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FARMING AND GROUND BEETLES: EFFECTS OF AGRONOMIC PRACTICE ON POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Héctor A. Cárcamo ,
Jari K. Niemalä  and
John R. Spence
Héctor A. Cárcamo*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
Jari K. Niemalä
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
John R. Spence
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
*
1Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.
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Abstract

We studied the effects of agricultural practice on ground beetles, using pitfall traps in field plots and in an uncultivated meadow near Edmonton, Alberta. Ground beetle abundance and species richness were higher in plots operated under an organic farming regime than in those under a chemical regime, but neither crop type [barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), barley-pea (Pisum sativum L.) intercrop] nor crop rotation had an effect. Reduced tillage did not significantly change overall carabid activity or species richness but species differed in their response to tillage treatments. The carabid assemblage from an uncultivated field differed conspicuously from assemblages in the crops and fescue. Carabid abundance was highest in the meadow and the fauna was dominated by the exotic species Pterostichus melanarius Illiger. Effects of agronomic practice on carabid assemblages are complex, reflecting the interaction of biological traits of particular species and the combination of agronomic treatments applied.

Résumé

Nous avons étudié les effets des opérations agricoles sur les carabes en utilisant des pièges à fosse dans des parcelles de champs et dans une prairie sauvage près d’Edmonton, Alberta. L’abondance des carabes et la richesse en espèces étaient plus importantes dans les parcelles soumises à un régime d’exploitation organique que dans celles soumises à un régime chimique, mais ni le type de culture [orge (Hordeum vulgare L.), fève (Vicia faba L.), combinaison orge-pois (Pisum sativum L.)], ni la rotation n’avaient d’effet décelable. La réduction de l’intensité des labours n’a pas affecté significativement l’activité globale des carabes ou la richesse en espèces, mais les espèces n’ont pas toutes réagi de la même façon aux différents modes de labour. L’association des carabes dans un champ non cultivé différait considérablement des associations rencontrées dans les cultures et les champs de fétuque. L’abondance des carabes était maximale dans la prairie sauvage et la faune y était dominée par l’espèce exotique Pterostichus melanarius Illiger. Les effets de l’exploitation agricole sur les associations de carabes sont complexes et ils reflètent l’interaction des caractéristiques biologiques des différentes espèces et la combinaison des diverses opérations agronomiques effectuées.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 127 , Issue 1 , February 1995 , pp. 123 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1995

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