INTERACTIONS AMONG ASSEMBLAGES OF GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) IN NATURAL AND AGROECOSYSTEMS By BRYAN WADE FRENCH Bachelor of Science The University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma 1981 Master of Science Brock University St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada 1986 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May, 1998 INTERACTIONS AMONG ASSEMBLAGES OF GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) IN NATURAL AND AGROECOSYSTEMS Thesis Approved: Deofthe Graduate College ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my research advisor, Norman Elliott, for his invaluable help, guidance, and advice throughout this project. My committee chairman, Richard Berberet, also provided many helpful comments on this project. Appreciation is also extended to my current and former committee members, Gerrit Cuperus, Stanley Fox, Raymond Eikenbary, and David Reed. Their comments greatly improved the quality of this work. Larry Hodges, Verl Brorsen, Steve and Emma Lewis, Calvin and Lester Oyster, Randy Wedel, and Jeff Robinett kindly allowed the use of their land for collecting ground beetles. Kane Jackson, Brian Jones, Tim Johnson, Jon Medders, Rick Mahar, and Perry Shelby assisted in establishing experimental sites. George Ball and Danny Shpelely identified the ground beetles to species. Kane Jackson and John Burd helped check the traps. Lisa Morgan, Kane Jackson, and Jon Medders counted most of the ground beetles. Mike Palmer helped with the multivariate data analysis and reviewed chapters three and four. Tom Popham provided advice on ANOVA tests. Appreciation is also extended to my family and friends for their support and encouragement. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stillwater, Oklahoma, provided support making this research project possible. 111 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................................ 5 Ground Beetles in Agricultural Landscapes ............................................................. 6 Cropping Systems and Ground Beetles ................................................................... 7 Natural History of Ground Beetles .......................................................................... 9 Factors Affecting Ground Beetle Dispersal ........................................................... 10 Morphology of Carabidae ................................................................................ 10 Landscape Structure ......................................................................................... 10 Predatory Nature of Carabidae ............................................................................... 12 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................... 15 Ill. REVERTING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM LANDS TO WHEAT AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION: EFFECTS ON GROUND BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) ASSEMBLAGES ............................... 22 Abstract. ................................................................................................................. 23 Key Words ............................................................................................................. 24 Introduction............................................................................................................ 25 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................... 27 Study Area and Pitfall Trap Design ................................................................. 27 Data Analysis .................................................. _................................................. 29 Results ................. ·................................................................................................... 30 Species Data ..................................................................................................... 30 Community Parameters .................................................................................... 31 Multivariate Analysis ...................................................................................... 32 Discussion .............................................................................................................. 34 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 39 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................... 40 iv Chapter Page N. GROUND BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) ASSEMBLAGES IN GRASSLANDS AND ADJACENT WHEAT FIELDS .......................................... 56 Abstract. ................................................................................................................. 57 Key Words ............................................................................................................. 58 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 59 Materials and Methods ..........•............................................................................... 61 Study Sites ....................................................................................................... 61 Sampling With Pitfall Traps ................................ ;............................................ 61 Data Analysis ................................................................................................... 63 Results .................................................................................................................... 65 Multivariate Analysis ...................................................................................... 67 Discussion .............................................................................................................. 68 Acknowledgments ............... ; ......... ;........................................................................ 75 Literature Cited ...............................................•...................................................... 76 V. GROUND BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) ASSEMBLAGES IN RIPARIAN STRIPS AND ADJACENT WHEAT FIELDS ................................... 91 Abstract. ................................................................................................................. 92 Key Words ............................................................................................................. 93 Introduction............................................................................................................ 94 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................... 96 Study Sites ....................................................................................................... 96 Sampling With Pitfall Traps ............................................................................. 97 Data Analysis ................................................................................................... 98 Results .................................................................................................................. 100 Multivariate Analysis .................................................................................... 105 Discussion ............................................................................................................ 106 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................ 112 Literature Cited ........................................ ;........................................................... 113 VI. ADJACENCY EFFECTS OF GRASSLANDS AND RIP ARIAN ZONES ON GROUND BEETLE ASSEMBLAGES IN WHEAT FIELDS .............................. 133 Abstract. ............................................................................................................... 134 Key Words ........................................................................................................... 135 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 136 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................ 13 7 Sampling With Pitfall Traps ........................................................................... 13 7 Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 139 V Chapter Page Mark-Recapture ............................................................................................. 140 Results .................................................................................................................. 141 Temporal Distribution of Ground Beetle Assemblages ................................. 141 Ground Beetle Dynamics at Boundaries ........................................................ 143 Discussion ............................................................................................................ 145 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................ 150 Literature Cited .................................................................................................... 151 VII. SUMMARY