Dynamics of standing deadwood in Austrian forests under varying forest management and climatic conditions

Oettel, Janine; Zolles, Anita; Gschwantner, Thomas; Lapin, Katharina; Kindermann, Georg; Schweinzer, Karl-Manfred; Goßner, Martin M.; Essl, Franz

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.14359

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 129 publications

(180 reference statements)

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“…We identified the higher moisture levels and higher levels of deadwood decomposition as important variables influencing the presence of C. clypeatus, H. foivecollis, H. cariniceps, and M. lepidus. While lying beech deadwood is known to be relatively unstable over time, quickly becoming an unsuitable habitat for beetles [62] and more closely resembling the soil environment [62], standing deadwood increases the persistence of deadwood in stands over several decades [63]. However, our findings indicate that snags exhibit low moisture content, resulting in a lower abundance of Eucnemids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Deadwood-Dwelling Beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) in a Beech Reserve: A Case Study from the Czech Republic

Zumr,

Nakládal,

Remeš

2024

Forests

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The saproxylic beetles (deadwood-dependent) belong to frequently studied groups of forest insects. Eucnemidae is a rare and poorly studied saproxylic family with a hidden life strictly related to deadwood. We studied the family Eucnemidae in a beech reserve, using 59 window traps placed on standing deadwood (snags) and lying logs. A total of 348 specimens in eight species were recorded in two seasons. The identified species included one critically endangered species (CR): Hylis cariniceps; five endangered species (EN): H. olexai, H. foveicollis, Isorhipis melasoides, Eucnemis capucina, and Microrhagus lepidus; one new species found in Bohemia (a region of the Czech Republic): Clypeorhagus clypeatus; and one common species: Melasis buprestoides. Most species preferred lying logs, but E. capucina and M. buprestoides preferred snags. Species richness (q = 0) was higher on lying logs than on snags, and similarly, Shannon diversity (q = 1) was significantly higher on lying logs compared to snags. The species C. clypeorghagus, H. foveicollis, H. cariniceps, and M. lepides preferred moist lying logs, while M. buprestoides and E. capucina preferred drier snags with cavities. The results suggest that in beech forests, lying logs serve as a fundamental habitat for the existence of Eucnemids. This could be due to the more stable microclimatic conditions inside the lying deadwood. From this perspective, our study may help better understand the biology of hidden and understudied rare saproxylic Eucnemids.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Deadwood-Dwelling Beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) in a Beech Reserve: A Case Study from the Czech Republic

Zumr,

Nakládal,

Remeš

2024

Forests

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“…Positive associations between the stage of decay and the number of (Red List) beetle species have also been observed in logging residues [29] and high stumps [18] in Sweden. Importantly, standing deadwood such as snags may persist longer in forest stands than lying logs, which are subjected to faster decomposition processes [36]. Rare and threatened beetle species that prefer late decay stages can therefore be supported by high stumps as they provide longer-lasting habitats and resources for these species [7].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Artificial Snags to Promote Endangered Saproxylic Beetle Species in Bavarian Forests

Lackner,

Reger,

Tobisch

et al. 2024

Diversity

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The creation of artificial snags, so-called high stumps, within forest management operations is a recently established tool to enrich standing deadwood as a habitat for saproxylic species. In this study, we analysed the impact of active high stump management on saproxylic beetle species. We selected 63 high stumps in six Bavarian forest districts (Germany), which were felled and subjected to close examination, focusing on beetle (Coleoptera) colonization. We identified 63 emerged coleopteran species belonging to 29 families; a further 10 taxa were identified only at the genus or family level, respectively. Moreover, 17% of the obtained taxa are listed in the German Red List of Coleoptera. Furthermore, 32% of the examined high stump trunks, predominantly broad-leaved tree species, harboured Red List beetle taxa. In particular, trembling aspen (Populus tremula) showed a disproportionately high number of Red List beetle species. The total species richness of beetles was independent of the height, diameter and decay stage of the snags. High stumps (snags) containing Red List beetle species tended to have higher amounts of deadwood in their surroundings, but the difference was not significant. According to the results of our study, actively creating high stumps proved to be a suitable method for creating habitats and serve as stepping-stones for endangered saproxylic species. Proactive high stump management during harvest can be a valuable component of deadwood management and biodiversity protection in forests.

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“…The connection of forest management and forest ownership is strong, manifesting as a more intensive forest management in small‐scale forest ownership and a trend toward more extensive management in public forest ownership (Oettel et al, 2022). In Austria, a substantial 82% of forests are privately owned, the remaining 18% of forests are publicly owned (BFW, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and prioritization of stepping stones for biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems

Lapin,

Hoffmann,

Braun

et al. 2024

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Habitat degradation and fragmentation are two of the main drivers for biodiversity loss. To mitigate the negative impact of fragmentation in forests, conservation targets are increasingly addressing connectivity to facilitate the independent movement of species between habitat fragments to ensure genetic diversity and adaptation to climate change. In this article, we present a novel approach to identifying and prioritizing stepping stones for preserving connectivity based on national and regional biodiversity data for Austrian forest ecosystems. Our study identified forest areas where conservation measures should be taken to ensure future habitat connectivity by combining four indicator values with different requirements of a stepping stone habitat into a prioritization value. The four compounded indicators are: (i) the Protect Value, which includes distances to patches of protected areas with restricted management for the undisturbed development of retention areas, (ii) the Connect Value, which combines datasets of designated habitat corridors and connectivity areas in Austria based on landscape models and expert validation, (iii) the Species Value identifying species‐rich areas, and (iv) the Habitat Value identifying biotopes of high ecological value, key biodiversity areas, and sites of favorable protection status. Nonparametric tests revealed significant differences in prioritization value among the ecoregions of Austria and therefore encourage the consideration of stepping stone prioritization at local and regional context. Building upon the insights from this case study on Austrian forest ecosystems, we developed a robust framework derived from our methodology. This framework is designed to facilitate future implementations in diverse study regions, accounting for factors beyond connectivity crucial for identifying high value stepping stone habitats. We encourage adaptation of this framework to local data availability, species requirements, and local conditions. The compiled framework provides decision support for managers and conservationists for prioritizing areas to conserve and improve connectivity of forest habitats. However, it does not substitute on‐the‐ground field assessments of habitat quality and measures of functional connectivity.

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Dynamics of standing deadwood in Austrian forests under varying forest management and climatic conditions

Cited by 14 publications

References 129 publications

Deadwood-Dwelling Beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) in a Beech Reserve: A Case Study from the Czech Republic

Deadwood-Dwelling Beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) in a Beech Reserve: A Case Study from the Czech Republic

The Potential of Artificial Snags to Promote Endangered Saproxylic Beetle Species in Bavarian Forests

Identification and prioritization of stepping stones for biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems

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