Recovery of litter inhabiting beetle assemblages during forest regeneration in the Atlantic forest of Southern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract. 1. As mature tropical forests disappear, secondary forests with their potential to conserve mature tropical forest species are increasingly of interest in a conservation context.2. We investigated the recovery of litter inhabiting beetle diversity and composition during natural forest regeneration in the coastal submontane forest of Southern Brazil, using chronosequences on two different soil types: cambisol and gleysol. Secondary forests, ranging in ages from 5 to 50 years, as well as old-growth forests were studied. Beetles were sifted from leaf litter and extracted using the Winkler technique.3. Young secondary forests had a very low species density and a significantly different and heterogeneous species composition compared to old-growth forests. During forest regeneration, species density greatly increased and the species composition of older secondary forests was similar to that of old-growth forests. The recovery pattern of species density and composition differed between soil types; nonetheless, they showed the same tendencies generally. Thus, mature secondary forests of about 35-50 years can be assumed to contribute substantially to the maintenance of forest beetle species.4. Litter quantity was not only significantly correlated with species density; but, even reflected the density pattern of both soil types. Thus, litter quantity is an important factor for maintaining or recovering high beetle densities. The composition of beetle assemblages was strongly affected by soil type. Thus, soil type should be considered in regional biodiversity monitoring and conservation actions.

Evaluating leaf litter beetle data sampled by Winkler extraction from Atlantic forest sites in southern Brazil

“…To compare the beetle material gathered from the different methods, we explored which species caught with pitfall traps were also obtained by litter sifting, by comparing the set of species, belonging to the "reduced family set", sampled with pitfall traps in one old-growth forest with species data sampled by litter sifting; (i) at the same site in June-July 2003 (see Hopp et al 2010 …”

“…These data were collected between June-July 2003 using the same study design and sampling protocol explained for Itaqui (also see Hopp et al 2010).…”

“…Recently we analyzed leaf litter beetle data obtained using litter sifting with Winkler extraction in a chronosequence approach to evaluate the ecological response of leaf litter beetles to forest regrowth in the submontane Atlantic forest of Southern brazil (Hopp et al 2010). In order to evaluate the reliability and suitability of using this method to generate ecological data for litter inhabiting beetle assemblages, we aimed in the present study to estimate the quality of data received by litter sifting.…”

“…The aim was to evaluate the variation of beetle assemblages at different points in time and to test if sample sets collected in a different season result in a similar recovery pattern during forest regeneration recently postulated by the authors (Hopp et al 2010). Second, we examined, if litter quantity (revealed as regionally important factor for the diversity and distribution of litter beetles) affects a temporal pattern.…”

Is microclimate-driven turnover of dung beetle assemblage structure in regenerating coastal vegetation a precursor to re-establishment of a forest fauna?

“…In general, secondary succession follows a predictable pattern of turnover where community composition and structure change with time as plant and animal species that dominate early seral stages give way to species typical of later seral stages (Wang 2002;Hopp et al 2010;Taki et al 2010). Efforts to determine the precise nature, timescales, and processes responsible for successional changes have generated a multitude of restoration studies in different ecotypes.…”