scholarly journals Effects of Environmental Traits and Landscape Management on the Biodiversity of Saproxylic Beetles in Mediterranean Oak Forests

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Ana M. Cárdenas ◽  
Patricia Gallardo ◽  
Ángela Salido ◽  
José Márquez
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Saproxylic Beetles ◽  
Red Lists ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Old Trees ◽  
Negative Relationships ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Fauna

This study assesses the effects of environmental traits and landscape management on the biodiversity of saproxylic beetles from “dehesas” located in Sierra Morena Mountains (Córdoba, Southern Iberian Peninsula). The dehesa is an open savanna-like landscape with mature/old trees scattered on a pasture cover where both living and dead wood are of great importance for the maintenance of macroinvertebrate fauna. The study was carried out in five plots, with different environmental features and management. A total of 137 branches belonging to the four main tree species present in the area were collected, classified, and kept under four different thermal conditions. From January to June 2019, the adult emergences were followed. A total of 466 saproxylic specimens of 31 species were obtained, 5 of them included in red lists of protected fauna. Two Bostrichidae species (Lichenophanes numida Lesne and Scobicia pustulata Fab.) and two Cerambycidae (Chlorophorus ruficornis Oliv. and Trichoferus fasciculatus Faldermann) are included in the “European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles”; and the Clerid Tillus ibericus Bahillo de la Puebla, López–Colón and García–Paris, is included in the “Red Book of Invertebrate of Andalucía”. Differences were observed regarding the diversity and abundance among the plots and among the tree species from which the beetles emerged. Simple regression analyses revealed negative relationships between tree density/Buprestidae, livestock/Bostrichidae, and land use/Cerambycidae. Multivariant logistic regression analysis did not find significant relationships among environmental traits and saproxylic diversity. Results confirmed that dry wood was a main resource for the maintenance dehesas’ biodiversity because it constitutes an ecological niche exploited by a significant set of saproxylic beetles belonging to the Bostrichidae, Buprestidae, and Cerambycidae families, in addition to other guilds of species, mainly Carabidae and Cleridae, which feed on the above-mentioned groups. Our results also support that increasing environmental temperature accelerates the development of Buprestidae, but this effect was not evident for the Bostrichidae species.

scholarly journals Préférences écologiques des coléoptères saproxyliques emblématiques de Suisse

2018 ◽  
Vol 169 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Sanchez ◽  
Yannick Chittaro ◽  
Yves Gonseth
Keyword(s):  
Dead Wood ◽  
Saproxylic Beetles ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Saproxylic Coleoptera ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
Decaying Wood ◽  
Old Trees

Ecological preferences of Switzerland's emblematic saproxylic beetles Swiss forests are home to nearly 1500 species of saproxylic Coleoptera. 414 of these are considered emblematic of specific microhabitats and may be used to evaluate the biological quality of different types of forests and wooded areas in Switzerland. This article provides a summary of the ecological requirements of these beetles based on information gathered from entomological collections and the literature. 77% of emblematic saproxylic beetles live at low altitude and 64% depend on warmth and high insolation. Oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and pine (particularly Pinus sylvestris) are the trees most often exploited by these beetles. 46% of saproxylic Coleoptera depend on decaying wood and 12% on heavily decomposed wood. 12% develop only in cavities in wood and 13% only in wood-decomposing fungi. We propose measures to promote saproxylic Coleoptera, namely by increasing the total amount of dead wood available (namely tree trunks and large branches) throughout Switzerland to at least 20m3/ha in the Jura, on the Plateau and the southern foothills of the Alps and 25 m3/ha in the Alps and Prealps. We also recommend the conservation of old trees that provide unique treemicrohabitats for saproxylic beetles.

scholarly journals Saproxylic beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) on an old beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Madonie Mountains (Sicily, Italy)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignazio Sparacio ◽  
Roberto Viviano
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Rare Species ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Saproxylic Beetles ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Saproxylic Insects ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Old Trees

Saproxylic insects associated with old trees are seriously threatened in Europe and their habitat is severely decreased. Usually, old trees harbour a very diverse fauna of beetles with many rare species and red-listed saproxylic insect species. These insects live in the dead wood outside the tree (in branches or parts of the trunk), inside the tree hollows, in the debris, and in fungal fruit bodies. During 2019 we collected saproxylic beetles near Monte Carbonara (Madonie Mountains, Sicily, Italy) at 1800 meters above sea level. Particularly, we studied a very old still standing beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), t with numerous cavities and parts of the trunk fallen to the ground. Samples were collected by visually looking for beetles, on the ground and under leaves near the old beech, in its cavities and sifting the debris in the laboratory. Up to date the results include interesting beetle species such as Osmoderma cristinae Sparacio, 1994 (Cetoniidae), Byrrhus numidicus Normand, 1935 (Byrrhidae), Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) and Morimus asper Sulzer, 1776 (Cerambycidae).

scholarly journals Larval morphology of Osmoderma cristinae Sparacio, 1994  (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Bellavista ◽  
Ignazio Sparacio
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Red Lists ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Saproxylic Species ◽  
Old Trees

Osmoderma cristinae Sparacio, 1994 is an endemic beetle of Sicily (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae). It is a saproxylic species and has a very important role in the forest ecosystems. It is included in multiple national and international “Red Lists" as Endangered species (Audisio et al. 2014, Cálix et al. 2018). At the larval stages O. cristinae participes in the degradation of “dead wood” in old trees, in their cavities, and in downed logs. In this work, the larval morphology of O. cristinae is described.

scholarly journals Effect of tree species identity and related habitat parameters on understorey bryophytes – interrelationships between bryophyte, soil and tree factors in a 50-year-old experimental forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaja Rola ◽  
Vítězslav Plášek ◽  
Katarzyna Rożek ◽  
Szymon Zubek
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Habitat Factors ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Old Trees ◽  
Habitat Parameters

Abstract Aim Overstorey tree species influence both soil properties and microclimate conditions in the forest floor, which in turn can induce changes in ground bryophyte communities. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of tree species identity and the most important habitat factors influencing understorey bryophytes. Methods We assessed the effect of 14 tree species and related habitat parameters, including soil parameters, vascular plant presence and light intensity on bryophytes in monospecific plots covered by nearly fifty-year-old trees in the Siemianice Experimental Forest (Poland). Results The canopy tree species determined bryophyte species richness and cover. The strongest differences were observed between plots with deciduous and coniferous trees. Soils with a more acidic pH and lower content of macronutrients supported larger bryophyte coverage. We also found a positive correlations between vascular plants and availability of light as well as bryophyte species richness. Conclusion Tree species identity and differences in habitat conditions in the forest floor lead to changes of ground bryophyte richness, cover and species composition. Consequently, the changes in the dominant tree species in the stand may result in significant repercussions on ground bryophyte communities. We indicated that the introduction of alien tree species, i.e. Quercus rubra, has an adverse effect on bryophyte communities and suggested that the selection of tree species that contribute to the community consistent with the potential natural vegetation is highly beneficial for maintaining ground bryophyte biodiversity.

scholarly journals Drivers of CO2 Emission Rates from Dead Wood Logs of 13 Tree Species in the Initial Decomposition Phase

Forests ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 2484-2504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiemo Kahl ◽  
Kristin Baber ◽  
Peter Otto ◽  
Christian Wirth ◽  
Jürgen Bauhus
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Decomposition Phase

Standing or downed dead trees — does it matter for saproxylic beetles in temperate oak-rich forest?

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2494-2507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Franc
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Quercus Petraea ◽  
Saproxylic Beetles ◽  
Substrate Preferences ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Secondary Wood ◽  
Wood Boring

For conservation of forest biodiversity, dead wood in the form of logs, snags, or cut high stumps is sometimes left or created when forests are harvested. In Scandinavia, such dead wood usually comes from conifers. For forests in temperate regions, few studies have analysed composition and species richness of beetles using dead wood of oaks ( Quercus spp). In this study in southern Sweden, I examined the occurrence of saproxylic beetles trapped at lying (logs) and standing (snags) dead wood of European oaks ( Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl.) in 13 oak-rich mixed forests of relatively high conservation value. The assemblage of beetles differed strikingly between the lying and standing dead wood. Traps on lying dead wood, compared to traps on standing dead wood, had more fungivores and fewer primary and secondary wood boring species. Of 94 species tested for individual substrate preferences, 48 showed prevalence for different trap/substrate types. Absolute species richness was significantly higher on logs than snags, but a smaller proportion of the snag substrate or snag beetles may have been sampled. For red-listed beetles, no differences in their species richness were detected among substrates. These results suggest that logs of dead oaks are valuable and that both snags and logs of oak should be retained and, if needed, created in forestry, such that they are continuously available in stands.

scholarly journals Numerical Responses of Saproxylic Beetles to Rapid Increases in Dead Wood Availability following Geometrid Moth Outbreaks in Sub-Arctic Mountain Birch Forest

PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e99624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad ◽  
Sabrina Schultze ◽  
Jane Uhd Jepsen ◽  
Martin Biuw ◽  
Lauri Kapari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dead Wood ◽  
Saproxylic Beetles ◽  
Birch Forest ◽  
Mountain Birch ◽  
Geometrid Moth ◽  
Mountain Birch Forest

Diversity of macro-detritivores in dead wood is influenced by tree species, decay stage and environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 288-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Zuo ◽  
Myrthe Fonck ◽  
Jurgen van Hal ◽  
J. Hans C. Cornelissen ◽  
Matty P. Berg
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Decay Stage

Harvestmen (Opiliones) communities in an arboretum: Influence of tree species

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Slavomír Stašiov ◽  
Eva Michalková ◽  
Ivan Lukáčik ◽  
Marek Čiliak
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Available Information

AbstractAlthough harvestmen (Opiliones) are among the best studied groups of arachnids in Europe from the faunistic point of view, there is still lack of available information on ecological requirements of the particular species. Habitat preferences that determine the distribution of species are largely determined by the habitat structure and microclimate. Besides other factors, these characteristics of habitats are also influenced by the nature of the vegetation. Therefore, our study dealt with the influence of tree species on harvestmen communities. We conducted the research on nine sites in the Borová hora arboretum (Zvolen town, Central Slovakia). Each studied site represents a monoculture of one of nine tree species. On each site also some attributes of soil and leaf litter (pH, conductivity, content of H, C, N and P) were evaluated. Harvestmen were collected by pitfall trapping during vegetation periods in 2008–2012. In total, 2515 individuals of 17 species and 3 families were obtained. Significant differences were revealed between the compared forest stands in terms of total epigeic activity and species richness of harvestmen. The hierarchical cluster analysis divided harvestmen communities into two main clusters (except community of the site with European hornbeam). The first one represented four sites with relatively lower canopy (< 50%) and with the higher number of captured individuals, the second cluster grouped four sites with higher canopy (> 50%) and with the lower number of captured individuals. The results of research confirmed statistically significant relationships between the litter conductivity and equitability and between the litter pH and equitability of harvestmen communities.

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