Rapid recovery of boreal rove beetle (Staphylinidae) assemblages 16 years after variable retention harvest

Post-harvest recovery of biodiversity is one important goals in modern forestry. A variable retention (VR) approach has been particular interest North America because it promotes rapid faunal recovery, while minimizing negative lasting impacts logging on the natural fauna. We studied responses rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) to a broad range harvests (2, 10, 20, 50 and 75% retention) comparison uncut controls as part Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) experiment boreal mixedwood forest western Canada. sampled using pitfall traps 1, 2, 11 16 years post-harvest replicated (n = 3) stands representing four cover types (deciduous-dominated, deciduous with spruce understory, mixed coniferous-dominated). collected 74 263 individuals distributed across 99 species (excluding Aleocharinae). Estimated richness was highest clear-cuts until year 11, but by similar among treatments. Species composition initially varied strongly relation intensity harvest treatments, overall variation decreased time, 16, overlapped most treatment combinations. Assemblages recovered more quickly early successional (deciduous-dominated) than late (mixed conifer-dominated) stands. Overall, our results show that beetle assemblages harvested all VR prescriptions converged rapidly toward those fire-origin mature did over first post-harvest. Thus, demonstrates even modest levels can facilitate staphylinid managed landscapes.