Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science Volume 56 Article 32 2002 Beetle Diversity in an Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) Plantation and Adjacent Bottomland Hardwood Forest in Southeastern Arkansas Michael D. Warriner Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission T. Evan Nebeker Mississippi State University Steven A. Tucker Mississippi State University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas Part of the Entomology Commons, and the Forest Management Commons Recommended Citation Warriner, Michael D.; Nebeker, T. Evan; and Tucker, Steven A. (2002) "Beetle Diversity in an Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) Plantation and Adjacent Bottomland Hardwood Forest in Southeastern Arkansas," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 56 , Article 32. Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol56/iss1/32 This article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able to read, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 56 [2002], Art. 32 Beetle Diversity in an Eastern Cottonwood {Populus deltoides Bartr.) Plantation and Adjacent Bottomland Hardwood Forest in Southeastern Arkansas Michael D. Warriner* T. Evan Nebeker Steven A. Tucker Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Department of Entomology Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 1500 Tower Building and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University 323 Center Street Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS 39762 Little Rock, AR 72201 Mississippi State, MS 39762 ¦"Corresponding Author Abstract Within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV),some lands cleared of bottomland hardwood forests have the potential to return to forest as a result of private sector and government interests in Populus cultivation. Specifically, monoculture plantings of eastern cottonwood {Populus deltoides Bartr.) represent an important component of many recent afforestation efforts in the region. The impact establishment of such monocultures willhave on native insect communities in the LMAVis relatively unknown. To evaluate this, beetle (Coleoptera) diversity, abundance, and functional distribution were examined within an intensively managed eastern cottonwood plantation and nearby bottomland hardwood forest in southeastern Arkansas. Beetles were sampled inboth settings over the summer of 2000 using Malaise traps. When compared to the heterogeneous bottomland hardwood forest, the beetle morphospecies assemblage collected from the plantation was one characterized by lower species diversity and a depauperate xylophagous and fungivorous beetle fauna. Over half of all beetles trapped in the eastern cottonwood plantation were species considered to be economic pests of Populus. Introduction fiber (pulp and paper), biomass energy, to carbon sequestration. Currently, several timber companies have The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) has established short rotation woody crop programs and pilot undergone widespread deforestation as a result of clearing projects in areas across the south. for agriculture, resulting in a loss of approximately 75% of Plantings of eastern cottonwood have also been the original forested wetlands that once occurred across this recognized as potentially effective tools in the afforestation region (Stanturf et al., 2000). As a result of agricultural of bottomland hardwood forests on marginal agricultural conversion, lands once covered by bottomland hardwood land (Stanturf et al., 2000). Traditional bottomland forests are now used to produce such crops as cotton and hardwood forest restoration has relied upon single species soybeans. However, some of this land has the potential to plantings of heavy-seeded oak based on the idea that light- return to forest through developing private sector interest in seeded tree species would later colonize the plantation, the production of alternative timber/wood fiber resources enhance diversity, and provide suitable habitat for wildlife and federal incentive programs (Wetlands Reserve Program) (King and Keeland, 1999). Research indicates that to restore bottomland hardwood forests (Stanturf and development of forest structure under such a system takes a Portwood, 1999; Stanturf et al., 2000). Although seemingly long time (Twedt et al., 1999); colonization by other plant divergent, both ventures share an intertwined interest in the species is often unreliable (Allen, 1997); and opportunities to cultivation of eastern cottonwood {Populus deltoides Bartr.). manipulate the developing stand are limited (Stanturf et al., Recently, economic interest has developed in the 2000). In contrast, fast growing plantations of eastern southern U.S. for fast growing tree species, such as eastern cottonwood, interplanted with oak seedlings, have been cottonwood, that can be intensively managed in shown to provide the forest structure required by some monoculture settings (plantations, fiber farms) to produce a species much more rapidly than oak plantings alone (Twedt short rotation woody crop (Stanturf et al., 1998). Eastern and Portwood, 1997). cottonwood is the fastest growing commercial forest tree Establishment of eastern cottonwood plantations on native to North America, with average rotations of only six former agricultural lands does have the potential to provide to 12 years, and is well suited for use as a harvestable habitat for a range of plant and animal species. Although resource on former cropland in the LMAV (Stanturf and plantations may provide more favorable habitat conditions Portwood, 1999). Uses of eastern cottonwood range from for some species than cropland, studies have indicated that Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 56, 2002 220 Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 2002 220 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 56 [2002], Art. 32 Hardwood Forest inSoutheastern Arkansas eastern cottonwood plantations represent lower quality infrequent aerial applications of insecticide in an effort to habitat when compared to natural bottomland hardwood control populations of the cottonwood leaf beetle forests (Christian et al., 1998; Twedt et al., 1999). As eastern {Chrysomela scripta F.), a major economic pest of Populus cottonwood plantations may become a more common (Morris et al., 1975). component of the LMAVlandscape, studies need to be During the winter of 1999, the plantation was conducted to determine what other taxa might utilize these interplanted with oak seedlings in conjunction with a "new forests." National Resources Conservation Service pilot project Terrestrial insects represent a fundamental, but examining the feasibility of incorporating eastern erstudied, component of the LMAV ecosystem. Insects cottonwood into bottomland hardwood afforestation efforts. tied to a diverse array of microhabitats, are known to Oak seedlings were planted along every other row of the a number of important roles (pollination, nutrient plantation. Discing and mowing were discontinued in 2000. ing) in forest systems (Janzen, 1987; Packham et al., Atthe time the study was conducted, the plantation was I), and represent a vital food base for other organisms in its third growing season and contained trees ranging in :enberg and McGrane, 1996). Excluding a few pest height from 4 to 6 m. Other than eastern cottonwood and ies, little research has been conducted regarding how oak seedlings, vegetation within the plantation consisted use and management affect terrestrial insect species mainly of trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans (L.) Seeman), rsity and abundance in the LMAV. passionflower {Passiflora incarnata L.) vines, and Johnson Although additional research concerning insects is grass {Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.). A mature bottomland needed within this region, there are obstacles to this kind of hardwood forest, dominated by willow oak (Quercus phellos I is L.), (Q. Michaux), work. One such obstacle the often overwhelming diversity cherrybark oak falcata American of insect species that can be collected, making timely, cost sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.), sugarberry [Celtis effective processing and identification difficult (Disney, laevigata Willd.), and red maple [Acer rubrum L.), adjacent to 1986). As an alternative to sampling all insect species, the plantation was also sampled. assemblages of select species representing different Insect Sampling and Analyses.-Beetle sampling was ecological or functional roles have been suggested for use as conducted using Malaise traps. Malaise traps are tent-like monitoring tools or indicators ofhabitat change (Kremen et structures that passively trap insects and funnel them up into al., 1993). Beetles (Coleoptera), inparticular, are considered a collecting head filled with a killingagent (Townes, 1972). well suited for such uses as they display a wide range of Samples of Malaise trapped beetles have been shown to be functional roles (herbivores, predators, fungivores), are characteristic of recognizable communities and strongly easily sampled through a variety of trapping