The beetles at Wog Wog: a contribution of Coleoptera systematics to an ecological field experiment

Abstract

In this brief review we outline the contribution of Dr J. F. Lawrence to a major long-term field experiment in the southeast forests of NSW that examines the effect of habitat fragmentation on beetles. Dr J. F. Lawrence identified and curated the beetle fauna, which proved to be a significant and long-term commitment. The beetle data set has since provided great insight to the complex effects of habitat fragmentation. In addition, the size and quality of the data set mean that, on an international level, it is a major inventory of beetle diversity in a temperate Eucalyptus forest, in its own right. Here we outline Dr J. F. Lawrence’s contribution and summarise the main features of the beetle data set and our findings about the impacts of fragmentation on the beetle fauna.