Beetle Survey, Warra, Southern Forests Experimental Forest Landscape, 2010-2011

The dataset was collected as part of a broader study examining the responses of bird, plant and beetle species to the intensity of disturbance in the landscape surrounding plots of either mature tall, wet eucalypt forest or of 25-50 year-old silvicultural regeneration following clearfell harvesting. The study tested the null hypotheses that species persisting in patches of mature forest or recolonising patches of silvicultural regeneration would be insensitive to the intensity of disturbance in the surrounding landscape

The study was done in 2010-11 in the Southern Forests Experimental Forest Landscape (SFEFL) – a 32 x 35 area anchored on the Warra Long-Term Ecological Research site and extending eastwards to the estuary of the Huon River. The surveys of the three taxonomic groups were done in fifty-six, 50x50m plots – 28 each in mature eucalypt forest and silvicultural regeneration. Those plots were located to sample the measured range of average disturbance intensity (based on the mix of vegetation classes) at three scales - 0.5, 1 and 2 km – in the circular landscapes surrounding the plots.

The beetle dataset was based on window intercept trap sampling to collect beetles at each 50 x 50 m plot-corner done on over a six-week period in March - April 2010.