Lightning-damaged trees support unique beetle assemblages in a neotropical forest

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

3:18 PM – 3:30 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 217/218/219

Presenting Author(s)

Kane A. Lawhorn

Ph.D. Candidate
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Co-Author(s)

EG

Evan M. Gora

Earl S. Tupper Postdoctoral Fellow
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Millbrook, New York
CG

Cesar Gutierrez

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Panama City, Panama, Panama
PB

Phillip M. Bitzer

University of Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
JB

Jeffrey C. Burchfield

University of Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
SY

Stephen P. Yanoviak

Tom Wallace Endowed Chair of Conservation Professor
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Disturbance alters the structure of ecological communities. Localized disturbances in tropical rainforests often create canopy gaps - patches of forest where large trees have fallen or are defoliated. Lightning is a major cause of large-tree mortality, and consequently gaps, in tropical forests. Lightning-caused gaps consist of abundant dead standing wood which likely is a predictable resource for saproxylic arthropods, specifically wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera). The goal of this study was to provide a preliminary evaluation of the beetles that are attracted to lightning-damaged trees in a tropical forest. We placed flight intercept traps in the subcanopy of 10 struck trees and 10 unaffected trees of the same species on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Collected beetles were counted and identified to the lowest taxonomic level. Beetle abundances were generally greater in struck trees and community composition was distinct from beetle communities from unaffected trees. These results suggest that the dead wood of trees struck by lightning is an identifiable and tractable resource for saproxylic beetles. Ongoing research will examine differences in beetle communities associated with treefall gaps and lightning gaps. Ultimately, this research will clarify the relevance of lightning to the maintenance of beetle diversity in tropical forests.