Abundance and Diversity of Insects in Coastal Grasslands (Fiscalini Ranch Preserve and Rancho Marino Reserve)

Site descriptionThe study was carried out over three days between August 30th, 2016 and September 1st 2016, in two sites in Cambria, San Luis Obispo County, California. Site one: Kenneth Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, located on the southern edge of Cambria. The reserve contains remnant coastal grasslands, consisting of areas that were cultivated and planted with Harding Grass (Phalaris aquatica), as well as those that have never been cultivated. The entire reserve has been grazed by livestock. Transect one is located in a previously cultivated planted area, transect two is located in an uncultivated area. Site two: Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is a coastal grassland located within the edges of Cambria town. The preserve has been grazed in the past by livestock but not cultivated. The reserve is no longer grazed and now functions as a nature reserve MethodsTwo 100m transects were laid out at site one and two. A total of 18 locations from each transect were sampled, six per day. The sampling locations were chosen by generating 25 random numbers between 1 and 100. The daily sites were chosen by generating six random numbers between 1 and 25 to correspond with the position on the original random number list. These final numbers were used to indicate the distance from the start of the transect. At Rancho Marino, transect 1 was located at 35.53966, -121.09032 to 35.53896, -121.08968. Transect 2 was located at 35.52933, -121.07793 to 35.52862 , -121.07728. At Fiscalini transect 1 35.54944, -121.10043 to 35.55009, -121.10102. Transect 2 is from 35.55046, -121.10166 to 35.55117, -121.10227.Polaroid Cube cameras were used to capture visits by both flying and crawling insects. The cameras were placed six steps away from the transect northwards at each of six sampling distances. The cameras faced north to minimize interference from solar glare. The first hour of video was reviewed and each instance of an insect entering the field of view was recorded. Insects that left the field of view and returned were counted as two separate observations because it was not possible to confirm the identity of an individual. Pan traps were used to sample the insect communities. The pan traps were made from white Solo bowls painted red, blue, yellow or left unpainted. The bowls were filled with an unscented dish detergent solution. The pan traps were placed at each of the six camera locations on each transect in the following order: red, white, yellow, blue with respect to the camera’s field of view. Pan traps were left out for three hours (on average 12:30 - 15:30). After collection, the insects were stored in 95% ethanol. Bees were identified to family at a minimum and genus where possible. The remaining insects were identified to order. To assess vegetation cover, 0.25 m2 quadrat was used to visually estimate the proportion of Harding grass, other exotics, native plants and bare ground at each sampling location and the presence/absence of scat was recorded. Any insects observed during the vegetation survey were recorded. Group Names: Jenna Braun, Simmy Kang, Aisa Kuper-Psenicnik, Yating Li, Mariam Nnanna, Yue Yin场地描述 本研究于2016年8月30日至9月1日的三天内，在加利福尼亚州圣路易斯奥比斯波县坎布里亚（Cambria）的两处场地开展。 场地一：肯尼斯·诺里斯牧场马里诺保护区（Kenneth Norris Rancho Marino Reserve），位于坎布里亚南部边缘。该保护区现存残存海岸草原，涵盖曾被耕作并种植硬草（Harding Grass，Phalaris aquatica）的区域，以及从未经耕作的原生区域。整个保护区历史上均有畜牧放牧活动。样线（transect）一设置于曾被耕作的种植区域，样线二设置于未被耕作的区域。 场地二：菲斯卡利尼牧场保护区（Fiscalini Ranch Preserve），为坐落于坎布里亚城镇范围内的海岸草原。该保护区过往曾有畜牧放牧，但未被耕作，目前已停止放牧，作为自然保护区运行。 研究方法 在场地一与场地二各布设2条100米长的样线（transect）。每条样线共选取18个采样点位，每日采集6个点位。采样点位的选取流程为：先生成1至100区间内的25个随机数，再通过生成1至25区间内的6个随机数，对应原随机数列表中的位置，最终得到的数值用于指示距样线起点的距离。 在马里诺牧场保护区，样线一的坐标范围为35.53966, -121.09032 至 35.53896, -121.08968；样线二的坐标范围为35.52933, -121.07793 至 35.52862, -121.07728。在菲斯卡利尼保护区，样线一的坐标范围为35.54944, -121.10043 至 35.55009, -121.10102；样线二的坐标范围为35.55046, -121.10166 至 35.55117, -121.10227。 本次研究使用宝丽来Cube相机（Polaroid Cube cameras）记录飞行与爬行类昆虫的到访活动。相机设置于距样线向北6步的位置，对应6个采样距离。相机朝向正北，以降低太阳眩光的干扰。对录制视频的首小时内容进行回放，记录每一次昆虫进入视野的事件；若昆虫离开视野后再次进入，则计为两次独立观测，因无法确认个体身份。 同时采用盘诱捕器（pan traps）采集昆虫群落。盘诱捕器由未涂装的Solo碗改制而成，分别喷涂红色、蓝色、黄色，或保留原色未做处理。碗内盛放无香洗洁精溶液。在每条样线的6个相机采样点位处，按相机视野方向依次布设红色、白色、黄色、蓝色的盘诱捕器。盘诱捕器放置时长为3小时（平均时段为12:30至15:30）。采集完成后，将昆虫保存于95%乙醇（ethanol）中。蜂类至少鉴定至科级，条件允许时可鉴定至属级；其余昆虫类群鉴定至目级。 为评估植被覆盖情况，使用0.25 m²的样方（quadrat）在每个采样点位通过目视估算硬草、其他外来植物、本土植物以及裸地的占比，并记录粪便痕迹的有无。植被调查过程中观察到的昆虫也一并记录。 团队成员 珍娜·布劳恩（Jenna Braun）、西米·康（Simmy Kang）、艾莎·库珀-普塞尼克尼克（Aisa Kuper-Psenicnik）、李雅婷（Yating Li）、玛丽安·恩纳纳（Mariam Nnanna）、尹悦（Yue Yin）