Clark, M.S. and S. H. Gage
Presented at the All Scientist Meeting (1996-07-16 to 1996-07-17 )
Ground beetle abundance was monitored in the KBS LTER during the 1994 and 1995 growing seasons. Four species numerically dominated the fauna and together accounted for 87% of the total specimens collected: Cyclotrachelus sodalis (LeConte), Poecilus lucublandus (Say), Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger), and Agonum placidum (Say). Overall ground beetle abundance was relatively similar across the four annual crop and two perennial crop habitats, but was considerably lower in the native succession habitat. Differences in representation of dominant species was most pronounced between perennial and annual crop systems. However, tillage also influenced the relative of abundance of these species. The adult-overwintering, spring-breeding species, P. lucublandus and A. placidum, were most common in the annual crop habitats, particularly those under conventional tillage. In contrast, C. sodalis, a larval-overwintering, autumn breeder, was most common in the perennial crop systems. The exotic species P. melanarius showed the least response to the agricultural habitat treatments but was more abundant in managed crop habitats compared to unmanaged habitats. Further research is needed: 1) to determine why ground beetle activity was so low in the native succession habitat; 2) to evaluate the relationship between ground beetle life cycle and agroecosystem management; and 3) to better understand the relationship between agricultural landscape diversity, ground beetle diversity, and pest suppression.
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