However, the overall assemblage response was largely a recapitulation of the responses of several abundant species. We were able to characterize differences in beetle assemblages between harvested and non-harvested plots as well as differences between whole tree (WTH) and stem only (SOH) harvested sites where logging residues had been removed or left following harvest. Increased catch rates in WTH sites, where post-harvest biomass was less, were attributable to increased catches of rove beetles Pseudopsis subulata, Quedius labradorensis and to a lesser extent Gabrius brevipennis.

Uncut stands were characterized primarily by five species: Atheta capsularis, Atheta klagesi, Atheta strigosula, Tachinus fumipennis/ frigidus complex ( Staphylinidae) and to a lesser extent to Pterostichus punctatissimus Catch rates in WTH were greater than SOH sites. Overall catch rates were greater in uncut forest (Control) than either stem-only or whole-tree harvested sites. Beetles were collected throughout the summer of 2011, one year following harvesting, using pitfall traps. Here we evaluate the initial changes in the abundance, species richness and community composition of rove ( Staphylinidae) and ground beetles ( Carabidae), immediately following 1) stem-only harvesting (SOH), in which logging debris (i.e., tree tops and branches) are retained on site, and 2) whole-tree harvesting (WTH), in which stems, tops and branches are removed in mature balsam fir stands in Quebec, Canada. Increased interest in biomass harvesting for bioenergetic applications has raised questions regarding the potential ecological consequences on forest biodiversity.

Canadian pitfall trap