Effects of heterogeneity on the ecological diversity and redundancy of forest fauna

The forest biodiversity index (FOBI): monitoring forest biodiversity potential over space and time

“…deadwood volume or diversity; tree size diversity) were found by two studies (Zeller et al 2022, Storch et al 2023. In other studies, associations were generally positive across a range of scales between forest heterogeneity and functional diversity and redundancy in Germany (Heidrich et al 2023), and 'environmental' heterogeneity and species richness globally (Stein et al 2014). Data on ecosystem-and landscape-level structural biodiversity indicators are usually more easily observable and readily available, as they are often collected via repeated national survey schemes [such as National Forest Inventory (NFI) programmes] or by land managers and owners for other business purposes; increasingly there is also the potential to derive these data from emerging high spatial and temporal resolution remote sensing data (Petrou et al 2015, Riedler et al 2015, Soubry et al 2021.…”

“…Solely focussing on increasing metric values to reach 'optimal' levels of alpha diversity and other metrics such as open space cover and native woodland cover, for example, could have perverse consequences. This includes the loss of some settings that are ideal for woodland specialists and the possible regional or national homogenisation of woodlands, with an associated reduced resilience to environmental change, pests and diseases (Gao et al 2014, Müller et al 2015, Spasojevic et al 2016, Schall et al 2018, Zeller et al 2022, Heidrich et al 2023. For example, some species and taxonomic groups are likely to be associated with even-aged, structurally poor stands or woodlands (Storch et al 2023), or require a range of woodland characteristics at a regional scale to enable niche partitioning or to meet the needs of different sexes, life cycle stages or behaviours (Schall et al 2018).…”