1998 ESA North Central Branch Meeting Abstract
70 EFFECTS OF STANDARD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS TALLGRASS PRAIRIE ARTHROPODS: A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE). Paul P. Tinerella and David A. Rider, Department of Entomology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
A project was initiated in 1995 to assess the effects of standard management practices on arthropod communities of northern great plains tallgrass prairies. Transects were established on the Bluestem Prairie Complex, Felton Prairie Complex, and Agassiz Dunes Prairie Complex in northwestern Minnesota. These lands consist of dry, mesic, wet, and sand prairies. The treatment regimes include burning, grazing, haying, and no-management. The overall project is concerned with the assessment of these treatments on multiple arthropod groups present at these lands. This research is directly concerned with the carabid fauna, its presence, diversity, and the documentation of rare/poorly studied species, as well as management effects on specific taxa. Another key focus in this analysis is the potential use of carabids as indicator taxa for specific prairie sites. Reported here are the preliminary results of 1996 pitfall trap data analysis. To date, some 5,000 ground beetles have been processed and identified. Initial results indicate that certain carabid species can potentially be associated with different prairie types. This research has also revealed species to be considered rare or previously unreported in Minnesota. As subsequent samples are
processed, the "big" picture of carabid habits and their biodiversity present on the prairie sites will become more apparent.
This paper will be presented on Monday.
Back to NCB Home Page