Differential responses of moth communities along successional gradients in plantation and regenerating warm temperate forests

Abstract This study investigates temporal changes in moth diversity and community composition within plantation ecosystems, evaluates their comparative status relative to regrowth forest habitats, and examines the differential responses of distinct moth taxa along successional gradients. Moth communities were sampled using standardized black light traps at 22 forest sites in southern Korea, representing early-stage plantations (EP, 1–3 years), mid-stage plantations (MP, 10–12 years), and regrowth forests (RF). Sampling was conducted monthly from May to September (excluding July) in 2023–2024. A total of 8075 individuals from 650 species and 22 families were recorded. Species richness ( q = 0) was highest between EP and MP, while Shannon ( q = 1) and Simpson ( q = 2) diversity in MP matched those of RF. Community composition differed significantly in EP, with MP converging toward RF. All-sized moths showed stronger separation among forest types. Family- and subfamily-level patterns showed that Crambidae and Erebinae were abundant in EP, whereas Geometridae, Pyralidae, and Bryophilinae (Noctuidae) were abundant in MP or RF. At the species level, six species were identified to differentiate among plantation types. This suggests that responses to plantation age are more clearly expressed at higher taxonomic levels than at the species level. Moth diversity and composition can substantially recover within a decade after plantation establishment. Older plantations may serve as valuable habitats, supporting biodiversity conservation in managed forest landscapes.