Red deer structure the ground-dwelling beetle community in boreal forest

摘要: Changes in large herbivore distribution and abundance can have effects that potentially cascade throughout the trophic structure of an ecosystem. Little is known about these indirect ungulate herbivory, so aim this study was to investigate role red deer (Cervus elaphus) determining diversity ground-dwelling beetles. We collected > 9000 beetles belonging 149 species a Western Norway boreal forest by pitfall trapping inside outside red-deer exclosures placed along gradient herbivory intensity. Our showed had significant effect on structuring ground beetle communities Key findings were that: (1) out 17 represented more than 100 specimens, four benefited from associated impacts, while two detrimentally affected; 2) did not affect or alpha diversity, but increased local variation community (higher beta diversity); 3) browsing important for composition ground-beetle fauna. Herbivory improved explanation floor 40%. Given central predictor communities, it should be included future studies monitoring programs listed keystone