental changes had varying effects on the beetle species richness and abundance, with oil palm plantation assemblage being most severely affected, followed by acacia plantation and then logged forest. A few species became numerically dominant in the oil palm plantation. In terms of beetle species composition, the acacia fauna showed much similarity with the logged forest fauna, and the oil palm fauna was very different from the rest. The effects of environmental variables (number of plant species, sapling and tree densities, amount of leaf litter, ground cover, canopy cover, soil pH and compaction) on the beetle assemblage were also investigated. Leaf litter correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of subterranean beetles. Plant species richness, tree and sapling densities correlated with species richness, abundance and composition of understorey beetles while ground cover correlated only with the species richness and abundance of these beetles. Canopy cover correlated only with arboreal beetles. In trophic structure, predators represented more than 40% of the species and individuals. Environmental changes affected the trophic structure with proportionally more herbivores (abundance) but fewer predators (species richness and abundance) in the oil palm plantation. Biodiversity, conservation and practical aspects of pest management were also highlighted in this study.     

Response of a dung beetle assemblage along a reforestation gradient in Restinga forest

Scarabaeinae dung beetles are indicator insects used in the evaluation of the ecological effects caused by changes in habitat structure and ecosystem integrity resulting from environmental degradation. We compared dung beetle diversity in conserved restinga forests (coastal tropical moist broadleaf forest) and in reforested areas of various ages during the rainy and dry seasons, on the coast of Paraíba State, Brazil. A total of 3,634 individuals comprising 14 species were collected. In the reforested areas there was a gradual increase in species abundance relative to the area’s age, but in the conserved restinga the abundance of individuals was 10–20 times higher than that recorded in areas of recent reforestation. The highest species richness was found in the conserved restinga and in the oldest reforested area (16 years old) during the rainy season. During the dry season, when environmental conditions do not seem to favor adult survival, most of the species were found in the conserved restinga forest. The dung beetle community structure was related to the increases in habitat heterogeneity in the successional processes of the reforested areas. Our results suggest that reforested areas act as a source of and refuge for dung beetle species.     

Factors Influencing Bug Diversity (Insecta: Heteroptera) in Semi-Natural Habitats

We investigated the abundance and species richness of heteropteran bugs and explored environmental factors which influence bug diversity in three types of semi-natural habitats (wildflower areas, extensively used meadows, extensively grazed pastures). To cover this topic, it is essential to know how much the relatively young wildflower areas contribute to biodiversity compared with well-established extensive meadows and pastures. Total bug species richness and phytophagous bug species richness were significantly higher in wildflower areas and meadows than in pastures. In wildflower areas, we found the highest number of zoophagous bug species and species overwintering in the egg-stage. Species overwintering as adults were most abundant in meadows. Total number of bug species as well as species richness in either trophic groups and overwintering strategies were significantly positively correlated with vegetation structure. Except for overwintering strategies, the same was true to bug abundance. The bug community based on the number of individuals per species was significantly explained by flower abundance and vegetation structure, accounting for 18.4 and 16.8% of the variance, respectively. Our results indicate that vegetation structure and flower abundance are key factors for bug species richness, abundance and bug species composition. Since wildflower areas and meadows clearly increased bug species richness and contained several specialised bug species that did not occur in pastures, we recommend the promotion of wildflower areas and extensively used meadows in order to restore both high heteropteran diversity and overall insect biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.     

Does selective logging change ground‐dwelling beetle assemblages in a subtropical broad‐leafed forest of China?

Selective logging with natural regeneration is advocated as a near‐to‐nature strategy and has been implemented in many forested systems during the last decades. However, the efficiency of such practices for the maintenance of forest species are poorly understood. We compared the species richness, abundance and composition of ground‐dwelling beetles between selectively logged and unlogged forests to evaluate the possible effects of selective logging in a subtropical broad‐leafed forest in southeastern China. Using pitfall traps, beetles were sampled in two naturally regenerating stands after clearcuts (ca. 50 years old, stem‐exclusion stage: selectively logged 20 years ago) and two mature stands (> 80 years old, understory re‐initiation stage: selectively logged 50 years ago) during 2009 and 2010. Overall, selective logging had no significant effects on total beetle richness and abundance, but saproxylic species group and some abundant forest species significantly decreased in abundance in selectively logged plots compared with unlogged plots in mature stands. Beetle assemblages showed significant differences between selectively logged and unlogged plots in mature stands. Some environmental characteristics associated with selective logging (e.g., logging strategy, stand age, and cover of shrub and moss layers) were the most important variables explaining beetle assemblage structure. Our results conclude that selective logging has no significant impacts on overall richness and abundance of ground‐dwelling beetles. However, the negative effects of selective logging on saproxylic species group and some unlogged forest specialists highlight the need for large intact forested areas for sustaining the existence of forest specialist beetles.     

Dung beetle diversity and functions suggest no major impacts of cattle grazing in the Brazilian Pantanal wetlands

1. Dung beetles perform relevant ecological functions in pastures, such as dung removal and parasite control. Livestock farming is the main economic activity in the Brazilian Pantanal. However, the impact of cattle grazing on the Pantanal's native dung beetle community, and functions performed by them, is still unknown. 2. This study evaluated the effects of cattle activity on dung beetle community attributes (richness, abundance, biomass, composition, and functional group) as well as their ecological functions (dung removal and soil bioturbation) in the Pantanal. In January/February 2016, dung beetles were sampled and their ecological functions measured in 16 sites of native grasslands in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, 10 areas regularly grazed by cattle and six control ungrazed areas (> 20 years of abandonment). 3. In all, 1169 individuals from 30 species of dung beetles were collected. Although abundance, species richness, and biomass did not differ between grasslands with and without cattle activity, species composition and functional groups differed among systems. Large roller beetles were absent from non‐cattle grasslands, and the abundance, richness, and biomass of medium roller beetles was higher in those systems. 4. Despite causing changes in species/functional group composition, the results of this study show that a density compensation of functional groups in cattle‐grazed natural grasslands seems to have conserved the ecological functions (dung removal and soil bioturbation), with no significant differences between systems. 5. Therefore, these results provide evidence that cattle breeding in natural grasslands of the Brazilian Pantanal can integrate livestock production with the conservation of the dung beetle community and its ecological functions.     

Diversity of pselaphine beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) in eastern Thailand

Pselaphine beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) are cosmopolitan, species‐rich, and yet poorly studied, particularly in the tropics. We sampled beetles in three types of primary forest and two types of disturbed forest habitats in eastern Thailand to assess the utility of pselaphine beetles as bioindicators of forest disturbance. We simultaneously measured leaf litter mass, soil moisture, soil acidity and canopy cover at each site to infer which environmental factors affect pselaphine beetle diversity and abundance. At each site, pselaphine beetles were extracted from ten 1 m² samples of leaf litter and soil with Tullgren funnels. We sampled 1867 adult beetles representing six supertribes, 51 genera and 114 morphospecies; 7% of the genera and 92% of the species were undescribed. Forest types differed significantly in species richness, abundance, diversity and evenness. Primary forest had greater numbers of species and individuals, and higher diversity indices (H′). Teak plantation and secondary forest had substantially fewer individuals and species of pselaphine beetles. Species composition differed between primary and degraded forests. Canopy cover, soil moisture, and leaf litter mass positively correlated with beetle species richness and abundance. Leaf litter mass and soil moisture were the two most important factors affecting the diversity of pselaphine beetle assemblages. Among the 114 morphospecies collected, 43 morphospecies were specific to two or three habitats and 64 morphospecies were found only in a single habitat. Thus pselaphine beetles appear to have rather narrow habitat requirements and their presence/absence was correlated with environmental differences. These traits make pselaphine beetles a suitable bioindicator taxon for assessing forest litter diversity and monitoring habitat change.     

Saproxylic beetle assemblages related to silvicultural management intensity and stand structures in a beech forest in Southern Germany

Compared to agricultural land and spruce plantations, central European beech-oak forests are often relatively close to natural conditions. However, forest management may alter these conditions. In Steigerwald, southern Germany, a large beech-dominated forest area, three management intensities were applied during the past 30–70 years. Here, we examined the influence of management intensity on saproxylic beetles in >100-year old mature stands at 69 sampling plots in 2004. We sampled beetles using flight-window traps and time standard direct searches. The community structure based on presence/absence data changed remarkably along the gradient from unmanaged to low-intensity to high-intensity management, but these differences were not evident using abundance data from flight interception traps. Saproxylic species richness decreased in intensively managed forests. Elateridae and threatened species richness peaked in unmanaged forests and in forests under low-intensity management. Saproxylic species richness was dependent on certain micro-habitat factors. These factors were (1) the amount of dead wood for Elateridae, overall and threatened saproxylic beetle richness; (2) the amount of flowering plants for Cerambycidae; (3) the richness of wood-inhabiting fungi for Staphylinidae, Melandryidae and overall saproxylic beetle richness; and (4) the frequency of Fomes fomentarius for threatened species. Species richness was better explained by plot factors, such as dead wood or fungi, than by management intensity. These results suggest that the natural variation of dead wood niches (decay stages, snag sizes, tree cavities and wood-inhabiting fungi species) must be maintained to efficiently conserve the whole saproxylic beetle fauna of beech forests. Also, intensive management may alter the specialised saproxylic beetle community even if the initial tree-species composition is maintained, which was the case in our study. For monitoring the ecological sustainability of forest management we must focus on threatened species. If structures alone are sampled then the amount of dead wood is the best indicator for a rich saproxylic beetle fauna.     

Differences in ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of original and reconstructed tallgrass prairies in northeastern Iowa, USA, and impact of 3-year spring burn cycles

Ground beetle assemblages were monitored at four tallgrass prairie sites burned on 3-year cycles in northeastern Iowa. The objectives of this study were to quantify differences in carabid communities between original and reconstructed tallgrass prairies, and to determine the responses of ground beetles to 3-year cycles of early spring fire commonly used to manage tallgrass prairies. Using pitfall traps, ground beetle assemblages in two original and two reconstructed tallgrass prairies were compared between 1994 and 1998, where beetles were sampled annually (0-, 1-, and 2-year post-fire conditions) from plots burned every 3 years. When burned, the greatest abundance, activity density, and species richness of carabid beetles occurred the year immediately following a spring burn, with abundance declining steadily with increased time since burning. Overall ground beetle diversity as determined by Shannon's diversity index was greatest in original tallgrass prairies several years after a fire. Some species of ground beetles were found only in original prairies, while others were found primarily in reconstructed prairie. Similarly, some species were more abundant the year immediately following a burn, while others were found in greater abundance with increased time since fire. NMS ordination and indicator species analysis clearly show differences in carabid species between original and reconstructed tallgrass prairies, but did not show differences among burn treatments.