PARENT SESSION
Wednesday, August 9, 5:00-6:30 pm
Poster Session 18 - Forest ecology and management
Exhibit Hall, Ballroom Level, Cook Convention Center
Dispersal behavior of a saproxylic insect, Odontotaenius disjunctus, in a naturally patchy habitat.
Jackson, Heather*,1, Baum, Kristen2, Cronin, James1, 1 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA2 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
ABSTRACT- Recent theoretical and empirical studies show the importance of species-specific movement data when predicting the behavior of organisms within fragmented habitat. Little research has been done on the dispersal of insects that aid in wood decay, even though these organisms are considered essential to forest carbon cycles, biodiversity, and ecosystem function. We analyzed the movement of Odontotaenius disjunctus, a saproxylic beetle common to the southeastern United States. O. disjunctus is large and generally considered flightless, making observation of its movement fairly simple. Beetle movements were observed on flat and sloped terrain, and at forest boundaries. Pitfall traps were used to identify seasonal and daily patterns of movement. Preliminary data indicate that: 1) Turning angle, movement length, and movement duration are not affected by terrain (sloped or flat); 2) O. disjunctus exhibits no preference for up or downhill movement; 3) a strong preference is shown for movement towards forest and away from open fields; and 4) movement frequency does not differ between night and day. Seasonally, a peak in migration was observed in September with a minor peak in May. These data indicate that O. disjunctus can navigate across difficult terrain within the forest. Strong boundary behavior suggests O. disjunctus may not disperse well between forest fragments, or that such dispersal occurs via rare flights. Herein we have described the movement behavior of an important forest organism, thus providing a foundation for mechanistic explanations of O. disjunctus population abundance and distribution.
Key words: dispersal, coarse woody debris, Odontotaenius disjunctus