What level of native beetle diversity can be supported by forestry plantations? A global synthesis

Abstract

1. Forestry plantations have been established globally to meet timber demands, often leading to the conversion of natural to artificial forests. Forestry plantations may support natural elements of forest biodiversity, but understanding their role in the maintenance of biodiversity is a crucial question.2. We performed a meta-analysis of 48 studies to determine how forestry plantations relative to natural forests influence the species richness and abundance of three important coleopteran groups (i.e., ground beetles, rove beetles, and dung beetles), given their essential role in ecosystem functioning.3. We assessed whether beetle responses depended on taxonomic group, geographical location, native or exotic character of the planted tree species, and associated management characteristics (i.e., composition, size, age, and connectivity of the plantations).4. We found that forestry plantations negatively affected coleopteran species richness and abundance compared to natural forests. The negative impact was most severe in plantations with exotic tree species and located in tropical biomes.5. Species richness and abundance of beetles significantly increased with plantation age in native plantations but decreased in exotic ones. Also, small plantations close to native forest had higher beetle species richness and abundance than ones located far away from native forest.6. Stopping the conversion of natural forests to plantations, promoting the use of native tree species, and lengthening rotations are critical for allowing biodiversity recovery in forestry plantations, combined with a robust conservation strategy to protect threatened biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Interactions between land use, taxonomic group and aspects and levels of diversity in a Brazilian savanna: Implications for the use of bioindicators

“…Patterns of between-habitat beta diversity were also similar from both a taxonomic and a functional perspective. Eucalyptus plantations consistently shared more species and functional groups with both savanna and forests than did the soy fields and pastures, which supports the notion that Eucalyptus plantations are hybrid ecosystems that harbour a mixture of both forest and open habitat species (López-Bedoya et al, 2021;Tavares et al, 2019). In addition, there was a recurring pattern of assemblages in all the three anthropogenic habitats being more similar-both taxonomically and functionally-to those in savanna than forest.…”

Primary forest loss and degradation reduces biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: A global meta‐analysis using dung beetles as an indicator taxon

“…Dung beetles have been identified as an appropriate invertebrate taxon to evaluate global patterns associated with the impact of undisturbed primary forest conversion, because their diversity and ecological functions present high sensitivity to anthropogenic perturbations (Bicknell et al, 2014; Fuzessy et al, 2021; López‐Bedoya et al, 2021; Nichols et al, 2008; Otavo et al, 2013; Slade et al, 2011; Spector, 2006). Some of the most critical functions involve removing excrement from the surface by burial, nutrient cycling, soil aeration, filtration capacity, secondary seed dispersal, parasite and fly control, and the control of greenhouse gas effects (Nichols et al, 2008; Slade et al, 2016).…”

“…Some of the most critical functions involve removing excrement from the surface by burial, nutrient cycling, soil aeration, filtration capacity, secondary seed dispersal, parasite and fly control, and the control of greenhouse gas effects (Nichols et al, 2008; Slade et al, 2016). Knowledge about the response of dung beetle's diversity or ecological functions to undisturbed primary forest conversion has been evaluated by different synthesis (see Fuzessy et al, 2021; López‐Bedoya et al, 2021; Nichols et al, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013). However, these investigations focus a wide range of impacts (e.g.…”

Restoring tree species mixtures mitigates the adverse effects of pine monoculture and drought on forest carabids

“…Apart from their gleaming beauty and high relevance as bio-indicators, carabids play a key role in many ecosystem functions such as pest regulation (Alalouni et al, 2013) nutrient cycling and improvement of soil structure (Loreau, 1987). They are also frequently used as indicators of the effect of natural or anthropogenic disturbances on forest biodiversity (Kotze et al, 2011;L opez-Bedoya et al, 2021;Rainio & Niemelä, 2003).…”