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Carabid beetle communities after 18 years of conservation tillage 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 that determine food and shelter for carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). We hypothesised that carabid communities would respond differently to 18 years of contrasted cropping practices in cereal-based rotations. We measured the effects of tillage (MP: moldboard plough; CP: chisel plough; NT: no-till) and previous crop sequence (cereal monoculture versus cereal–forage/cereal–oilseed rotation) on carabid beetle activity density, diversity, and community structure in corn (Zea mays Linnaeus, Poaceae) at La Pocatière, Québec, Canada. Carabid beetles were sampled monthly from May to September 2006, using pitfall traps. Although 19 carabid species were observed, assemblages were dominated by Harpalus rufipes (De Geer), particularly in the second half of the season. Multivariate analyses indicated a strong affinity of carabid species for the NT treatment throughout the season. Crop sequence and tillage had no effect on diversity (Shannon's H′ ≤ 1.3) and evenness of carabid assemblage, but species richness and activity density were greater in NT than in tilled systems. Peak activity density of dominant species occurred at different times during the season, generally in accordance with preferred breeding season. Many species had greater activity density in NT than in tilled treatments. Because of their granivorous feeding habit, carabid populations such as that of H. rufipes could be an important asset to NT, given the limited weed management options available for this system.

Résumé

Les pratiques agricoles affectent les conditions biotiques et abiotiques qui vont définir l'habitat et les sources de nourriture pour les carabes (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Nous suggérons que 18 années de pratiques agricoles contrastées auront affecté les communautés de carabes dans des rotations à base de céréales. Nous avons mesuré les effets du travail du sol (CV: charrue à versoirs; CH: charrue scarificatrice; SD: semis direct) et de la succession des cultures (monoculture céréalière versus rotation céréale–fourrage/céréale–oléagineuses) sur l'activité densité, la diversité et 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 mai à septembre 2006. Bien que 19 espèces aient été observées pendant la saison, les communautés ont été dominées par Harpalus rufipes (De Geer), surtout en deuxième moitié de saison. Les analyses multivariées ont démontré une grande affinité des carabes pour le traitement en SD tout au cours de la saison. La succession des cultures et le travail du sol n'ont pas eu d'effet sur la diversité (indice de Shannon H′ ≤ 1.3) et sur l’équitabilité des communautés de carabes, mais le nombre d'espèces (richesse) et l'activité densité ont été plus élevés dans le SD que dans les parcelles labourées (CV, CH). Les pics d'activité densité des espèces se sont produits à différents moments au cours de la saison et, généralement, ont été en accord avec la saison de reproduction propre à chaque espèce. L'activité densité de plusieurs espèces a été plus élevée dans le SD que dans les parcelles labourées. En raison de leur comportement granivore, 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.

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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