Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Leopold, Bruce D.

Committee Member

Miller, Darren A.

Committee Member

Burger Jr., L. Wes

Committee Member

Brown, Richard D.

Date of Degree

12-15-2007

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Abstract

Prescribed fire and herbicides are 2 silviculture tools used by forest managers to control hardwood competition in pine (Pinus spp.) forests. I tested effects of prescribed burning and herbicides on selected invertebrate communities, including carabid beetles, and compared 2 invertebrate sampling approaches in thinned, intensively managed pine stands in Kemper County, Mississippi. I used 6 replicate stands containing 4, 10-ha treatment plots each that were randomly assigned treatments of burn only, herbicide only, burn/herbicide, and control. I suction-sampled invertebrate communities and pitfall trapped carabid beetles to examine treatment responses. Direct effects of burning and overall vegetation response influenced communities most but responses were limited. Sampling inefficiencies may have obscured treatment effects and managers and researchers are advised to consider all available methods when integrating invertebrate research. Information on forest management effects is still lacking but future research incorporating invertebrate sampling will support a better understanding of management impacts on ecosystems.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17016

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