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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank K. Ryan, C. Sharkey, B. Kuttner, M. Burrell, C. Darling, P. de Groot, N. Islam, H. Goulet, D. Swinson, D. Kearns, D. Maguire, and N. Revinskaya for their assistance. Funding was provided by the Forestry Futures Trust, Tembec, Inc., Lake Abitibi Model Forest, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the University of Toronto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B3, Canada

    Erica P. Barkley, Jay R. Malcolm & Sandy M. Smith

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. Isabel Bellocq

Authors
  1. Erica P. Barkley
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  2. Jay R. Malcolm
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  3. Sandy M. Smith
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  4. M. Isabel Bellocq
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Correspondence to Sandy M. Smith.

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Project Funding funding was provided by the Forestry Futures Trust, Tembec, Inc., Lake Abitibi Model Forest, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the University of Toronto.

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding Editor: Chai Ruihai

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Barkley, E.P., Malcolm, J.R., Smith, S.M. et al. Does variable stand structure associated with multi-cohort forests support diversity of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) communities in the central Nearctic boreal forest?. J. For. Res. 27, 1191–1202 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0252-z

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