Changes in Tenebrionid Beetle and Ant Assembly Influenced by Different-Aged Haloxylon ammodendron Plantations in Northwest China

Abstract

The establishment of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations has been observed to markedly affect vegetation and soil characteristics within desert ecosystems, leading to notable changes in ground arthropods inhabiting these areas. In the study, we sampled tenebrionid beetles and ants through pitfall trapping in areas classified as mobile sand dunes (MSDs), fixed sand dunes (FSDs), and plantations of H. ammodendron aged 5, 10, 20, and 30 years (designated as HA5, HA10, HA20, and HA30, respectively), which were previously natural zones located in the midstream region of the Heihe River basin. We also measured physical and chemical topsoil of properties and vegetation properties. We found that the establishment of H. ammodendron plantations led to a significant increase in shrub cover, soil nutrient content, and electrical conductivity, while resulting in a reduction in soil pH and sand fraction in comparison to MSD and FSD areas. Furthermore, we observed that the establishment of H. ammodendron plantations led to a notable decline in both the abundance and species richness of tenebrionid beetles, while substantially enhancing the abundance and species richness of ants during the later phases of plantation development. Moreover, the establishment of the H. ammodendron plantations resulted in a significant increase in the abundance of Messor desertora during the later phases of restoration, while the abundance of Anatolica spp. and Mantichorula semenowi declined and eventually vanished in the final phase of the process. Shrub cover (SC), herbaceous species richness, soil pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) cumulatively explained 34.9% of the variation in tenebrionid beetles; SC and EC cumulatively explained 25.1% of the variation in ants. In conclusion, the creation of H. ammodendron plantations strongly impacted the diversity of tenebrionid beetles and ants, reshaping the composition and dynamics of the detrital food web within desert ecosystems. This study seeks to address the gap in knowledge concerning the ecological effects of H. ammodendron plantations on the diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, offering valuable insights for the development of more effective strategies in ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation in desert regions.