Binghamton Research Days Student Presentations
Beetle Communities in North American Eastern Deciduous Forests are Resilient to Historical Land Use Change, but Vary among Ecological Regions and Habitat Factors
Beetle Communities in North American Eastern Deciduous Forests are Resilient to Historical Land Use Change, but Vary among Ecological Regions and Habitat Factors
Allison Radin, Carmela Buono, Kirsten Prior
Allison Radin, Carmela Buono, Kirsten Prior
NSF REU, Scholars Program, First-Year Research Immersion (FRI)
NSF REU, Scholars Program, First-Year Research Immersion (FRI)
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Mentor: Kirsten Prior
Mentor: Kirsten Prior
Abstract
Abstract
The majority of forests in northeastern North America were historically cleared for agriculture and allowed to regenerate into secondary forests. How secondary forests differ from untouched remnant forests is an open question in global change and restoration ecology. Previous studies found that ground arthropod diversity is generally higher in remnant forests, likely due to differences in vegatative composition. Beetles (Coleoptera) are the largest insect Order, with great diversity in ecological niches and ecosystem functions. Previous studies found differences in beetle diversity between remnant and secondary forests, often with key indicator groups missing in secondary forests. Understanding beetle diversity differences between forests with different historical land use can help determine the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on this ecologically important group. This study investigated the differences in beetle (Coleoptera) diversity and community assemblage between remnant and secondary forests in northeastern North America. Beetles were collected in pitfall traps during the summers of 2018 and 2019. Pitfall traps (n = 30 per site) were placed out for 24 hours in 10 remnant and 10 secondary forests across three ecoregions. Beetles were identified to family using regional taxonomic keys and then sorted into morphospecies. Results indicate no difference in beetle community composition or diversity between remnant and secondary forests. However, we found significant differences among ecoregions, with the highest diversity in the more coastal region. Analysis of abundances of three major taxonomic families observed also found regional differences. Several habitat factors such as soil moisture, canopy cover, and herbaceous cover influenced beetle community composition.
The majority of forests in northeastern North America were historically cleared for agriculture and allowed to regenerate into secondary forests. How secondary forests differ from untouched remnant forests is an open question in global change and restoration ecology. Previous studies found that ground arthropod diversity is generally higher in remnant forests, likely due to differences in vegatative composition. Beetles (Coleoptera) are the largest insect Order, with great diversity in ecological niches and ecosystem functions. Previous studies found differences in beetle diversity between remnant and secondary forests, often with key indicator groups missing in secondary forests. Understanding beetle diversity differences between forests with different historical land use can help determine the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on this ecologically important group. This study investigated the differences in beetle (Coleoptera) diversity and community assemblage between remnant and secondary forests in northeastern North America. Beetles were collected in pitfall traps during the summers of 2018 and 2019. Pitfall traps (n = 30 per site) were placed out for 24 hours in 10 remnant and 10 secondary forests across three ecoregions. Beetles were identified to family using regional taxonomic keys and then sorted into morphospecies. Results indicate no difference in beetle community composition or diversity between remnant and secondary forests. However, we found significant differences among ecoregions, with the highest diversity in the more coastal region. Analysis of abundances of three major taxonomic families observed also found regional differences. Several habitat factors such as soil moisture, canopy cover, and herbaceous cover influenced beetle community composition.