Evidence item

In this 6-year case study, we examined the response of a surface-active (epigeic) beetle community (Coleoptera) in a mixed-conifer forest subjected to tree thinning followed by a prescribed broadcast slash burn. We used a Before-After/Control-Impact (BACI) design to test treatment effects on the beetle community composition, diversity, richness, evenness, individual species abundances, and trophic structure. We documented 289 taxa of Coleoptera and found that treatments caused significant changes in the beetle community's composition, with 21 common species increasing and 35 species declining in the more open post-treatment sub-canopy environment; only 3 common species were extirpated from the treatment sites, while 2 common species colonized the post-thinned/burned areas.