A synthesis on the impact of non-native conifer plantations on ant and beetle diversity in northwestern Patagonia

CORLEY J. C.; DIMARCO ROMINA D.; FISCHBEIN D.; LANTSCHNER MARÍA VICTORIA; MARTINEZ ANDRES S.; MASCIOCCHI MAITÉ; ANALIA MATTIACCI; PARITSIS J.; VILLACIDE JOSÉ

SOUTHERN FORESTS

NATL INQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE PTY LTD

Lugar: Johannesburg ; Año: 2018

2070-2620

Softwood forestry with non-native tree species is increasing worldwide and especially in many developing countries of the Southern Hemisphere. Tree plantations are beneficial in environmental and socioeconomic aspects, but at the same time, there are recognized costs associated with afforestation. Our aim is to revise the existing information on the impact of exotic conifer plantations in NW Patagonia on insect biodiversity. A total of five studies were selected and in these, not every insect group responded in a similar manner to the habitat replacement. There is a tendency towards a reduction in abundance and species richness of several insects inside pine plantations. This change in abundance and richness was especially evident for ant assemblages and when pine plantations were dense. Beetle assemblages, in turn, showed diverse responses to the replacement of native vegetation with forests depending on the native habitat matrix. Our findings confirm that practices that reduce tree density (via thinning or during plantation) should be recommended to minimize their impact on insect biodiversity in NW Patagonia. The consistent behavior of ant assemblages, coupled with their abundance, ease to sample and unambiguous taxonomy make them reliable candidates for long term monitoring of the impact conifer forestation in NW Patagonia, as well as probably in other regions of the world in which non-native pines replace natural environments.