Date: 3/30/99

Time: 9:45

Type: Symposium

Number: 106

Burn management of tallgrass prairie in southern Manitoba. Implications for ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) biodiversity

*D.A. Pollock, Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg , CANADA and R.R. Roughley, Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, CANADA
Contact e-mail: pollockd@cc.umanitoba.ca

Controlled burning is a commonly used technique for maintaining the integrity of managed areas of tallgrass prairie. In southern Manitoba, the St. Charles Rifle Range is one of very few remnants of tallgrass prairie left in the province. In 1997, a 4-year study was begun, to determine the optimum season (spring, summer, fall) for burning, in relation to the biodiversity of plants and insects (specifically, the ground beetles). In 1997 only, four replicated groups of study plots were burned in spring, summer, and fall (in addition to central unburned, refuge areas), and the carabid beetle biodiversity was measured using standard pitfall traps. Over 6,000 specimens were collected, representing about 80 species, many of which are widespread North American species and not restricted to prairie habitats. About 70% of the total were made up of Poecilus lucublandus, Syntomus americanus, and Pterostichus femoralis. Combined data for 1997 and 1998 indicate that some species responded positively to the spring burns, and others to the summer burns. Perceived responses to the burn treatments will be presented for selected species of Carabidae. Alpha and beta diversity measures will be given, and these will be used to compare the four replicates and the four burn treatments.

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