Abstract
Abstract - Insects are useful indicators of change within ecosystems because of their abundance, richness and functional importance. Stand management practices impact the insect community within a forest. Therefore, the objective of the project is to determine the impact of various stand management practices on the diversity of beetles within selected treatments. Four harvesting treatments and uncut controls were examined. The lowest number of beetle families captured was in the control plots. Diversity within individual families can also vary based upon management practices. For example, the same 6 species of Silphidae were captured in 4 of the 5 treatments but fewer individuals were captured in the control plots compared with the treatments. Similarly, the lowest number of Scarabaeidae captured (species and individuals) was in the uncut control plots. Therefore, disturbing stands through tree harvesting increased the overall diversity of beetle families as well as diversity within select families.
Parent Publication
Citation
Cook, Stephen P. 2004. Impact of Stand Management Practices on Beetle Diversity. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-74. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 83-88