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Carabid beetle communities after 18 years of conservationtillage and crop rotation in a cool humid climate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2012

Olivier Lalonde ,
Anne Légère ,
F. Craig Stevenson ,
Michèle Roy  and
Anne Vanasse
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Abstract

Agricultural practices affect the biotic and abiotic conditions thatdetermine food and shelter for carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Wehypothesised that carabid communities would respond differently to 18 yearsof contrasted cropping practices in cereal-based rotations. We measured theeffects of tillage (MP: moldboard plough; CP: chisel plough; NT: no-till)and previous crop sequence (cereal monoculture versuscereal–forage/cereal–oilseed rotation) on carabid beetle activity density,diversity, and community structure in corn (Zea maysLinnaeus, Poaceae) at La Pocatière, Québec, Canada. Carabid beetles weresampled monthly from May to September 2006, using pitfall traps. Although 19carabid species were observed, assemblages were dominated by Harpalus rufipes (De Geer), particularly in the secondhalf of the season. Multivariate analyses indicated a strong affinity ofcarabid species for the NT treatment throughout the season. Crop sequenceand tillage had no effect on diversity (Shannon's H′ ≤ 1.3)and evenness of carabid assemblage, but species richness and activitydensity were greater in NT than in tilled systems. Peak activity density ofdominant species occurred at different times during the season, generally inaccordance with preferred breeding season. Many species had greater activitydensity in NT than in tilled treatments. Because of their granivorousfeeding habit, carabid populations such as that of H. rufipes could be an important asset to NT, given the limitedweed management options available for this system.

Résumé

Les pratiques agricoles affectent les conditions biotiques et abiotiques quivont définir l'habitat et les sources de nourriture pour les carabes(Coleoptera: Carabidae). Nous suggérons que 18 années de pratiques agricolescontrastées auront affecté les communautés de carabes dans des rotations àbase de céréales. Nous avons mesuré les effets du travail du sol (CV:charrue à versoirs; CH: charrue scarificatrice; SD: semis direct) et de lasuccession des cultures (monoculture céréalière versus rotationcéréale–fourrage/céréale–oléagineuses) sur l'activité densité, la diversitéet la structure des communautés de carabes dans une culture de maïs (Zea mays Linnaeus; Poaceae) à La Pocatière, Québec,Canada. Les carabes ont été échantillonnés à partir de pièges fosses, de maià septembre 2006. Bien que 19 espèces aient été observées pendant la saison,les communautés ont été dominées par Harpalus rufipes (DeGeer), surtout en deuxième moitié de saison. Les analyses multivariées ontdémontré une grande affinité des carabes pour le traitement en SD tout aucours de la saison. La succession des cultures et le travail du sol n'ontpas eu d'effet sur la diversité (indice de Shannon H′ ≤1.3) et sur l’équitabilité des communautés de carabes, mais le nombred'espèces (richesse) et l'activité densité ont été plus élevés dans le SDque dans les parcelles labourées (CV, CH). Les pics d'activité densité desespèces se sont produits à différents moments au cours de la saison et,généralement, ont été en accord avec la saison de reproduction propre àchaque espèce. L'activité densité de plusieurs espèces a été plus élevéedans le SD que dans les parcelles labourées. En raison de leur comportementgranivore, la présence de populations de carabes telles celles d’H. rufipes pourraient être avantageuse pour les systèmes en SD,étant donné les choix limités au niveau du désherbage.

Information

Type
Original Article
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 144 , Issue 5 , October 2012 , pp. 645 - 657
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2012

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