Effects of contamination on scavenging beetles

Energy production systems such as nuclear reactors and coal-burning stations produce substantial waste containing radioactive and metal contaminants, respectively. These contaminants can have a significant, yet subtle, effect on biotic communities. To date, most of the existing literature has focused on effects of anthropogenic contamination on invertebrates in aquatic environments, while little is known about invertebrate communities in terrestrial ecosystems. Since biotic community dynamics can influence ecosystem functions, I propose to investigate the influence of metal and radionuclide contaminants on scavenging insect assemblages, species that may act as bioindicators of contamination. My main research objectives are as follows: 1) to assess the effects of two types of contamination (coal fly-ash and radiocesium) on beetle carrion assemblages; 2) to determine if individual carrion insects active closer to contaminated sites may accumulate elevated levels of metals and radioactivity in their bodies. I will use pitfall traps baited with rabbit carrion to collect carrion insects of the Order Coleoptera around water with known types of contamination, including coal-fly ash and radiocesium, in addition to control sites without contamination. For research objective one, 6-10 transects will be established at each site, with four baited pitfall traps along each transect. Transects will be spaced at least 75 meters apart, and 100 meters between traps within transects. Once traps have been installed, I will collect all coleopterans from the traps after seven days. Specimens will be sorted and pinned in the lab and identify to species level using the keys for coleopterans in the southeastern, U.S.