Biodiversity in remnants of natural mountain forests under conservation-oriented management

Abstract

The structure of forests is an important stabilizing factor regarding ongoing global climate and land use change. Biodiverse mountain forests with natural structure are one of the ecosystems most endangered by these problems. We focused on the mountain forest islands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and their role in the natural distribution of organisms. The study area was situated in the oldest Czech national park, Krkonoše (385 km2), which is the highest mountain ridge in the country. We studied multi-taxa (lichens, beetles and hymenopterans) responses to three hierarchical spatial levels of the environment: the topography was described by the elevation gradient; the patch structure was described by canopy openness, dead wood amounts, and Norway spruce (Picea abies) cover; and the tree level was described by species of the sampled tree and its diameter. Lichens preferred higher elevations, while insect groups responded conversely. Furthermore, insect groups were mainly influenced by the inner patch structure of beech islands. Lichens may be jeopardized due to the predicted future increase in temperatures, since they would need to shift toward higher altitudes. Insects may be mainly threatened in the future by land use changes (i.e., forest management) – as indicated by an interconnection of canopy openness and the amount of dead wood.

Managed and Unmanaged Pinus sylvestris Forest Stands Harbour Similar Diversity and Composition of the Phyllosphere and Soil Fungi

“…In support, Parlade et al [42] have shown that, in P. sylvestris stands, a different intensity of forest management has little effect on the overall diversity of soil fungi. The diversity and composition of fungal communities may also depend on the forest structure, i.e., the age and composition of the tree species [23,26], which together with other factors may determine the habitat heterogeneity [4]. As both managed and unmanaged stands within each national park were in the same geographical area and with similar environmental conditions, it appears that the management abandonment had little effect on the stand structure, which remained largely unchanged and resembled managed forests ( Table 1).…”

“…As a result, ca. 10% of the forest area in Europe is left unmanaged [4]. In unmanaged forests, natural disturbances such as wind throws or forest fires lead to heterogeneous structure and different successional stages of forest development [5][6][7][8].…”

“…However, many of these forests may still have relatively high biodiversity [6]. For example, Horák et al [4] have shown that some beetles thrive in managed forests. Indeed, the richness of several ground beetle species was found to be either higher or did not differ significantly when compared between managed and unmanaged stands [10][11][12][13].…”

“…In Europe, coniferous forests, including Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), are widely distributed and are of enormous ecological and economic importance [15][16][17][18]. Although these forests generally have lower biodiversity than deciduous forests [4], P. sylvestris provides habitats to a large number of different organisms [19,20]. The phyllosphere, which in conifers is dominated by needles and is the key component responsible for photosynthesis and transpiration, represents one of the largest terrestrial habitats for microorganisms [21].…”

Methods of Forecasting and Management of Land Fund Diversification in Local Areas

“…As it is known, the lack of opportunities to expand the amount of land fund is constantly improving the social, economic and ecological significance of the land, as the industry has been growing from year to year [9]. Indeed, it is expedient to take into account market relations, taking into account the importance of society's production, strictly adhering to new economic relations.…”