Burying beetle habitat reproduction experiment (Silphidae)

Knowledge graph centered on Burying beetle habitat reproduction experiment (Silphidae) with 70 nodes and 123 connections. Top connected: Spruce, Atriplex canescens, Lepidoptera, Bacteria, elevational gradients.

Method synopsis

Field experiment comparing reproductive success of burying beetle species across habitat types using breeding pairs, mouse carcasses, and environmental monitoring. Measures burial success, development timing, and offspring production.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 20 papers using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Effect of larval body size on overwinter survival and emerging adult size in the burying beetle, <i>Nicrophorus investigator</i> (2002), Canadian Journal of Zoology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Collect and sort larvae by size
   Collected data from 24 groups of 20-25 large-sized larvae sorted by size and overwintered outside under natural conditions in Colorado, U.S.A. Larvae were weighed and sorted into size classes: small (<0.20 g), medium (0.20-0.31 g), and large (>0.31 g). Each individual larva was measured and assigned to groups, though following each individual larva was not practical.
   Quantities: 24 groups of 20-25 larvae each, three size classes with equal numbers per classDuration: Initial sorting and measurement periodConditions: Natural outdoor conditions in Colorado
   Equipment: weighing scales
2. Prepare overwintering containers
   Larvae were placed in steel cans (15-cm diameter, 17-cm depth) with a seven-mesh bottom on the bottom side with holes punched into the top side. These cans were buried so that the bottom of the can was 20 cm under soil surface. The larvae were allowed to position themselves at any depth in the container.
   Quantities: Steel cans 15-cm diameter, 17-cm depth, buried 20 cm undergroundDuration: Setup prior to overwintering periodConditions: Buried in soil with tops 20 cm underground
   Equipment: steel cans, seven-mesh screening, hole punching tools
3. Monitor overwintering temperatures
   Two HOBO recording temperature loggers were buried for the duration of the overwintering period in two identical containers randomly positioned within the array of containers that held larvae. Temperature was recorded every 20 minutes throughout the winter period.

Typical Equipment

• temperature sensors
• soil moisture sensors
• data loggers
• mouse carcasses
• field enclosures
• weighing equipment

Output Measurements

• burial success rates
• time to burial
• adult emergence timing
• larval counts
• larval weights
• mortality rates

Papers Using This Protocol (22)

Species Studied With This Protocol