Kauri dieback forests have fewer beetles

Publicly released:
New Zealand
Tree canopy in an area with lots of Kauri dieback, Piha. Credit: Bioeconomy Science Institute
Tree canopy in an area with lots of Kauri dieback, Piha. Credit: Bioeconomy Science Institute

Areas with Kauri dieback in the Waitākere Ranges appear to be losing beetles too, scientists have discovered. They trapped more than 4300 beetles (some of them mid-flight), finding that the areas with dieback had a third fewer beetles, and a fifth fewer unique species, than healthy kauri stands. The researchers suggest the loss of kauri canopy increases the light, wind, and dryness of the forest floor, making it less hospitable for bugs.

Multimedia

Kauri tree canopy
Kauri tree canopy
Journal/
conference:
NZ Journal of Ecology
Research:Paper
Organisation/s: Scion
Funder: This work was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Ngā Rākau Taketake—Myrtle Rust and Kauri Dieback Research, C09X1817).
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