Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2006

Keywords

Ecological restoration, pest eradication, Coleoptera, community structure, bioindicators, microhabitat, Maungatautari.

Abstract

Coleoptera communities are considered effective bioindicators of ecological health and entire invertebrate communities. Mammalian pest-proof fences have been constructed to create two mainland islands at Maungatautari (WO), New Zealand. The objective of this study was to assess the response of Coleoptera communities to pest eradication inside the two pest-free enclosures. Pitfall traps were placed along transect lines at lowland sites inside and outside the enclosures on both the north and south sides of Maungatautari. Invertebrates were collected twice at two week intervals and classified to family. A total of 703 Coleoptera individuals from 21 families were collected. There was no significant difference in Coleoptera family richness or abundance between pest and pest-free areas, and little difference in relative abundance of Coleoptera families. Likewise, there was no significant difference in microhabitat characteristics inside and outside the pest-free enclosures. Coleoptera family richness and relative abundance were significantly different between north and south lowland habitats. Pests had only been eradicated in the enclosures for one year at the time of this study, which is probably insufficient time for Coleoptera communities to respond.

Department

Biology

Comments

EcoQuest Education Foundation Directed Research Project 2005

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Beetles--Control--Environmental aspects--New Zealand--Maungatautari (Mountain)

Geographic Coverage

Maungatautari (N.Z. : Mountain)

Genre/Form

student projects; term papers

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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