Data from: Effects of abiotic environmental factors and land use on the diversity of carrion-visiting silphid beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae): a large scale carrion study

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Effects of abiotic environmental factors and land use on the diversity of carrion-visiting silphid beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) : a large scale carrion study

Anthropogenic land use causes global declines in biodiversity. Despite the knowledge that animal carrion is the most nutrient-rich form of dead organic matter, studies on landscape and local scales determining whether and the means by which land use intensity influences the diversity of the carrion-associated insect fauna are globally scarce. We investigated the effects of land use intensity and abiotic and biotic environmental factors on the abundance, species richness, and diversity of the important ecosystem-service-providing silphid beetle taxon (carrion beetles) in three regions of Germany. In 61 forest stands distributed over three geographically distinct regions in Central Europe, we trapped silphid beetles on exposed piglet cadavers during late summer. In all three regions, higher ambient temperatures and higher fine sand contents were associated with the abundance of the silphid beetle taxa. The carrion community silphid diversity was negatively affected by an increase in mean ambient temperature in all three regions. Although management intensity in forests did not affect the overall abundance of Silphidae, the abundance of Nicrophorus humator decreased significantly with higher forest management intensity across all three regions. Unmanaged and age-class forests showed a higher abundance of N. humator compared with extensively managed forest stands. These findings indicate that N. humator has potential as an indicator species for anthropogenic disturbances in forests. Overall, the direct responses of the silphid beetle community to diverse soil characteristics underline soil as an important factor determining the abundance and diversity of necrophagous carrion beetles in Central Europe. To protect these valuable ecosystem-service providers, forest-management-induced soil modifications need to be paid close attention

Effects of abiotic environmental factors and land use on the diversity of carrion-visiting silphid beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae): A large scale carrion study

<div><p>Anthropogenic land use causes global declines in biodiversity. Despite the knowledge that animal carrion is the most nutrient-rich form of dead organic matter, studies on landscape and local scales determining whether and the means by which land use intensity influences the diversity of the carrion-associated insect fauna are globally scarce. We investigated the effects of land use intensity and abiotic and biotic environmental factors on the abundance, species richness, and diversity of the important ecosystem-service-providing silphid beetle taxon (carrion beetles) in three regions of Germany. In 61 forest stands distributed over three geographically distinct regions in Central Europe, we trapped silphid beetles on exposed piglet cadavers during late summer. In all three regions, higher ambient temperatures and higher fine sand contents were associated with the abundance of the silphid beetle taxa. The carrion community silphid diversity was negatively affected by an increase in mean ambient temperature in all three regions. Although management intensity in forests did not affect the overall abundance of Silphidae, the abundance of <i>Nicrophorus humator</i> decreased significantly with higher forest management intensity across all three regions. Unmanaged and age-class forests showed a higher abundance of <i>N</i>. <i>humator</i> compared with extensively managed forest stands. These findings indicate that <i>N</i>. <i>humator</i> has potential as an indicator species for anthropogenic disturbances in forests. Overall, the direct responses of the silphid beetle community to diverse soil characteristics underline soil as an important factor determining the abundance and diversity of necrophagous carrion beetles in Central Europe. To protect these valuable ecosystem-service providers, forest-management-induced soil modifications need to be paid close attention.</p></div

Effects of environmental characteristics on the diversity of the taxon Silphidae.

<p>Relationship between Shannon’s diversity of the taxon Silphidae and <b>a</b> region and <b>b</b> mean ambient temperature. Relationship between Simpson’s dominance of the taxon Silphidae and <b>c</b> region, <b>d</b> fine silt content, <b>e</b> mean ambient temperature, and <b>f</b> soil type (n = number of plots per soil type). Observed values (circles) and predicted values (connected by a line) for the Gaussian-GLMM model (<b>b</b>: deviance = 19.66, P = 0.001) and for gamma-GLMM models (<b>d</b> & <b>e</b>: deviance = 40.57, P < 0.001). <b>a</b>: box plot showing the median, the 75% percentile, the 25% percentile, the highest non-extreme value and the smallest non-extreme value inside a category (Gaussian-GLMM, deviance = 11.11, P = 0.011; Tukey tests, *P < 0.05), <b>c</b>: box plot showing the median, the 75% percentile, the 25% percentile, the highest non-extreme value and the smallest non-extreme value inside a category (gamma-GLMM, deviance = 25.15, P < 0.001; Tukey tests, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001), and <b>f</b>: box plot showing the median, the 75% percentile, the 25% percentile, the highest non-extreme value, the smallest non-extreme value, and the extreme values inside a category (gamma-GLMM, deviance = 40.57, P < 0.001; Tukey tests, P > 0.05).</p

Effects of environmental characteristics on overall silphid beetle and <i>N</i>. <i>investigator</i> abundance.

<p>Relationship between total abundance of trapped silphid beetles per plot and <b>a</b> mean ambient temperature and <b>b</b> fine sand content. Relationship between total abundance of trapped <i>N</i>. <i>investigator</i> per plot and <b>c</b> region and <b>d</b> bulk density. <b>a</b> & <b>b</b>: observed values (circles) and predicted values (connected by a line) for the negative binomial-GLMM model (deviance = 10.39, P = 0.006), <b>c</b>: box plot showing the median, the 75% percentile, the 25% percentile, the highest non-extreme value, the smallest non-extreme value, and the extreme values inside a category (negative-binomial GLMM model comparison, deviance = 49.19, P < 0.001; Tukey tests, ***P < 0.001), <b>d</b>: observed values (circles) and predicted values (connected by a line) for the negative-binomial GLMM model (deviance = 56.44, P < 0.001).</p

Effects of environmental characteristics on <i>N</i>. <i>vespilloides</i> and <i>N</i>. <i>humator</i> abundance.

<p>Relationship between total abundance of trapped <i>N</i>. <i>vespilloides</i> per plot and <b>a</b> mean ambient temperature and <b>b</b> fine sand content, and between total abundance of trapped <i>N</i>. <i>humator</i> per plot and <b>c</b> management system (AC = age class, n = number of plots per form of forest management) and <b>d</b> silvicultural management intensity (SMI). <b>a</b> & <b>b</b>: observed values (circles) and predicted values (connected by a line) for the negative binomial-GLMM model (deviance = 15.25, P < 0.001). <b>c</b>: box plot showing the median, the 75% percentile, the 25% percentile, the highest non-extreme value, the smallest non-extreme value, and the extreme values inside a category (deviance = 55.73, P < 0.001; Tukey tests, **P < 0.01). <b>d</b>: observed values (circles) and predicted values (connected by a line) for the negative binomial-GLMM model (deviance = 5.04, P = 0.025).</p

Results of models comparing Shannon’s diversity and Simpson’s dominance of silphids in diverse forest types.

<p>Results of models comparing Shannon’s diversity and Simpson’s dominance of silphids in diverse forest types.</p

Statistical characteristics of models comparing the total abundance of silphids in diverse forest types.

<p>Statistical characteristics of models comparing the total abundance of silphids in diverse forest types.</p

Results of negative binomial-GLMMs comparing species richness of the taxon Silphidae in the different forest types in three regions.

<p>Results of negative binomial-GLMMs comparing species richness of the taxon Silphidae in the different forest types in three regions.</p