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Project summary:
The principal aims of this project were to investigate the effects of forestry practices over time on the beetles that inhabit moss at the Warra Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in the Huon Valley, Southern Tasmania. In particular, groups of staphylinoid beetles were focused upon, the Pselaphidae, Scydmaenidae and Staphylinidae. An additional, but nonetheless important, purpose was to increase the information pertaining to this group that dwell in a relatively unknown microhabitat.
The analysis of the distribution of the beetles revealed that the newly regenerating coupes encompassed a totally different suite of beetles compared to the old growth sites. Some species such as Pselaphaulax pilosus (PSEL0022) were only found in old growth sites.
Typically, species inhabiting the harvested coupes were pioneer species that were absent from the older forest types. Microhabitat availability emerged to be the dominant factor in determining species distribution. Mosses such as Hypnodendrum prefer the undisturbed, stable habitat of old growth forest, and correspondingly it appears that there are beetle species that require such a moss microhabitat as a matter of necessity.
The results from this work exemplify how disturbance to habitats from silvicultural methods over time has changed beetle assemblages in moss habitat. Although some species appear to recolonise after the forest starts to regenerate, there are clearly those that do not. This emphasises the need for the retention and conservation of old growth habitat for those staphylinoid species to which it is crucial.
Methodology: The investigation consisted of a monthly sampling regime in a chronosequence of forestry coupes, each treatment coupe sampled had an adjacent control site. Core samples of moss were systematically taken from coupes, and all fauna extracted with Berlese funnels. Following the sorting of the moss invertebrates, the Staphylinoidea superfamily was intensely studied. With the assistance of scanning electron microscope images and relevant keys, specimens were identified to the lowest taxonomic order possible.
Datasets: None available.
Publications: Archer, L. (1999). Forestry impacts on the bryophyte inhabiting staphylinoid beetles (Pselaphidae, Scydmaenidae and Staphylinidae) in a chronosequence of coupes, Warra LTER site. Honours thesis, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
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