Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The importance of forest type, tree species and wood posture to saproxylic wasp (Hymenoptera) communities in the southeastern United States

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Insect Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Although the forests of the southeastern United States are among the most productive and diverse in North America, information needed to develop conservation guidelines for the saproxylic (i.e., dependent on dead wood) fauna endemic to the region is lacking. Particularly little is known about the habitat associations and requirements of saproxylic parasitoids even though these organisms may be even more vulnerable than their hosts. We sampled parasitoids emerging from dead wood taken from two forest types (an upland pine-dominated forest and a lowland hardwood-dominated forest), three tree species (Liquidambar styraciflua L., Pinus taeda L., and Quercus nigra L.) and two wood postures (standing dead trees (i.e., snags) and fallen logs) in South Carolina. Parasitoid abundance did not differ between forest types or among tree species, but did differ between wood postures, being higher in snags than logs. This difference may have been due to the logs being in contact with the ground or surrounding vegetation and therefore less accessible to parasitoids. Parasitoid abundance and density decreased with height on both snags and logs. Species richness did not differ between forest types, among tree species or between wood postures. According to analysis of similarities, parasitoid communities did not differ between forest types, but did differ among tree species. The wasp communities associated with the different tree species and posture combinations were distinct. In addition, communities associated with the upper boles and crowns of snags were distinct from those occurring lower on snags. These results emphasize the importance of maintaining tree diversity in managed forests as well as retaining or creating entire snags at the time of harvest.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ball JC, Dahlsten DL (1973) Hymenopterous parasites of Ips paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) larvae and their contribution to mortality 1. Influence of host tree and tree diameter on parasitization. Can Entomol 105:1453–1464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berisford CW, Kulman HM, Pienkowski RL, Heikkenen HJ (1971) Factors affecting distribution and abundance of hymenopterous parasites of Ips spp. Bark beetles in Virginia (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Can Entomol 103:235–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlsten DL, Stephen FM (1974) Natural enemies and insect associates of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), in sugar pine. Can Entomol 106:1211–1217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLeon D (1935) The biology of Coeloides dendroctoni Cushman (Hymenoptera-Braconidae) an important parasite of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus monticolae Hopk.). Ann Entomol Soc Am 28:411–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Dufrêne M, Legendre P (1997) Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecol Monogr 67:345–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Franc N (2007) Standing or downed dead trees- does it matter for saproxylic beetles in temperate oak-rich forest? Can J Forest Res 37:2494–2507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaston KJ (1991) The magnitude of global insect species richness. Conserv Biol 5:283–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibb H, Hilszczański J, Hjältén J, Danell K, Ball JP, Pettersson RB, Alinvi O (2008) Responses of parasitoids to saproxylic hosts and habitat: a multi-scaled study using experimental logs. Oecologia 155:63–74

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson GAP (2009) Revision of New World Spalangiinae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Zootaxa 2259:1–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove SJ (2002) Saproxylic insect ecology and the sustainable management of forests. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 33:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haack RA, Wilkinson RC (1987) Phoresy by Dendrochernes Pseudoscorpions on Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) and Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) in Florida. Am Midl Nat 117:369–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer Ø, Harper DAT, Ryan PD (2001) PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica 4:9

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedgren PO (2007) Early arriving saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) and parasitoids (Hymenoptera) in low and high stumps of Norway spruce. Forest Ecol Manag 241:155–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedgren PO, Schroeder LM (2004) Reproductive success of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) and occurrence of associated species: a comparison between standing beetle-killed trees and cut trees. Forest Ecol Manag 203:241–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilszczański J, Gibb H, Hjältén J, Atlegrim O, Johansson T, Pettersson RB, Ball JP, Danell K (2005) Parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea) of saproxylic beetles are affected by forest successional stage and dead wood characteristics in boreal spruce forest. Biol Conserv 126:456–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Hansson J (2007) Comparison of methods for sampling saproxylic beetles in fine wood. Entomol Fennica 18:232–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Weslien J, Ehnström B (1998) Substrate requirements of red-listed saproxylic invertebrates in Sweden. Biodivers Conserv 7:749–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Nordlander G, Jonsson M (1999) Colonization patterns of insects breeding in wood-decaying fungi. J Insect Conserv 3:145–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Nittérus K, Stighäll K (2004) Saproxylic beetles in natural and man-made deciduous high stumps retained for conservation. Biol Conserv 118:163–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kappes H, Topp W (2004) Emergence of Coleoptera from deadwood in a managed broadleaved forest in central Europe. Biodivers Conserv 13:1905–1924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilgo JC, Blake JI (eds) (2005) Ecology and management of a forested landscape: fifty years on the Savannah River Site. Island Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruess A, Tscharntke T (1994) Habitat fragmentation, species loss, and biological control. Science 264:1581–1584

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LaSalle J (1993) Parasitic Hymenoptera, biological control and biodiversity. In: LaSalle J, Gauld ID (eds) Hymenoptera and biodiversity. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 197–215

    Google Scholar 

  • LaSalle J, Gauld ID (1991) Parasitic Hymenoptera and the biodiversity crisis. Redia 74:315–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh PM (1997) Subfamily doryctinae. In: Wharton RA, Marsh PM, Sharkey MJ (eds) Manual of the new world genera of the family braconidae (Hymenoptera). Special Publication of the International Society of Hymenopterists, Washington, pp 206–233

    Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Grace JB (2002) Analysis of ecological communities. MJM Software Design, Gleneden Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Mefford MJ (2006) PC-ORD. Multivariate analysis of ecological data. Version 5. MJM Software, Gleneden Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1990) SAS guide for personal computers. SAS Institute, Cary

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz RP (1997) Loblolly pine: the ecology and culture of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Agricultural handbook 713. USDA Forest Service, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw MR, Hochberg ME (2001) The neglect of parasitic Hymenoptera in insect conservation strategies: The British fauna as a prime example. J Insect Conserv 5:253–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siitonen J (2001) Forest management, coarse woody debris and saproxylic organisms: fennoscandian boreal forests as an example. Ecological Bulletins 49:11–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenbacka F, Hjältén J, Hilszczański J, Ball JP, Gibb H, Johansson T, Pettersson RB, Danell K (2010) Saproxylic parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea) communities in managed boreal forest landscapes. Insect Conserv Diver 3:114–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Ims RA (2002) The effect of forest clearcutting in Norway on the community of saproxylic beetles on aspen. Biol Conserv 106:347–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townes HK (1950) The Nearctic species of gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera). Proc US Nat Mus 100:85–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulyshen MD, Hanula JL (2009) Habitat associations of saproxylic beetles in the southeastern United States: a comparison of forest types, tree species and wood postures. Forest Ecol Manag 257:653–664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Achterberg C (1997) Subfamily cenocoeliinae. In: Wharton RA, Marsh PM, Sharkey MJ (eds) Manual of the new world genera of the family braconidae (Hymenoptera). Special Publication of the International Society of Hymenopterists, Washington, pp 184–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderwel MC, Malcolm JR, Smith SM, Islam N (2006) Insect community composition and trophic guild structure in decaying logs from eastern Canadian pine-dominated forests. Forest Ecol Manag 225:190–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanlaerhoven SL, Stephen FM (2002) Height distribution of adult parasitoids of the southern pine beetle complex. Environ Entomol 31:982–987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoder M (2010) http://diapriid.org/public/site/diapriid/home. Accessed Mar 2010

  • Yu DSK (2010) http://www.taxapad.com/. Accessed Mar 2010

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Scott Horn and Mike Cody for assisting with field work and Hans Clebsch (Diapriidae), Kaloyan Ivanov (Formicidae) and Elijah Talmas (Platygastridae) for assisting with specimen identification. We also thank the editor and an anonymous reviewer for comments that greatly improved the manuscript. Support was provided by the Department of Energy-Savannah River Operations Office through the US Forest Service Savannah River under Interagency Agreement DE-AI09-00SR22188.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 201 Lincoln Green, Starkville, MS, 39759, USA

    Michael D. Ulyshen

  2. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Thomas M. Pucci

  3. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA, 30606, USA

    James L. Hanula

Authors
  1. Michael D. Ulyshen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas M. Pucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James L. Hanula
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael D. Ulyshen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ulyshen, M.D., Pucci, T.M. & Hanula, J.L. The importance of forest type, tree species and wood posture to saproxylic wasp (Hymenoptera) communities in the southeastern United States. J Insect Conserv 15, 539–546 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-010-9348-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-010-9348-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation