Effects of clear-cutting and plant competition control methods on carabid (Coleoptera : Carabidae) assemblages in northwestern Ontario

Total captures, species richness, diversity, and assemblages of adult carab ids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a boreal mixed-wood ecosystem study were com pared among unharvested, and clearcut plots untreated of treated with herbi cides (Vision(R) and Release(R)), mechanical treatments (brush saw and Silv ana Selective). Carabids were sampled using unbaited pitfall traps for one growing season 7 and 9 years after clear-cutting, in the second growing sea son after competition control was applied. A total of 5032 individuals repr esenting 30 species were collected between June 1 and September 25, 1995, T otal catches were not affected by the harvest or the conifer release altern atives applied. Species richness and diversity increased following conifer release alternatives. Ten species showed habitat preferences after treatmen t whereas the remaining 20 species were not significantly affected by treat ment.