Isolating spatial effects on beta diversity to inform forest landscape planning

Understanding the effects of landscapes on pest and non-pest species is necessary if regional landscape planning is to both control pests and conserve biodiversity. A first step is understanding of how both pests and non-pest species interact with the landscape configuration to determine the density of the two groups. While it is impossible to examine the occurrence and dispersal behavior of all species, different turnover rates in different species assemblages may offer general insights into responses of species assemblages. In this study I examine the distance decay of similarity of longhorned beetle assemblages in a large forest area in Indiana, USA, with minimal differences in habitat and few barriers to dispersal. Differences in beta diversity between groups are therefore likely due to dispersal distances. I found differences in turnover rates between species that decompose dead wood and those that attack living trees, and between species with different adult feeding habits. This suggests that management for simultaneous conservation and pest control is possible.