Is beetle diversity correlated with the diversity of host trees in MMSF and YWSF?

Is Beetle Diversity Correlated with the Diversity of Host Trees in MMSF And YWSF? A GIS Application Approach. Hossam Abdel Moniem and Jeffrey D. Holland. Department of Entomology, Purdue University,West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

Tree diversity should influence the diversity and species assemblage composition of longhorn beetles. Some of these beetles are devastating pests of forest trees, while many others play important ecological roles by decomposing rotting wood, acting as natural thinning agents, and reducing fire fuel load. Understanding how the diversity and assemblages of species change over time under different management techniques will allow us to both promote the biodiversity of those native species providing ecosystem services and limit economic losses from the few pest species. Plant and beetle sampling point data and coordinates from 2006 and 2007 from the Hardwood Ecosystems Experiment (HEE) were used. I used GIS to map and analyze the correlation between beetle diversity and host tree diversity in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests (MMSF and YWSF). Moreover, this study aims to predict the patterns of beetles and trees diversities throughout these forests to examine this correlation. Beetles diversity varied spatially between management units and temporally between the two survey seasons. There was a significant correlation between tree diversity and beetle diversity in 2006 but not in 2007. The lack of correlation in 2007 may be attributed to the high proportion of generalist beetles.