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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2006

Conservation-oriented forestry and early successional saproxylic beetles: Responses of functional groups to manipulated dead wood substrates

Gibb H, Pettersson RB, Hjalten J, Hilszczanski J, Ball JP, Johansson T, Atlegrim O, Danell K

Abstract

New conservation-oriented forestry aims to maintain intact populations of forest organisms by improving the conservation value of managed forests and providing protected areas. We tested the conservation value of treatments of dead wood for assemblages of early successional saproxylic beetles. In nine areas in northern Sweden, we selected one clear-cut, one mature managed forest and one reserve. In 2001-2002, we placed three blocks of spruce logs, each containing control, burned and shaded logs and a high stump ("snag") at each site. Saproxylic beetles emerging from the dead wood were collected using emergence traps and beetles flying close to it were collected using flight-intercept traps. After one year of exposure, assemblage composition was examined, with respect to nutritionally-defined functional groups, red-listed species and fire-favoured species. Experimental snags were most complementary to control logs, supporting different assemblages of cambium consumers and fungivores and supporting more red-listed individuals. Burned logs supported depauperate assemblages, particularly with respect to cambium consumers, while shading of logs affected assemblages of fungivores, but only on clear-cuts. Despite containing less dead wood, managed forests provided valuable habitat, supporting similar assemblages of saproxylic beetles to reserves. Most functional groups were less abundant on clear-cuts than in older forests, but fire-favoured species were more common on clear-cuts, suggesting that clear-cuts may support assemblages of species associated with natural disturbances, if suitable substrates are available. Utilization of logs by saproxylic beetles changes over time, so long-term monitoring of our experimental logs will determine their lifetime conservation value. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Published in

Biological Conservation
2006, Volume: 129, number: 4, pages: 437-450
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Gibb, Heloise

      • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
        • Hjältén, Joakim

          • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
          • Ball, John

            • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
            • Löfroth, Therese

              • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
              • Alinvi, Ola

                • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
                • Danell, Kjell

                  • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

                UKÄ Subject classification

                Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

                Publication identifier

                DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.11.010

                Permanent link to this page (URI)

                https://res.slu.se/id/publ/8648