Temporal effects of selection logging on ground beetle communities in northern hardwood forests of eastern Canada

We compared temporal changes in composition and abundance of ground beetles (Carabidae) among hardwood forest stands that underwent single-tree selection cutting 0.5-3 years previously, 15-20 years previously, and reference stands that are and will remain unmanaged in the park's wilderness zone to determine impact of this silvicultural method on these important invertebrates. Short-term (0.5-3 year post-logging) effects included an increase in the number of forest generalist and open habitat species, a loss of large bodied species, and substantial (> 50%) reductions in activity densities of carabids; the latter effect correlated with significant reductions in leaf litter. Long-term (15-20 year post-logging) effects included an increase in forest generalist and open habitat species and increases in the activity densities of a few species that preferred the vegetation characteristics present in the 15-20 year treatment and absent from reference stands. Beetle communities in stands harvested 15-20 years previously contained activity densities and species composition similar to reference stands in the park, suggesting few long-term effects after the first rotation of this method. Introduced carabids were rare in our mostly forested study area. We recommend examining effects of a second rotation on carabid communities.