A synthesis on the impact of non-native conifer plantations on insect diversity in northwestern Patagonia

CORLEY, JC; DIMARCO, R; FISCHBEIN, D; LANTSCHNER, MV; MARTINEZ, A; M MASSCIOCHI; MATTIACCI, A; PARITSIS J; VILLACIDE, JM

SOUTHERN FORESTS

NATL INQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE PTY LTD

Lugar: Johannesburg ; Año: 2018

2070-2620

Softwood forestry with non-native tree species isincreasing worldwide and especially in many developing countries of theSouthern Hemisphere. Tree plantations are beneficial in environmental andsocioeconomic aspects, but at the same time, there are recognized costsassociated with afforestation. Our aim is torevise the existing information on the impact of exotic conifer plantations inNW Patagonia on insect biodiversity. Atotal of five studies were selected and in these, not every insect groupresponded in a similar manner to the habitat replacement. There is a tendencytowards a reduction in abundance and species richness of several insects insidepine plantations. This change in abundance and richness was especially evidentfor ant assemblages and when pine plantations were dense. Beetle assemblages,in turn, showed diverse responses to the replacement of native vegetation withforests depending on the native habitat matrix. Our findings confirm thatpractices that reduce tree density (via thinning or during plantation) shouldbe recommended to minimize their impact on insect biodiversity in NW Patagonia.The consistent behavior of ant assemblages, coupled with their abundance, ease tosample and unambiguous taxonomy make them reliable candidates for long termmonitoring of the impact conifer forestation in NW Patagonia, as well asprobably in other regions of the world in which non-native pines replacenatural environments.