Effects of shrub presence and shrub species on ground beetle assemblages (Carabidae,Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae) in a sandy desert,northwestern China

Shrub presence has an important effect on the structuring of ground beetles in desert ecosystems. In this study, in order to determine how shrubs and different species influence ground beetle assemblages in a sandy desert scrubland dominated by two different shrub species, namely Calligonum mongolicum and Nitraria sphaerocarpa, we sampled the ground beetles using pitfall traps during spring, summer and autumn in 2012. At the community level, the activity density of the ground beetles was shown to be significantly higher under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats in spring; but an opposite pattern occurred in autumn, suggesting the presence of sea- son-specific shrub effects on the activity density of the ground beetles. Meanwhile, at the trophic group level, the activity density and species richness of predators were significantly greater under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats in spring, whereas an opposite trend occurred on the activity density in autumn. N. sphaerocarpa shrubs had a positive effect on the activity density of herbivores in the three seasons, and C. mongolicum shrubs had a positive effect on the activity density of detritivores in spring and autumn. At the species level, more Microdera sp. was captured under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats in spring. During the same time, we also found that C. mongolicum shrubs had a positive effect on Blaps gobiensis in spring, Carabus sp. in autumn, and Tentyria sp. in spring and autumn, and N. sphaerocarpa shrubs had a positive effect on Cyphogenia chinensis, Sternoplax setosa in spring and summer, and Curculionidae sp. 1 in summer and autumn. The study results suggest that shrub presence, shrub species and season variation are important factors for ground beetle assemblages in this desert ecosystem, but the responses of beetles differed among trophic and taxonomic levels.

Does variable stand structure associated with multi-cohort forests support diversity of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) communities in the central Nearctic boreal forest？

Multi-cohort management （MCM） that retains a range of stand structures （age and size class） has been proposed to emulate natural disturbance and improve management in the Nearctic boreal forest. Although MCM forests contain both single- and multi-aged stands of mixed tree sizes, little is known about how variable stand structure affects associated fauna and biodiversity. Here, we examine the relationship between ground beetle （Coleoptera, Carabidae） communities and stand characteristics across a range of forest structure （=cohort classes）. Given that MCM classes are defined by the distribution of their tree-stem diameters, we ask whether parameters associated with these distributions （Weibull） could explain observed variation in carabid communities, and if so, how this compares to traditional habitat variables such as stand age, foliage complexity or volume of downed woody debris. We sampled carabids using weekly pitfall collections and compared these with structural habitat variables across a range of cohort classes （stand structure and age since disturbance） in 18 sites of upland mixed boreal forests from central Canada. Results showed that richness and diversity of carabid communities were similar among cohort classes. Weibull parameters from the diameter distribution of all stems were the strongest predictors of variation in carabid communities among sites, but vertical foliage complexity, understory thickness, and percentage of deciduous composition were also significant. The abundance of several carabid forest specialists was strongly correlated with tree canopy height, the presence of large trees, and high vertical foliage complexity. Our results demonstrate that variable forest structure, as expected under MCM, may be useful in retaining the natural range of ground beetle species across the central Nearctic boreal forest.

Response of ground beetles(Coleoptera:Carabidae)to forest gaps formed by a typhoon in a red pine forest at Gwangneung Forest,Republic of Korea

In Korea, damaging typhoons related to climate change have increased steadily since the 1990s. Red pine （Pinus densiflora） forests in Gwangneung Forest were greatly disturbed by typhoon Kompasu in 2010. A survey was carried out to clarify differences in ground beetle （Coleoptera： Carabidae） communities between forest gaps and undamaged forests. Ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps from early May to late October 2011. Vegetation changes, litter layer, organic matter layer, and soil conditions were also measured. A total of 1035 ground beetles of 32 species were collected. Contrary to our expectation, species richness, abundance, and community structure of the ground beetles in forest gaps were similar to those in undamaged forests. Species richness and abundance of habitat type were also similar. However, species diversity and estimated species richness in forest gaps were significantly higher than in undamaged forests. These findings suggest that forest gaps formed by a typhoon did not lead to great change in ground beetle communities.

Creek Proximity and Flora Effects on Arthropod Populations in Riparian Buffers in Washington State, USA

Due to federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to clean water and salmon recovery, stream health and water quality are major concerns in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. An integral component of most riparian rehabilitation efforts is the effective establishment of preferred vegetation. We conducted arthropod surveys in representative disturbed and rehabilitated riparian buffers directly adjacent to apple orchards and grape vineyards in the Lower Yakima Valley near Prosser, Benton County, Washington State USA. Objectives of the study were to determine whether densities of select predatory and pest taxa changed with distance from the waterway and to test whether densities differed among disturbed, rehabilitated, or pristine riparian buffers. The studies suggest that populations of some beneficial arthropods, including spiders and ground beetles, were higher in the presence of exotic flowering plant species. In the riparian environments surveyed, more native woody plant species were found adjacent to the waterway, and this apparent stability appears to have had a positive effect on beneficial arthropods. Concurrently, data indicated that some exotic, flowering species of plants may be preferred over native plant species as hosts to certain arthropod pests. These plants tend to persist in degraded riparian buffers and at the interface of riparian habitats and cultivated areas, whereas native plant species are predominant in pristine or properly maintained and rehabilitated buffers.

Impact of environmental factors on the body shape variation and sexual shape dimorphism in Carabus granulatus L.(Coleoptera:Carabidae)

Despite plenty of data in insects shape variation, papers on environmental factors effect on such variation are scarce and in ground beetles are practically absent. The aim of this research was to： （i） model the effect of the region of habitation, urbanization and habitat vegetation into the shape variation in widespread carabid species; （ii） describe sexual shape dimorphism in studied species. Samples were pitfall trapped in different regions of its area in the spectrum of anthropogenic influence （cities, suburbs, natural biotopes）. One thousand and one hundred sixty-eight specimens were analyzed for six morphometric traits and terminal points of those measurements were used as landmarks for Procrustes analysis. We used linear models to reveal which factor （region, urbanization or vegetation） and in what direction affected beetles shape. Results showed that males in C. granulatus had more convex elytra and head, and the more convex in apical-basal direction pronotum. In its area from the east to the west elytra flattened in medial-distal direction and pronotum flattened in apical-distal direction. In disturbed urban environment beetles pronotum became more convex in both sexes and males elytra became more convex too. In open habitats （meadows, lawns） beetles became more flattened.