Carabid Beetle Assemblages Associated with Urban Golf Courses in the Greater Helsinki Area
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Eur. J. Entomol. 107: 553–561, 2010 http://www.eje.cz/scripts/viewabstract.php?abstract=1566 ISSN 1210-5759 (print), 1802-8829 (online) Carabid beetle assemblages associated with urban golf courses in the greater Helsinki area JARMO SAARIKIVI, LAURA IDSTRÖM, STEPHEN VENN, JARI NIEMELÄ and D. JOHAN KOTZE Urban Ecology Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, PO Box 65, FI-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland; e-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Key words. Carabidae, ground beetles, anthropogenic habitats, conservation, species assemblage, biodiversity, Helsinki area Abstract. Golf is a popular sport, with increasingly large areas of urban and peri-urban land being designated for golf course devel- opment. Yet, more than half of the land area of a typical golf course is considered rough and out-of-play areas that can, if managed appropriately, provide habitats for wildlife. Using pitfall traps, 6944 carabid beetles belonging to 72 species were collected from five urban golf courses and three areas designated for golf course development around the city of Helsinki, Finland in 2007. The courses were rich in carabid species and distinct in their species assemblages. Golf courses were dominated by habitat generalists, species capable of flight and medium to large-sized species. The three courses with areas designated for further golf course development showed that the assemblages of beetles associated with these golf courses have retained many elements from the pre-existing habitats. The oldest golf course is characterised by a more evenly distributed and diverse carabid beetle assemblage, probably due to its higher habitat heterogeneity and longer successional development. However, even this golf course is dominated by generalist spe- cies, implying that golf courses may not provide suitable habitats for specialists. It is assumed that the high species richness of golf courses is attributed to the high habitat diversity of these environments, ranging from the strongly human-modified to more natural patches, which provide habitats for many generalist and open-habitat species. Golf courses may, however, with the appropriate man- agement of out-of-play areas provide an opportunity for conserving biodiversity. INTRODUCTION types found on a golf course, enhancing local biodiversity Worldwide, 55 million people play golf on over 30 000 (e.g. Lopez & Potter, 2003; Daniels & Emmel, 2004; golf courses (Farrally et al., 2003). Many countries are Porter et al., 2004; Tanner & Gange, 2005). currently experiencing a golfing boom (Terman, 1997) The species assemblages of some urban habitats are that has lasted for several decades. New courses are being poorly documented and the potential of urban green space built at a rate that makes golf course development one of for contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity is fastest growing types of land development in the world often not appreciated (Niemelä, 1999; Savard et al., (Terman, 1997; Thien et al., 2004). Therefore, the effect 2000). To understand how biodiversity is affected by of golf courses on the environment is a hotly debated human actions, such as urbanization, it is important to topic in many countries (Dodson, 2000). In fact, golf is a study the responses of organisms to land-use change and sport that is in the environmental spotlight, because golf to evaluate the relevant processes in urban habitats. This courses occupy large areas of land, often close to urban understanding could provide a framework for the sustain- centres where human welfare, ecosystem health, water able management of urban habitats (Grandchamp et al., quality and other environmental issues are of paramount 2000). As such, extensive golf courses may be useful in importance (Stangel & Distler, 2002). preserving and protecting species, and even in elevating An average 18-hole golf course comprises 54 ha of land biodiversity, especially in and around urban centres. (Terman, 1997) and approximately 70% of that area is In this study the carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) considered rough or out-of-play areas that could be used community of golf courses in the Helsinki region, to create significant wildlife habitats (Tilly, 2000; San- southern Finland, was investigated. Specifically, the aim tiago & Rodewald, 2004). Golf courses are typically het- was to characterise the diversity and assemblage structure erogeneous, characterised by various types of soil, small of carabid beetle communities and determine whether water bodies, forest patches, sand bunkers and vegetation there exist distinct beetle assemblages characteristic of of variable height from highly managed greens and fair- these intensively managed and actively used green space ways to roughs and fields that are often left in an almost areas. It is hypothesized that golf courses will be charac- unmodified state (e.g. Santiago & Rodewald, 2004). This terised by generalist and open-habitat carabid species, habitat heterogeneity may influence biodiversity at the especially those with good dispersal ability. The kind of local scale of the golf course. Appropriate habitat man- carabid assemblages associated with the habitat structure agement could over time lead to the enhancement of of golf courses and the management needed for main- regional biodiversity (Tanner & Gange, 2005). Small ani- taining diverse species assemblages on golf courses are mals, such as insects benefit from the variety of habitat determined. 553 MATERIAL AND METHODS Study sites Of the about 120 golf courses in Finland, over 30 are within 50 km of the city of Helsinki (60°10´N, 24°56´E) and five within the city limits, two of which are full-sized, 18-hole courses. Three of these five courses and two additional courses, one in each of the neighbouring cities of Espoo and Vantaa, were included in this study (Fig. 1). All of these courses are within 20 km of the centre of Helsinki and are used throughout the snow-free season. The number of players visiting the courses each day varies from a couple of players on less optimal days up to over a thousand per day. The average number of rounds played on a full-sized golf course in Finland is 20 000 per season, though over 34 000 rounds are played on some of the most popular courses (Laukkanen et al., 2006). The most centrally located golf course included in this study is Tali (6 km from the city centre). This full-sized course was Fig. 1. Map of the study area showing the five golf courses established in 1932 and is the oldest golf course in Finland. This and three areas to be used to extend the courses at Gumböle, course is located in the park of an old manor, which also con- Paloheinä and Hiekkaharju in the greater Helsinki area. Urban- tains facilities for other sports activities, such as football. The ized areas are in grey and the location of Helsinki city centre is total area of the park is about 100 ha, of which the golf course is marked by a star. about 55 ha. The park is close to the sea and is surrounded by residential areas and an old refuse pit that was covered with soil ticular golf course (see Appendix). Seventy traps were set at in the 1980s. each of the two full-sized courses (Tali and Vuosaari). At the Vuosaari golf course is another full-sized course in Helsinki. three 9-hole courses, 35 traps were placed in the current course It was established in 2001 some 14 km northeast of the city cen- area and another 35 traps in the areas into which the courses are tre. The total area for golf is about 50 ha, and the course is sur- to be extended (Gumböle, Hiekkaharju and Paloheinä). The rounded by residential areas and forest. The course is situated in reason for sampling the areas into which the golf courses are to open parkland by the sea. be extended is to monitor the changes that might occur in the Paloheinä golf course is an open access 9-hole course founded carabid beetle assemblages once the areas are developed as golf in 1996 and located about 10 km north from the city centre. It is courses. 15 ha in size, surrounded by forest, agricultural land and resi- Continuous sampling started in early May 2007, with traps dential areas. This course is the most frequently used golf emptied three times between then and late September 2007. The course in Finland, often with over 1000 visitors per day (Anon., carabid beetles were identified to species level using the keys in 2005) and it is planned to be extended in a couple of years. Lindroth (1985, 1986). Gumböle golf course (28 ha) is a 9-hole course established in 1991 in Espoo, a neighbouring city of Helsinki. The course is Statistical analyses situated about 19 km northwest of the Helsinki city centre and is The pooled sample for each golf course and areas into which surrounded by forest and agricultural land. This course will also three are to be extended was used to evaluate the carabid beetle be extended to a full-sized course in the future. assemblage structure by means of rank-abundance plots, diver- The fifth course included in this study is the Hiekkaharju golf sity indices and rarefaction curves. Species rank-abundance course in Vantaa, another neighbouring city of Helsinki. Hiek- plots graphically depict the dominance and evenness structure kaharju, is a 9-hole course established in 1999, 17 ha in size and (Magurran, 2004) of the beetle assemblages. Diversity and located 17 km north of the Helsinki city centre. This course is evenness indices reveal different aspects of the composition of surrounded by agricultural land and residential areas and is also the assemblages. Shannon’s diversity (H´) index takes into scheduled to become a full-sized course.