Abstract
Ground-dwelling invertebrates were sampled by pitfall traps over a 14 week period in parent eucalypt forest and three stages of exotic Pinus radiata plantations established after forest clearance in central Victoria. The four treatments each yielded numerous beetle morphospecies, and the assemblages corresponded only partially with the understorey vegetation. More than 200 beetle morphospecies were captured during this short survey, with 30 found in all four treatments; few morphospecies were abundant (only five with >100 individuals in a total of 3382 beetles). Each treatment had unique morphospecies, but all were rich, with the lowest diversity being 91 morphospecies (young pines). These data confirm that beetle diversity can remain substantial in exotic softwood plantations, but considerable care is needed to interpret this apparent diversity in relation to forest management and the effect of replacement of native forests by exotic taxa.
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Gunther, M.J., New, T. Exotic Pine Plantations in Victoria, Australia: A Threat to Epigaeic Beetle (Coleoptera) Assemblages?. Journal of Insect Conservation 7, 73–84 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025594022759
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025594022759