The Response of Epigeal Beetles (Col.: Carabidae, Staphylinidae) to Varied Grazing Regimes on Upland Nardus stricta Grasslands

Reverting Conservation Reserve Program Lands to Wheat and Livestock Production: Effects on Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Assemblages

“…This trend was evident in 199.5 and 1996. Other studies have shown mixed preferences by ground beetles for managed and unmanaged grasslands (Luff and Rushton 1988, Morrill 1992, Dennis et al 1997). Similar to our study, Luff and Rushton (1988) showed that ground beetle diversity was higher in undisturbed grassland and decreased with increasing disturbance.…”

“…In our study, the mowed grass was not removed from the plots and this could have created microhabitats that supported more species and greater abundances (Allen 1979). Dennis et al (1997) determined that stocking rate, which was directly related to level of disturbance caused by sheep and cattle on upland grasslands, greatly affected ground beetle species and assemblages. Luff and Rushton (1988) also found that disturbance levels affected ground beetle assemblages.…”

“…In England, managed grasslands that included grazing had lower ground beetle diversity than managed grasslands that did not include grazing (Luff and Rushton 1988). Dennis et al (1997) found that some species of ground beetles were captured in greater numbers in ungrazed grasslands than in grazed grasslands. In contrast, Dennis et al (1997) also found that the abundance of other species of ground beetles was higher in grazed grasslands than in ungrazed grasslands.…”

“…Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for a randomized complete block design was used to determine differences in mean ground beetle abundance, species richness, species diversity, and species evenness among treatments. Because the same 18 ha was used in 1995 and 1996, the data were analyzed separately to avoid pseudoreplication of years (Hurlbert 1984, Dennis et al 1997. Species of ground beetles representing 1% or less of total abundance were considered rare.…”

“…The effects of grazing on species diversity and relative abundances of ground beetles has also shown mixed results (Rushton et al 1986, Luff and Rushton 1988, Morrill 1992, Dennis et al 1997. In Georgia, ground beetle abundance was not different among grazed and ungrazed grasslands (Morrill 1992).…”