The value of targeted reforestations for local insect diversity: a case study from the Ecuadorian Andes

摘要: We surveyed insect communities (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera) on native treelets (Cedrela montana, Heliocarpus americanus, Tabebuia chrysantha) planted among anthropogenic land cover types (pasture, secondary shrub, and a pine plantation), comparing them one another to those found conspecific in adjacent montane rainforest. Between 2010 2012, we sampled 160 (Pasture: 47, Shrub: 26, Pine: 44, Forest: 43). Habitability of reforestations for forest insects was quantified by examining species richness, diversity partitioning community composition relative natural forest. Species richness high (phytophagous Coleoptera: 185 spp., predatory 101 phytoph. Hemiptera: 174 Lepidoptera: 147 spp.) with values being highest forest, significantly lower all reforestations. Phytophagous Coleoptera Lepidoptera showed trend toward higher than pasture or shrub. Predatory compared These findings suggest that microclimatic effects surrounding vegetation may affect richness. Given habitat heterogeneity prevalence rare species, tree-level α-diversity turn-over between individual sample emerged as the strongest contributors overall diversity. mainly function habitat, but colonization restricted phytophagous taxa contingent presence canopy cover. For Hemiptera Lepidoptera, similar across habitats determined host species. In summary, young maintain less diverse still harbor considerable number particularly if is present.