EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Green on Ground

Ground Beetle (Chlaenius sericeus), Family Carabidae
Flagstaff, Arizona

Explanation:  Hardly the camouflage that we saw in the lubber last week, this beetle was scurrying along over decaying elk pellets and old twigs ... green on brown, and a ground beetle on the ... well, ground.  

This is an amazingly diverse group of carabid beetles, with this genus alone sporting about one thousand species.

But watch your step.  These little jewels are not only quite striking, they can also serve as important indicators of the diversity and health of forest ecosystems.

The variety and diversity of ground beetles can provide important biological indications of the natural disturbance regimes of forests under management.  

Information:
   Allegro, G., and R. Sciaky.  2003.  Assessing the potential role of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) as bioindicators in poplar stands, with a newly proposed ecological index (FAI).  Forest Ecology and Management 175(1-3):275-284.
   Buddle, C.M., D.W. Langor, G.R. Pohl, and J.R. Spence.  2006.  Arthropod responses to harvesting and wildfire: Implications for emulation of natural disturbance in forest management.  Biological Conservation 128(3):346-357.
   Pearce, J.L., and L.A. Venier.  2006.  The use of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae) as bioindicators of sustainable forest management: a review.  Ecological Indicators 6(4):780-793.