Diversity and composition of arboreal beetle assemblages in tropical pasture afforestations: Effects of planting schemes and tree species identity
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In: Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol. 21, No. 13, 12.2012, p. 3423-3444.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Diversity and composition of arboreal beetle assemblages in tropical pasture afforestations
T2 - Effects of planting schemes and tree species identity
AU - Plath, Mirco
AU - Dorn, Silvia
AU - Barrios, Hector
AU - Mody, Karsten
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Timber tree plantations are considered for rehabilitating forest biodiversity in the tropics, but knowledge on determinants of faunal diversity patterns in such human-modified forest landscapes is scarce. We quantified the composition of beetle assemblages on three native timber species (Anacardium excelsum, Cedrela odorata and Tabebuia rosea) planted on former pasture to assess effects of tree species identity, tree species diversity, and insecticide treatment on a speciose group of animals in tropical plantations. The beetle assemblage parameters 'abundance', 'species richness', 'Chao1 estimated species richness' and 'Shannon diversity' were significantly reduced by insecticide treatment for each tree species. Shannon diversity increased with stand diversification for T. rosea but not for A. excelsum and C. odorata. Species similarity was highest (lowest species turnover) between beetle assemblages on T. rosea, and it was lowest (highest species turnover) for assemblages on insecticide-treated trees of all timber species. Considering trophic guilds, herbivorous beetles dominated on all tree species and in all planting schemes. Herbivores were significantly more dominant on T. rosea and C. odorata than on A. excelsum, suggesting that tree species identity affects beetle guild structure on plantation trees. Insecticide-treated stands harbored less herbivores than untreated stands, but exhibited a high abundance of predator beetle species. Our study revealed that even young pasture-afforestations can host diverse beetle assemblages and thus contribute to biodiversity conservation in the tropics. The magnitude of this contribution, however, may strongly depend on management measures and on the selected tree species.
AB - Timber tree plantations are considered for rehabilitating forest biodiversity in the tropics, but knowledge on determinants of faunal diversity patterns in such human-modified forest landscapes is scarce. We quantified the composition of beetle assemblages on three native timber species (Anacardium excelsum, Cedrela odorata and Tabebuia rosea) planted on former pasture to assess effects of tree species identity, tree species diversity, and insecticide treatment on a speciose group of animals in tropical plantations. The beetle assemblage parameters 'abundance', 'species richness', 'Chao1 estimated species richness' and 'Shannon diversity' were significantly reduced by insecticide treatment for each tree species. Shannon diversity increased with stand diversification for T. rosea but not for A. excelsum and C. odorata. Species similarity was highest (lowest species turnover) between beetle assemblages on T. rosea, and it was lowest (highest species turnover) for assemblages on insecticide-treated trees of all timber species. Considering trophic guilds, herbivorous beetles dominated on all tree species and in all planting schemes. Herbivores were significantly more dominant on T. rosea and C. odorata than on A. excelsum, suggesting that tree species identity affects beetle guild structure on plantation trees. Insecticide-treated stands harbored less herbivores than untreated stands, but exhibited a high abundance of predator beetle species. Our study revealed that even young pasture-afforestations can host diverse beetle assemblages and thus contribute to biodiversity conservation in the tropics. The magnitude of this contribution, however, may strongly depend on management measures and on the selected tree species.
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - Canopy arthropods
KW - Community structure
KW - Habitat heterogeneity
KW - Insect diversity
KW - Reforestation
KW - Tourist species
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84868520777&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10531-012-0372-5
DO - 10.1007/s10531-012-0372-5
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:84868520777
VL - 21
SP - 3423
EP - 3444
JO - Biodiversity and Conservation
JF - Biodiversity and Conservation
SN - 0960-3115
IS - 13
ER -