Powerlines Enhance Insect Diversity

The study focused on the importance of forest-free areas under power lines for the diversity of several groups of insects in Central Europe. This type of areas are particularly important in the light of the observed disappearance of open habitats in forests on the one hand, and the increase of human impact on the forest on the other. The observed decline of biodiversity in forests can be compensated in part due to the creation and proper maintenance of open areas under power lines. The presented study is one of the very few in this field of knowledge and should be of interest to various groups of readers, i.e., forest managers, scientists, environmental organizations, society.

Differences in the response of selected insect groups to power lines and forests in investigated study sites in Poland: (a) ground beetles (Carabidae), (b) jewel beetles (Buprestidae), (c) long-horn beetles (Cerambycidae), (d) lady-bird beetles (Coccinellidae), (e) weevils and bark beetles (Curculionidae), (f) click beetles (Elateridae), (g) rove beetles (Staphylinidae), (h) darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae), (i) butterflies (Lepidoptera). Circles and triangles indicate results for power lines and forest interior, respectively. Whiskers represent 95% confidence intervals.

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