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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Artxjr, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMT GROUND BEETLE ABUNDANCE AND DrVERSUY PATTERNS \%TTHIN MDŒD-OAK FORESTS SUBJECTED TO PRESCRIBED BURNING IN SOUTHERN OHIO DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Robert Christopher Stanton, B.A., M.S. ***** The Ohio State University 2000 Dissertation Committee: iroyed by Dr. David J. Horn, Advisor Dr. Ralph EJ. Boemer Advisor Dr. Norman F. Johnson Dr. Deborah H. S tinner Department of Entomology UMI Number 9982983 UMI* UMI Microform 9982983 Copyright 2000 by Beil & Howell Information and teaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ABSTRACT The deciduous forests of the eastern United States have been dominated by oak (Quercus) species for the past 10.000 years. However, over the last 50 years the oak component of the regeneration of many of these forests has declined dramatically. Prescribed burning may improve oak regeneration, but the effects of this practice on other aspects of these communities are largely unknown. To better understand the ecological response of oak-dominated communities to prescribed burning, the USD A Forest Service initiated an ecosystem management project in 1994 in southern Ohio. Four study sites in Vinton and Lawrence counties were subdivided into three treatment units. The treatments were “frequent” fire (burned annually), “infrequent” fire (burned every third year), and “control” (not burned). Fires were set during the spring (dormant season) of 1996 through 1999. In order to investigate the impacts of prescribed burning on surface-active invertebrates, ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were monitored via pitfall and light trapping along dry ridge tops. Carabids are well suited as indicators of environmental conditions and are often used to monitor changes within a community. Overall carabid abundance and flightless carabid abundance recorded by pitfall trapping decreased during the course of this study, but there were no significant changes related to prescribed burning. Seasonal trends in carabid abundance also were not significantly affected by prescribed burning. No significant effects of prescribed burning were detected on carabid species richness, diversity, or evenness. Year-to-year changes in these indices were related to changes in one very abundant species {Synuchus impunctatus) and to the low number of carabids collected in 1999. Comparisons of the carabid species collected at each study site via pitfall trapping suggested that distinct assemblages existed in Vinton County, northern Lawrence County, and southern Lawrence County. These different assemblages were most likely related to differences in soil characteristics and understory vegetation among these three areas. Results from other aspects of this research showed that prescribed burning alters the local environment in areas such as soil chemistry, leaf litter biomass, and understory vegetation. Despite these changes, this study indicated that low intensity spring fires do not significantly impact surface-active carabid populations on xeric, upland sites in oak- dominated forests. This research project allowed forest carabid populations to-be monitored for five consecutive years. This information is important to better understanding carabid communities in deciduous forests and their response to prescribed burning management practices. lU Dedicated to tny students—past and future: You have been a constant source of encouragement and hope. IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would lika to first acknowledge Ralph Boemer, Norm Johnson, Deb Stinner, and Dave Horn for serving on my committee. They held me to higher standards and pushed me closer to my full potential. I would especially like to thank Dave Horn for being patient and understanding with all of my last-minute activities. I would also like to thank the USDA Forest Service and Northeastern Forest Experiment Station for making this research possible. Elaine Kermedy Sutherland, David Hosack, and especially Todd Hutchinson were instrumental in helping this study reach its completion. Todd is a good friend and colleague and I wish him luck in the future. Foster Purrington and his expertise as a carabidologist allowed this 5-year study to be completed in approximately five years. I will miss working with him, the other residents of the greenhouses, and the many field and lab workers who have assisted over the years. Most importantly, I would like to thank my families. Both the Stantons and Taylors have helped in facilitating this work and I appreciate their assistance. But it has been Trish, Alex, and Ben who have sacrificed the most in order to support me. I’m sure I do not realize all that has been given up to allow me to reach this point, but I hope they know that this work was undertaken and accomplished with each of them in mind. VTTA October 9, 1968 ........................................... Bom - Cincinnati, Ohio 1991............................................................. B.A. English, Wittenberg University 199 4............................................................. M.S. Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee 1995 - present............................................ Graduate Teaching, Research, and Administrative Associate, The Ohio State University PUBLICATIONS Research Publications 1. F.F. Purrington, R.C. Stanton, and D.J. Horn. 1999. Ground beetle range extensions: Six new Ohio records (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Great Lakes Entomol. 32:47-49. 2. F.F. PiuTington and R.C. Stanton. 1996. New records of five ground beetles from Ohio (Coleoptera; Carabidae). Great Lakes Entomol. 29:43-44. 3. R.C. Stanton, J.F. Grant, P.L.Lambdin, L.R. Barber, and S.E. Schlarbaum. 1993. Preliminary investigations of arthropod species diversity in a northern red oak seedling seed orchard. Proc. 38* So. Nurserymen's Assoc. Res. Conf. 38: 172-174. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Entomology VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract..................................................................................................................... ü Dedication ................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................ v Vita.......................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ......................................................................................................... xii Chapters: 1. General Introduction ........................................................................................ l Oak Regeneration and Fire ........................................................................... I The Ecosystem Management Project ........................................................... 5 Invertebrates as Indicators ........................................................................... 16 Ground Beetles and Monitoring Methods ................................................... 19 2. Effects of Prescribed Burning on Carabid Abundance and Seasonality in Mixed-Oak Forests of Southern Ohio .................................................... 34 Introduction ................................................................................................ 34 Materials and Methods ............................................................................... 37 Results........................................................................................................ 40 Discussion ................................................................................................... 45 3. Effects of Prescribed Burning on Carabid Species Richness and Diversity in Mixed-Oak Forests of Southern Ohio ...................................................