Survey and ecology of the saproxylic beetles of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ferro, Michael

This study is looking at the diversity and life history of saproxylic (dead wood inhabiting) beetle species. Specific information being sought includes species preferences for size of dead wood, degree of decay, and comparisons of old growth to second growth forests. Woody debris was collected from six sites and stored in rearing chamber by size and decay class through August of 2007. The number of specimens produced from the rearing stayed the same or increased with each successive month. 220 genera have been identified to date. Twenty-five species not known to occur in the park were collected as part of this research. Ten undescribed species of the rove beetles have been found in the park and were published in 2010 and 25 species were added to the park records from this study. There was no difference in diversity between old growth and secondary growth sites or between fall and spring sampling, however initial results show very little overlap in species between the two habitats. Overall, about 12,400 individual beetles were collected from the wood, including 25 species not otherwise detected for the park. Initial results show that flight intercept traps are very poor collectors of saproxylic beetles. A total of 2472 adult beetles within 42 families and 217+ species were collected using three traps. In 90 emergence traps with a variety of coarse woody debris from second growth and old growth forests, 5673 adult beetles within 50 families and 306+ species were collected. Results show differences in community composition between forest type and among decay class. See Ferro et al. 2012b for details. In a side study comparing highly decomposed coarse woody debris (Coarse Woody Debris Class 5--CWD5) and leaf litter (extracted with a Burlese funnel), a total of 143+ genera and 216+ species were collected, 124 genera from leaf litter and 79 genera from CWD5. Leaf litter had significantly more individuals, families, and genera than CWD5. Diversity (genera) was significantly higher in litter. Five genera were significantly more numerous in CWD5 than in leaf litter. There appears to be little overlap between the two habitats. PIs have taught science teachers insect diversity at Tremont and/or Purchase Knob each of five years.