open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/35363

Differential Sensitivity of Ground Beetles, Eusilpha japonica and Carabidae, to Vegetation Disturbance in an Abandoned Coppice Forest in Central Japan

英語

silphidae

2008-11

Hokkaido University Forests, EFRC

Eurasian Journal of Forest Research

11(2)

61-72

Article

We studied the responses of ground beetles to experimental disturbance of vegetation in an abandoned coppice forest in Saitama prefecture, central Japan, during 2004–2006. Experimental manipulations included tree cutting, clearing of ground vegetation, and litter removal, which we quantified by analyzing environmental variables. In parallel, ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps. Overall, we analyzed 27 species of Carabidae and a single species of Silphidae (Eusilpha japonica). E. japonica dominated the ground beetle community and responded to vegetation disturbance in a way different from carabids. Carabids were most strongly affected by tree cutting but were insensitive to litter removal, whereas E. japonica was especially sensitive to litter removal. Our results show that E. japonica has high potential as a bioindicator since it is abundant, easily collectable, and selectively sensitive to litter accumulation, which is an indicator of abandonment of secondary forests. Both E. japonica and carabids were highly sensitive to vegetation disturbances, but responded to different types of vegetation manipulations. Such complementarity suggests that E. japonica and certain carabid species may be useful bioindicators if incorporated in a single integral monitoring system. However, further studies on the ecology on ground beetles will be needed to design effective monitoring protocols based on the differential sensitivity of ground beetle species to various kinds of vegetation disturbance.

紀要論文

Version of Record

1345-8221