Effects of crop rotation and genetically modified herbicide-tolerant corn on ground beetle diversity, community structure, and activity density

2010 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bourassa ◽  
H.A. Cárcamo ◽  
J.R. Spence ◽  
R.E. Blackshaw ◽  
K. Floate
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Herbicide Tolerant ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius ◽  
Structure And Activity

AbstractGround beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were sampled in conventional and genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) corn, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), planted under rotation with canola, Brassica L. (Brassicaceae), or continuously cropped corn to investigate the influence of corn variety and rotation on the structure of carabid assemblages. Corn variety, cultivation regime, and their interaction all influenced overall carabid activity density. Weed management associated with corn variety influenced the activity density of a few carabid species and this was attributed to changes in vegetation. Some smaller bodied carabids such as Bembidion quadrimaculatum L. were less abundant in GMHT plots, probably because weed density was higher in midseason, but the opposite was observed for larger bodied carabids such as Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger). Overall, rotating corn with canola had a stronger effect on carabid community structure than did corn variety. We suggest that GMHT corn has little impact on the overall carabid fauna but may influence the activity of certain species through effects on the weed community.

scholarly journals Ground beetles (Carabidae) of field margin habitats

Biologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 1631-1641
Author(s):  
Janina Bennewicz ◽  
Tadeusz Barczak
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Field Margin ◽  
Poecilus Cupreus ◽  
The Status ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Anchomenus Dorsalis ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the role of field margin habitats in preserving the diversity and abundance of ground beetle assemblages, including potentially entomophagous species and those with conservation status in Poland. Research material was collected in 2006–2007 in four types of margin habitats – a forest, bushes, ditches and in two arable fields. Insects were captured into pitfalls, without preservation liquid or bait added to the traps. Traps were inspected twice a week, between May and August, and one sample was a weekly capture. In field margin habitats the most abundant species were Limodromus assimilis, Anchomenus dorsalis, Pterostichus melanarius and Carabus auratus. A lower abundance of species was noted on fields, with dominant Poecilus cupreus and P. melanarius. The group of zoophagous carabids found in our study includes 30 species from field margin habitats, i.e. 37.5% of all captured Carabidae taxa and 58.3% of all specimens. The share of aphidophagous species was 84.9% among bushes, 86.7% near ditches, and 88.0% in the forest habitat. Several species captured during the study are under protection in Poland. These include the partly protected Carabus convexus, which also has the status of near threatened species, the partly protected Calosoma auropunctatum, and Broscus cephalotes. Considering all the investigated field margin habitats, ground beetles were most numerous in the oak-hornbeam habitat, defined as bushes, formed predominantly by Prunus spinosa, Crataegus leavigata, Sambucus nigra and Rosa canina. Thus, this habitat was the most important reservoir/refugium for the ground beetles.

scholarly journals Long-term data reveal unimodal responses of ground beetle abundance to precipitation and land use but no changes in taxonomic and functional diversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Zajicek ◽  
Ellen A. R. Welti ◽  
Nathan J. Baker ◽  
Kathrin Januschke ◽  
Oliver Brauner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Activity Density

AbstractWhile much of global biodiversity is undoubtedly under threat, the responses of ecological communities to changing climate, land use intensification, and long-term changes in both taxonomic and functional diversity over time, has still not been fully explored for many taxonomic groups, especially invertebrates. We compiled time series of ground beetles covering the past two decades from 40 sites located in five regions across Germany. We calculated site-based trends for 21 community metrics representing taxonomic and functional diversity of ground beetles, activity density (a proxy for abundance), and activity densities of functional groups. We assessed both overall and regional temporal trends and the influence of the global change drivers of temperature, precipitation, and land use on ground beetle communities. While we did not detect overall temporal changes in ground beetle taxonomic and functional diversity, taxonomic turnover changed within two regions, illustrating that community change at the local scale does not always correspond to patterns at broader spatial scales. Additionally, ground beetle activity density had a unimodal response to both annual precipitation and land use. Limited temporal change in ground beetle communities may indicate a shifting baseline, where community degradation was reached prior to the start of our observation in 1999. In addition, nonlinear responses of animal communities to environmental change present a challenge when quantifying temporal trends.

GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) AS PREDATORS OF THE CODLING MOTH, CYDIA POMONELLA (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (10) ◽  
pp. 917-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmer A.C. Hagley ◽  
W.R. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Cydia Pomonella ◽  
Codling Moth ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius ◽  
Amara Aenea

AbstractPterostichus melanarius Ill. was the predominant ground beetle recovered in pitfall traps in three blocks of apple trees at Jordan Station, Ont. In one block, C, the number of mature fifth-instar larvae of Cydia pomonella (L.) seeking overwintering sites was related significantly (r2 = 0.5476, P < 0.05) to the number of P. melanarius caught, but was not related significantly (r2 = 0.1181, P > 0.10) to the proportion of beetles that were serologically positive. The proportion of larvae pupating also was not related significantly (r2 = 0.2014, P > 0.10) to the number of P. melanarius. The total number of all predators caught was related significantly (r2 = 0.4490, P < 0.05) to the number of larvae present, but the proportion of larvae that pupated was not related significantly (r2 = 0.3606, P > 0.05) to the total number of predators.In block A, in 1983–1985, the number of mature larvae of C. pomonella seeking overwintering sites was not related significantly (r2 = 0.3763, 0.3619, and 0.5042, P > 0.05, respectively) to the number of P. melanarius taken in pitfall traps. In both blocks A and B, the number of serologically positive beetles was not related significantly (r2 = 0.3824 and 0.7921, P > 0.10, respectively) to the number of larvae seeking overwintering sites.Amara aenea DeG., Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis F., Bembidion quadrimaculatum oppositum Say, Clivinia impressifrons LeC., Diplochaeila impressicolis (Dej.), Harpalus aeneus F., and Pterostichus chalcites Say also gave positive serological reactions to the antiserum against C. pomonella.The occurrence of other species of Lepidoptera did not affect significantly the results obtained for C. pomonella.

Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Diversity, Activity Density, and Community Structure in a Diversified Agroecosystem

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Hummel ◽  
L. M. Dosdall ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
J. T. O'Donovan
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Activity Density

scholarly journals Invertebrate responses to the management of genetically modified herbicide–tolerant and conventional spring crops. II. Within-field epigeal and aerial arthropods

2003 ◽  
Vol 358 (1439) ◽  
pp. 1863-1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
A. J. Haughton ◽  
G. T. Champion ◽  
C. Hawes ◽  
M. S. Heard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oilseed Rape ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Foraging Preferences ◽  
Crop Type ◽  
Herbicide Tolerant ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Herbicide Management

The effects of the management of genetically modified herbicide–tolerant (GMHT) crops on the abundances of aerial and epigeal arthropods were assessed in 66 beet, 68 maize and 67 spring oilseed rape sites as part of the Farm Scale Evaluations of GMHT crops. Most higher taxa were insensitive to differences between GMHT and conventional weed management, but significant effects were found on the abundance of at least one group within each taxon studied. Numbers of butterflies in beet and spring oilseed rape and of Heteroptera and bees in beet were smaller under the relevant GMHT crop management, whereas the abundance of Collembola was consistently greater in all GMHT crops. Generally, these effects were specific to each crop type, reflected the phenology and ecology of the arthropod taxa, were indirect and related to herbicide management. These results apply generally to agriculture across Britain, and could be used in mathematical models to predict the possible long–term effects of the widespread adoption of GMHT technology. The results for bees and butterflies relate to foraging preferences and might or might not translate into effects on population densities, depending on whether adoption leads to forage reductions over large areas. These species, and the detritivore Collembola, may be useful indicator species for future studies of GMHT management.

Predatory behavior of two species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) towards juvenile salamanders (Plethodon vehiculum)

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ovaska ◽  
M. A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Antipredator Behavior ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Predatory Behavior ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius

Carabid beetles are suspected to prey on terrestrial salamanders, but no records of this exist. We examined the behavior of two species of ground beetle (Scaphinotus angusticollis and Pterostichus melanarius) towards juvenile western red-backed salamanders (Plethodon vehiculum) in staged laboratory encounters. We predicted that the beetles would show more aggression towards small (snout–vent length (SVL) ≤30 mm) than large (30 < SVL ≤ 40 mm) juvenile salamanders, as small individuals frequently had missing tails (indicating predation) in the field. Our additional objective was to examine antipredator behavior of P. vehiculum. Scaphinotus angusticollis approached, bit, and climbed on the salamanders more frequently than P. melanarius did, but neither beetle behaved differently towards small and large salamanders. Small juveniles jerked away more frequently than larger individuals when bitten by P. melanarius and when climbed on by S. angusticollis, but otherwise the behavior of salamanders of the two size classes did not differ. After overnight encounters, the injuries on the salamanders included missing toes and tail tips and skin lacerations. Scaphinotus angusticollis consumed an additional six P. vehiculum, and P. melanarius consumed three. The damage was unrelated to the size (SVL) of the salamanders, but all individuals consumed were among the smallest we tested. We suggest that in terms of both its morphology and its behavior, S. angusticollis is better suited than P. melanarius to prey on P. vehiculum, and probably preys on hatchlings in the wild.

scholarly journals Weed community structure and soybean yields in a long-term organic cropping systems experiment

Weed Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 673-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret G. Ball ◽  
Brian A. Caldwell ◽  
Antonio DiTommaso ◽  
Laurie E. Drinkwater ◽  
Charles L. Mohler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Weed Species Richness

AbstractWeed management is a major challenge in organic crop production, and organic farms generally harbor larger weed populations and more diverse communities compared with conventional farms. However, little research has been conducted on the effects of different organic management practices on weed communities and crop yields. In 2014 and 2015, we measured weed community structure and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield in a long-term experiment that compared four organic cropping systems that differed in nutrient inputs, tillage, and weed management intensity: (1) high fertility (HF), (2) low fertility (LF), (3) enhanced weed management (EWM), and (4) reduced tillage (RT). In addition, we created weed-free subplots within each system to assess the impact of weeds on soybean yield. Weed density was greater in the LF and RT systems compared with the EWM system, but weed biomass did not differ among systems. Weed species richness was greater in the RT system compared with the EWM system, and weed community composition differed between RT and other systems. Our results show that differences in weed community structure were primarily related to differences in tillage intensity, rather than nutrient inputs. Soybean yield was lower in the EWM system compared with the HF and RT systems. When averaged across all four cropping systems and both years, soybean yield in weed-free subplots was 10% greater than soybean yield in the ambient weed subplots that received standard management practices for the systems in which they were located. Although weed competition limited soybean yield across all systems, the EWM system, which had the lowest weed density, also had the lowest soybean yield. Future research should aim to overcome such trade-offs between weed control and yield potential, while conserving weed species richness and the ecosystem services associated with increased weed diversity.

Long-termed changes in ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages in a field treated by organic fertilizers

Biologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Porhajašová ◽  
Vladimír Petřvalský ◽  
Zbyšek Šustek ◽  
Jana Urminská ◽  
Peter Ondrišík ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spring Barley ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Poecilus Cupreus ◽  
Local Maxima ◽  
Starting Values ◽  
Anchomenus Dorsalis ◽  
Stable Manure ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius

AbstractIn 2001–2006, ground beetles were pitfall-trapped in a temperate lowland area of South Slovakia in an experimental field divided in five plots fertilized by four different doses of manure or biosludge (25 t stable manure ha−1, 50 t biosludge ha−1, 50 t stable manure ha−1, 100 t biosludge ha−1 and without fertilization). The field was subsequently sown by spring barley, sugar beat, maize, sunflower, sugar beat and maize. The ground beetle assemblage consisted of 31 species, but only five species predominated: Pseudoophonus rufipes representing 82.6% of individuals and five species (Poecilus cupreus, Carabus scheidleri, Calathus fuscipes, Trechus quadristriatus, Pterostichus melanarius, Anchomenus dorsalis, Dolichus halensis) representing together 14.5% of individuals. Pseudophonus rufipes represented 81.7% of dry biomass and three species (Carabus scheidleri, Poecilus cupreus Pterostichus melanarius) 15.9% of biomass. There was no significant influence of organic fertilizing on assemblage structure. During the investigation, the number of individuals and their biomass increased in all plots until 2003 and than dropped to the starting values. The culmination of 2003 was preceded by a warmer and more humid season in 2002. After a cold and dry season of 2003 abundance decreased approximately to starting values. Simultaneously, the local maxima and minima of occurrence of ground beetles in individual plots shifted independently on the doses of organic material. At the same time, number of occurring species slightly decreased. The observed changes obviously represent part of long-termed fluctuations in wider surroundings.

FARMING AND GROUND BEETLES: EFFECTS OF AGRONOMIC PRACTICE ON POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

1995 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor A. Cárcamo ◽  
Jari K. Niemalä ◽  
John R. Spence
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Crop Type ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius ◽  
Field Plots

AbstractWe studied the effects of agricultural practice on ground beetles, using pitfall traps in field plots and in an uncultivated meadow near Edmonton, Alberta. Ground beetle abundance and species richness were higher in plots operated under an organic farming regime than in those under a chemical regime, but neither crop type [barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), barley-pea (Pisum sativum L.) intercrop] nor crop rotation had an effect. Reduced tillage did not significantly change overall carabid activity or species richness but species differed in their response to tillage treatments. The carabid assemblage from an uncultivated field differed conspicuously from assemblages in the crops and fescue. Carabid abundance was highest in the meadow and the fauna was dominated by the exotic species Pterostichus melanarius Illiger. Effects of agronomic practice on carabid assemblages are complex, reflecting the interaction of biological traits of particular species and the combination of agronomic treatments applied.

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