Species Richness and Community Composition of Ants and Beetles in Bt and non-Bt Maize Fields

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1095-1103
Author(s):  
Marcos Gino Fernandes ◽  
Eduardo Neves Costa ◽  
Carla Cristina Dutra ◽  
Josué Raizer
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Bt Maize ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Nontarget Organisms ◽  
Gm Plants ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Impact On Biodiversity

AbstractInsect-resistant genetically modified (GM) plants have been cultivated in several countries on a large scale. These plants express the Cry toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) (Bt), which confers target-pest resistance to plants. Studies on the effects of GM plants on nontarget organisms are important to assess the technology’s impact on biodiversity. The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the species richness and composition of ants and ground beetles in Bt maize (four different toxins: Cry1Ab, Cry1F, and Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2) and conventional isoline (non-Bt) fields, in the first (summer) and second (winter) cropping seasons in 13 localities of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, over a 2-yr period (2009–2011). The assessment of Coleoptera and Formicidae species was performed using pitfall traps placed in fields throughout the period of vegetative growth and maturation of plants. Data were analyzed using faunistic indices of species richness, ordination by nonmetric multidimensional scaling, and multivariate analysis of variance. No statistically significant difference was found in the species richness of ant and ground beetle communities when comparing sites of Bt with those of non-Bt maize. Overall, Bt technology did not affect the composition of ant and ground beetles; however, municipality and cropping season exerted influence on the beetle composition. Some species were only observed in the first crop, whereas others were only observed in the second crop. This research suggests that Bt maize does not affect ant and ground beetle populations differently from its isoline.

scholarly journals Features of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) assemblages in areas of meadow biocenosis with and without Sosnovsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi)

2020 ◽  
pp. 75-83
Author(s):  
Elena S. Pliskevich
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Heracleum Sosnowskyi ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Biodiversity Index ◽  
Meadow Species ◽  
Pterostichus Oblongopunctatus

As a result of a study conducted in 2018, 41 species of ground beetles from 23 genera were identified in the Ushachsky District of the Vitebsk Region (Belarusian Lakeland) as a part of ground beetle assemblages of meadow biocenosis with clogging by the invasive Sosnovsky’s hogweed, whereas without clogging with hogweed 38 species from 21 genera were identified. Species Notiophilus biguttatus (Fabricius, 1779), Dyschiriodes globosus (Herbst, 1784), Bembidion quadrimaculatum (Linnaeus, 1761), Pterostichus oblongopunctatus (Fabricius, 1787), P. minor (Gyllenhal, 1827), P. nigrita (Paykull, 1790), Platynus assimilis (Paykull, 1790), P. krynickii (Sperk, 1835), Bradycellus caucasicus (Chaudoir, 1846), Ophonus laticollis (Mannerheim, 1825), Harpalus latus (Linnaeus, 1758), H. progrediens (Schauberger, 1922), Badister bullatus (Schrank, 1798) were recorded only in the biocenosis with clogging with hogweed. The species richness and the value of the biodiversity index of the ground beetle assemblages of the meadow biocenosis with clogging with hogweed were higher than these parameters of the ground beetle assemblages of the meadow biocenosis without hogweed. In the conditions of invasive hogweed thickets stratobionts boreholes dominated in the ground beetle assemblages (relative abundance 28.57 %), the participation of eurytopic (6 species, 20.37 %) and forest species (7 species, 12.01 %) was high, with a decrease in the share of participation meadow species (3 species, 1.37 %). For the biocenosis littered with hogweed, a high proportion of mesophiles (19 species, 52.44 %) was observed, against the background of a low proportion of mesogyrophils (9 species, 37.69 %).

scholarly journals Is the human population a large-scale indicator of the species richness of ground beetles?

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 432-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Barbosa ◽  
D. Fontaneto ◽  
L. Marini ◽  
M. Pautasso
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ground Beetles

scholarly journals Frugivorous butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) as a habitat quality indicator in Cerrado urban fragment

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. e904
Author(s):  
Ieza Aparecida Teles Porath ◽  
Rodrigo Aranda
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
Environmental Indicator ◽  
Efficient Tool ◽  
Cost Study ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Significant Difference

The environmental monitoring programs used to assess the quality of the habitats are often common to insects, mainly as frugivorous butterflies, as easily accessible biological indicators. These have ample availability of information, an easy to perform and low cost study method, in addition to responding easily to environmental changes, making it an efficient tool in environmental diagnosis. The way or objective of this work was to inventory as frugivorous butterflies in two different points, edge and center of an urban fragment belonging to the Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, state of Mato Grosso, using as an environmental indicator. As a hypothesis, it was believed to detect differences in species richness, the amount of composition and composition between two areas. A sampling was carried out between the months of February and May 2019, using 10 Van Someren-Rydon weapons, of which six were distributed at the edges and four in the center (interior) of the fragment. Take place as trapped collections once a week lasting three days at each event. 105 individuals belonging to nine species of Nymphalidae were captured, respectively, as subfamilies: Biblidinae (71), Satyrinae (31) and Charaxinae (03). There was no significant difference between species richness, quantity and composition in the edge area and in the center of the fragment.

scholarly journals Grazing impacts on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) abundance and diversity on a semi-natural grassland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabor Pozsgai ◽  
Luis Quinzo-Ortega ◽  
Nick A. Littlewood
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Grazing Impacts ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
The Status ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Natural Grassland

AbstractSemi-natural grasslands are commonly managed as a grazing resource for domestic livestock but, due to their unique biodiversity, they are also of conservation interest. Numerous drivers have impacted on the status of these grasslands in recent decades, most importantly changing grazing management strategies. These changes have the potential to affect the biodiversity associated with these habitats, including on some rich invertebrate assemblages. Responses, however, are often dissimilar between different invertebrate taxa.We investigated the responses of ground beetles to different grazing regimes within a long-term grazing experiment on upland semi-natural grassland in Scotland. Although there was substantial overlap between ground beetle assemblages in different grazing treatments, species richness, mean abundance and Shannon diversity of ground beetles were significantly lower in ungrazed plots than in plots subject to high- or low-intensity sheep grazing. Ground beetle abundance (but not species richness or diversity) were lower in ungrazed plots compared to those with low-intensity mixed grazing by sheep and cattle. However, no differences were identified in abundance, species richness or diversity between the three grazed treatments.Our results suggest that ground beetles may show different responses to grazing compared to responses of some other invertebrate groups and demonstrates the difficulty of carrying out management for a multi-taxon benefit.

Principal determinants of species and functional diversity of carabid beetle assemblages during succession at post-industrial sites

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sipos ◽  
J. Hodecek ◽  
T. Kuras ◽  
A. Dolny
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Restoration Ecology ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Post Industrial

AbstractAlthough ecological succession is one of the principal focuses of recent restoration ecology research, it is still unclear which factors drive this process and positively influence species richness and functional diversity. In this study we sought to elucidate how species traits and functional diversity change during forest succession, and to identify important factors that determine the species in the observed assemblages. We analyzed species richness and functional diversity of ground beetle assemblages in relation to succession on post-industrial localities after habitat deterioration caused by spoil deposition. We selected ground beetles as they are known to be sensitive to landscape changes (with a large range of responses), and their taxonomy and ecology are generally well-known. Ground beetles were sampled on the spoil heaps during the last 30 years when spontaneous succession occurred. To calculate functional diversity, we used traits related to habitat and trophic niche, i.e. food specialization, wing morphology, trophic level, and bio-indication value. Ground beetle species were found to be distributed non-randomly in the assemblages in the late phase of succession. Ordination analyses revealed that the ground beetle assemblage was significantly associated with the proportion of forested area. Environmental heterogeneity generated assemblages that contained over-dispersed species traits. Our findings indicated that environmental conditions at late successional stages supported less mobile carnivorous species. Overall, we conclude that the decline in species richness and functional diversity in the middle of the studied succession gradient indicated that the assemblages of open habitats had been replaced by species typical of forest ecosystems.

scholarly journals Wpływ zróżnicowania użytkowania krajobrazowego na cechy zgrupowań biegaczowatych (Coleoptera: Carabidae) obszarów rolnych = Effects of the diversity of landscape use on the characteristics of farmland ground-beetle assemblages

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-364
Author(s):  
Jerzy Solon ◽  
Edyta Regulska
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Lake District ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Small Fields

We studied the effects of landscape structure and agricultural land-use on ground beetles (Carabidae) in a temperate farmland mosaic and homogeneous landscape. The research was carried out at twelve research sites located in two regional units, i.e. (a) the northern part of mesoregion 842.72 West Lake District in the macroregion of the Lithuanian Lake District and (b) in the southern part of mesoregion 313.44 Damnicka Upland, within the macroregion of the Koszalin Coastland. By administrative division, these positions are respectively: in the gmina of Dubeninki, voivodeship of Warmian-Masury (Rogajny and Łoje), and in the gmina of Przerośl in Podlasie voivodeship (Rakówek) – hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Dubeninki area”; as well as in the gmina of Potęgowo in the Pomeranian Voivodship (villages of Wieliszewo, Malczkowo, Darżyno and Darżynko – hereinafter referred to as the “Potęgowo area”). Four of the research sites were located in fields of large area, and four in complexes of small fields subject to traditional cultivation. The faunistic data comes from 12 transects (6 for each regional unit and 3 for each field type – large-area fields and complexes of small fields) using standard trapping methods (Barber˙s traps). A set of landscape-structure indicators adapted to the local scale of the study was then applied. Results point to a relationship between the structure of the landscape, the expressed number of patches of plant communities, the diversity of vegetation in the surroundings and the presence of trees in the landscape, and species richness and diversity of ground beetles. Where agricultural areas nevertheless have a diversified landscape these are characterised by greater species richness of Carabidae than homogeneous areas. Furthermore, the shorter the distance to the nearest tree, the greater the species richness and diversity of Carabidae. However, soil type, as well as soil diversity, at a study site and its vicinity are not found to exert a direct impact on the species richness of Carabidae. Different soil types may be characterised by similar grain size, and thus similar humidity conditions and soil reaction, with these in turn determining other habitat conditions of importance to the studied taxon.

scholarly journals What shapes ground beetle assemblages in a tree species-rich subtropical forest?

ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1044 ◽  
pp. 907-927
Author(s):  
Pascale Zumstein ◽  
Helge Bruelheide ◽  
Andreas Fichtner ◽  
Andreas Schuldt ◽  
Michael Staab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Subtropical Forest ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Beetle Assemblages

As woody plants provide much of the trophic basis for food webs in forests their species richness, but also stand age and numerous further variables such as vegetation structure, soil properties and elevation can shape assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). However, the combined impact of these numerous variables on ground beetle diversity and community structure has rarely been studied simultaneously. Therefore, ground beetles were studied in 27 plots in a highly diverse and structurally heterogeneous subtropical forest ecosystem, the Gutianshan National Park (southeast China) using pitfall traps and flight interception traps. Both trapping methods collected partly overlapping species spectra. The arboreal fauna was dominated by lebiines and to a smaller extent by tiger beetles and platynines; the epigeic fauna comprised mostly representatives of the genus Carabus and numerous tribes, especially anisodactylines, pterostichines, and sphodrines. Ground beetle species richness, abundance, and biomass of the pitfall trap catches were analyzed with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), fitted with seven environmental variables. Four of these variables influenced the ground beetle assemblages: Canopy cover, herb cover, pH-value of the topsoil and elevation. Contrary to our expectations, woody plant species richness and stand age did not significantly affect ground beetle assemblages. Thus, ground beetles seem to respond differently to environmental variables than ants and spiders, two other predominantly predatory arthropod groups that were studied on the same plots in our study area and which showed distinct relationships with woody plant richness. Our results highlight the need to study a wider range of taxa to achieve a better understanding of how environmental changes affect species assemblages and their functioning in forest ecosystems.

scholarly journals Effect of plant protection on assemblages of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in beetroot crops in four-year rotation

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kosewska ◽  
Katarzyna Nijak ◽  
Mariusz Nietupski ◽  
Renata Kędzior
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Plant Protection Products ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Chemical Plant ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Ground beetles (Col., Carabidae) are common predators in agrocenoses. A number of plant pests occurring on arable fields become their feed. Therefore, they contribute to a natural reduction of the occurrence of pests. In addition, they are well-known bioindicators used, among others to determine the state of the habitats and the impact of human activity on entomofauna. In the fields, the use of chemical plant protection products is a very controversial activity. The aim of the study was to investigate assemblages of ground beetles occupying conventional and organic sugar beetroot crops. Therefore, to determine the impact of the application of pesticides on the assemblages of these useful beetles was made. The study was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Winna Góra near Środa Wielkopolska in Poland from May till September of 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. The experiment was carried out in the field with organic crop of sugar beet, and in the crop, for which an integrated plant protection programme was planned. The area of each field was 0.5 ha. Modified Barber traps were used to catch insects. On each of the selected fields 10 pitfalls were set up, which were emptied every 14 days. Within 4 years of the study a total of 11865 specimens belonging to 52 ground beetle species were recorded. 5582 specimens belonging to 50 species and 6283 specimens belonging to 46 species were caught in the fields under chemical protection and organic, respectively. On a multiannual scale, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of individuals and species of Carabidae on conventional and organic fields. Fluctuation in ground beetles abundance and species richness were observed dependent on the year of study but not of the treatment. Harpalus rufipes was the most represented species in all fields. The main conclusion is that using chemical plant protection on a multiannual scale does not adversely affect the number and species richness of ground beetles.

scholarly journals Global warning: challenges, threats and opportunities for ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in high altitude habitats

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (Suppl.) ◽  
pp. 5-20
Author(s):  
Mauro Gobbi
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Cold Adapted ◽  
Global Warning ◽  
Rock Glaciers

Aim of this paper is to provide the first comprehensive synthesis about ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) distribution in high altitude habitats. Specifically, the attention is focused on the species assemblages living on the most common ice-related mountain landforms (glaciers, debris-covered glaciers, glacier forelands and rock glaciers) and the challenges, threats and opportunities carabids living in these habitats have to face concerning the ongoing climate warming. The suggested role of the ice-related alpine landforms, as present climatic refugia for cold-adapted ground beetles, is discussed. Finally, the needs to develop a large-scale High-alpine Biodiversity Monitoring Program to describe how the current climate change is shaping the distribution of high altitude specialists is highlighted. 

scholarly journals Habitat heterogeneity supports epigeic arthropods after prescribed burning of dry grasslands

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
David D. Nagy ◽  
Orsolya Valkó ◽  
Tibor Magura ◽  
Balázs Deák ◽  
Roland Horváth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Rove Beetles ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
Rove Beetle ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dormant Season ◽  
And Control

Fire supports landscape openness; thus, prescribed burning could be an effective management in open landscapes. In this study we tested the response of arthropods (spider, ground beetle, rove beetle and woodlouse) to dormant-season prescribed burning in dry grassland patches. We hypothesized that the unburned patches support the arthropods recolonizing the burned patches; thus, fire causes no serious damage to the arthropod assemblages. Epigeic arthropods (spider, ground beetle, rove beetle and woodlouse) were collected by unbaited pitfall traps containing ethylene glycol as a killing-preserving solution. Altogether 60 traps worked in 3 burnt and 3 control plots (10 traps/plot). Traps were emptied monthly from May to October in the year after burning. Collected arthropods were identified at species level using standard keys. We found no significant difference between the burned and control plots for the abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity of spiders, ground beetles, rove beetles and woodlice. Differences in total abundance, species richness and diversity of arthropods were also not significant between the burned and control plots. Among from 12 most abundant species, ten species was not affected by burning, while the abundance of Titanoteca veteranica spider species increased and the abundance of Trochosa robusta spider species decreased in the burnt plots. Microcaves and other unburned microhabitats in and around the burned patches serve as refuge for epigeic arthropods supporting the fast recolonization after prescribed burning, although the abundance of some epigeic spider species (Titanoteca veteranica, Trochosa robusta) was affected by burning. Our findigs revealed that prescribed burning is a potentially promising conservation method. We also highlighted that preservation of unburned microhabitats and surroundings of the managed patches is essential during the prescribed burning.

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