Program Type

Undergraduate

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Jorista Garrie

Document Type

Presentation

Location

Face-to-face

Start Date

25-4-2023 10:50 AM

Abstract

Abstract:

Terrestrial invertebrates including species of Coleoptera (beetles) play an important role in many ecosystem services including soil formation and fertility, pollination, decomposition and nutrient turnover, population regulation of other organisms through predation. Coleoptera are often vital in determining biodiversity and conservation techniques. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge of how environmental factors and different management practices are affecting Coleoptera populations and further assist ecologists in improving management techniques in the future. The insect data in this study was collected over the course of two weeks in the Arkansas portion of the Boston Mountain range. Four black light traps were set to turn on nightly and were moved to a new site and reset each day for the following night for a total of 61 sites. Habitat and vegetation assessments were also taken and recorded at each sight as well as various environmental factors including temperature (degrees Celsius), humidity (%), wind speed (km/h), and atmospheric pressure (hPa). All known management practices and the times they were performed in that study sight were also recorded including fire, regenerative harvest commercial thinning, and understory thinning. Out of 61 sites, Coleoptera had a total biomass of 488.133g with an average of 8.002g per site. Statistical tests showed that there was significantly greater biomass at sites where there was a greater percentage of humidity (P=0.0326) and greater total coleoptera biomass on days with higher temperatures (t59= 2.94 ± 0.19, p=

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Apr 25th, 10:50 AM

Environmental Factors Affecting Coleoptera Biomass in the Ozark Mountain Range in Arkansas

Face-to-face

Abstract:

Terrestrial invertebrates including species of Coleoptera (beetles) play an important role in many ecosystem services including soil formation and fertility, pollination, decomposition and nutrient turnover, population regulation of other organisms through predation. Coleoptera are often vital in determining biodiversity and conservation techniques. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge of how environmental factors and different management practices are affecting Coleoptera populations and further assist ecologists in improving management techniques in the future. The insect data in this study was collected over the course of two weeks in the Arkansas portion of the Boston Mountain range. Four black light traps were set to turn on nightly and were moved to a new site and reset each day for the following night for a total of 61 sites. Habitat and vegetation assessments were also taken and recorded at each sight as well as various environmental factors including temperature (degrees Celsius), humidity (%), wind speed (km/h), and atmospheric pressure (hPa). All known management practices and the times they were performed in that study sight were also recorded including fire, regenerative harvest commercial thinning, and understory thinning. Out of 61 sites, Coleoptera had a total biomass of 488.133g with an average of 8.002g per site. Statistical tests showed that there was significantly greater biomass at sites where there was a greater percentage of humidity (P=0.0326) and greater total coleoptera biomass on days with higher temperatures (t59= 2.94 ± 0.19, p=