Large-scale sampling of beetle communities in Laos shows that conversion of natural forests into plantations leads to a decline in family richness and abundance.

ABSTRACT: Rapid economic development can pose a threat to the biodiversity of tropical countries. In Laos, this is manifested by the conversion of natural forests into plantations, even though this area is one of the biodiversity hotspots of Southeast Asia. Beetle communities can be good indicators of the impact of anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed for the first time a large-scale inventory of Coleoptera to assess the ecological and anthropogenic drivers of beetle communities in Laos. We examined beetle communities (described at the family level) across the country, located in distinct habitat types, in order to understand the impact of the conversion of natural forest into plantations. We found that beetle abundance had declined in plantations compared to natu

SUBMITTER: Chouangthavy B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10318580 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature