Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Science (PhD)
Administrative Home Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Advisor 1
Tara L. Bal
Advisor 2
Kristin E. Brzeski
Committee Member 1
Carsten Külheim
Committee Member 2
Valoree Gagnon
Committee Member 3
Nancy Langston
Abstract
Insect conservation, primarily focused on pollinators, is a growing issue amid concerns of climate change and the purported sixth mass extinction of Earth’s biodiversity. However, the focus on charismatic pollinators ignores a large portion of ecologically important and beneficial species. Having broader knowledge of insect diets and the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on diets can better inform more comprehensive management approaches while also providing valuable knowledge with regards to trophic relationships between multiple species within ecosystems. This ensures the health and stability of ecosystems beyond pollination services. This research started by establishing the utility of Silphid beetles for invertebrate DNA (iDNA) studies using both Sanger and high-throughput Illumina sequencing methods. Subsequently, iDNA techniques were applied to assess population and diet responses of live-trapped Silphid and Carabid beetles to the Northern Hardwood Silviculture Experiment to Enhance Diversity (NH-SEED) in Alberta, Michigan. Silphid trapping revealed preferences for treatments with higher canopy, while light traps and pitfall traps indicated diet data at different developmental stages. Carabid trapping showed increasing diversity in recently harvested sites and changing community structure reflective of similar studies. Genetic analysis of the primary Carabid species collected, Pterostichus melanarius, indicated diet differences based on seasonality and silvicultural treatment, aligning with expected community responses, but providing novel information about earthworms in diets in forest systems, instead of agricultural systems. The final objective explored human-insect relationships, incorporating historical perspectives, art, storytelling, and engagement with Indigenous Knowledge Holders, advocating for a more holistic approach to insect conservation that respects and is inclusive of Indigenous communities. The results of these studies contribute to a broader understanding of anthropogenic disturbance and can influence how we approach insect conservation. By shifting the focus beyond pollinators and incorporating a more comprehensive understanding of diets and trophic relationships, conservation efforts can better address the complexities of ecosystem health and stability. Additionally, the consideration of diverse perspectives, including Indigenous knowledge, advocates for a more inclusive approach to conservation practices.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Higdon, Katherine E., "SILPHID AND CARABID BEETLES IN AN EXPERIMENTAL FOREST TRIAL: iDNA AND DIETS, AND INSECT-HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS CAN BETTER INFORM FOREST MANAGEMENT", Open Access Dissertation, Michigan Technological University, 2024.