Influence of tree hollow characteristics on the diversity of saproxylic insect guilds in Iberian Mediterranean woodlands

Quinto, Javier; Micó, Estefanía; Martínez-Falcón, Ana Paola; Galante, Eduardo; Marcos-García, Ma Ángeles

doi:10.1007/s10841-014-9705-x

Cited by 43 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In this regard, Sánchez-Galván et al 12 studied non-random co-occurrence patterns of saproxylic beetles and Syrphidae (Diptera) in 72 tree hollows and concluded that species interactions (i.e., predation and facilitation), together with habitat segregation, were the main factors shaping tree-hollow assemblages in Mediterranean Quercus forests, while competition seemed to be less important. This observation is consistent with the notion of tree hollows as heterogeneous multi-habitat systems simultaneously housing a wide range of microhabitats 32,37 . Our results, in agreement with Sánchez-Galván et al 12 , suggest that the niche heterogeneity within each hollow favours the stable coexistence of functionally dissimilar species in tree hollow assemblages.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Contrasting functional structure of saproxylic beetle assemblages associated to different microhabitats

Micó

Ramilo

Thorn

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Saproxylic beetles depend on diverse microhabitats that are exploited by different species assemblages. We focused on analysing the functional trait patterns and functional diversity components of two main assemblages that were collected with window traps (Wts) and hollow emergence traps (Hets) respectively, between three protected areas of the iberian peninsula. for that we measured phenological, physiological, morphological, and ecological traits. Results showed that the main microhabitats exploited by each assemblage (Wt and Het) constrain most of the morphological traits and trophic guilds. in addition, relative elytra length and predator guild, together with adult activity period, responded to differences at the habitat level (among study areas). HET assemblages were less taxonomically diverse but more functionally diverse than those of Wts, enhancing the functional relevance of tree hollows. Additionally, niche filtering dominated WT assemblages, which were characterised by a narrower functional space and a higher redundancy. in contrast, in the Het assemblages the coexistence of functionally dissimilar species is driven by the niche heterogeneity. HET and WT assemblages differed in the functional space occupied by each within areas, but both assemblages reflected coincident patterns among areas that pointed to a reduction of functional space with management.Saproxylic beetles are one of the main components of the forest fauna. They are highly diverse and provide important ecosystem services related to nutrient recycling and the decomposition of wood 1,2 ; forest pest control, through the action of saproxylic predators on primary xylophagous beetles (i.e., Scolytinae) 3,4 ; and pollination, as many adult saproxylic beetles are flower visitors. In spite of the functional importance of saproxylic beetle communities, few studies have included a functional trait approach 5-10 , and most have focused on how they respond to environmental change.Saproxylic beetles depend, directly or indirectly, on a number of distinct microhabitats provided by living and dead trees that can host specific assemblages of co-occurring beetle species 1,11 . Moreover, each assemblage is formed by species belonging to different trophic guilds that interact among themselves and with the substrate in different ways 11,12 . Species richness and composition vary between woody microhabitats 6,13,14 ; however, studies focused on the different saproxylic assemblages -understood as a taxonomically related group of species that occur together in space and time 15 -or on their assemblage mechanisms are scarce 6 .The most commonly used method for studying saproxylic beetles is flight intercept traps, such as window traps (WTs), which collect a species assemblage representing a broad set of ecologies 6 . WTs primarily catch flying adults arriving from several tree microhabitats (e.g., decaying branches, bark, or tree hollows) but also from other woody resources within the woodland environment, such as dead wood on the ground (e.g., snags, logs) [1...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Contrasting functional structure of saproxylic beetle assemblages associated to different microhabitats

Micó

Ramilo

Thorn

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…Two of the species with high preference for sun-exposed logs in our study were also classified as more common in sunny conditions by Palm (1959; Ampedus nigroflavus and Plagionotus arcuatus). Whether sun exposure is a positive or negative feature for the saproxylic diversity of a log is likely to be climate-dependent, being negative in warm and dry climates (Quinto et al 2014) and positive in humid ones (the current study; Ranius and Jansson 2002). It is perhaps not surprising that trunk volume was so important differentiating among trunks (e.g., Jacobs et al 2007;Bishop et al 2009), as it corresponds to the amount of available habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Whether sun exposure is a positive or negative feature for the saproxylic diversity of a log is likely to be climate‐dependent, being negative in warm and dry climates (Quinto et al. ) and positive in humid ones (the current study; Ranius and Jansson ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…; Quinto et al. ), if the wood is living or dead standing (Jonsell and Weslien ), standing or downed (Franc ; Andersson et al. ), and burned or not (Toivanen and Kotiaho ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is somewhat of an enigma that so many saproxylic species can utilize a habitat that is so spatially confined, and relatively uniform, as dead wood. Still, looking at the finer details, it is known that saproxylic assemblages can vary between tree species (Milberg et al 2014) and depending on, for example, factors such as whether the wood decay occurs outside of the tree (trunk and branches) or inside the tree in hollow (Winter and M€ oller 2008;Jansson et al 2009a;Quinto et al 2014), if the wood is living or dead standing (Jonsell and Weslien 2003), standing or downed (Franc 2007;Andersson et al 2015), and burned or not (Toivanen and Kotiaho 2007). Apart from these attributes, degree of decay, trunk size, level of sun exposure, wood decaying fungi colonization have also been pointed out as important variables for saproxylic species assemblages (Hj€ alt en et al 2007;Brin et al 2011;Bouget et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assemblages of saproxylic beetles on large downed trunks of oak

Milberg

Bergman

Sancak

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Old living oaks (Quercus robur) are known as a very species‐rich habitat for saproxylic beetles, but it is less clear to what extent such veteran trees differ from an even rarer feature: downed trunks of large oaks. In this study, we set out to sample this habitat, using window traps, with two aims: (1) to describe the variation of assemblages among downed trunks of different type and (2) to compare beetles on downed oaks with data from veteran standing trees. The results showed that trunk volume and sun exposure better explained assemblages as well as species numbers on downed trunks than did decay stage. Furthermore, species classified as facultative saproxylic species showed weak or no differentiation among downed trunks. Species with different feeding habits showed no apparent differentiation among downed trunks. Furthermore, species composition on dead, downed oak trunks differed sharply from that of living, veteran oaks. Wood or bark feeders were more common on veterans than downed trunks, but there was no difference for those species feeding on fungi or those feeding on insects and their remains. In conclusion, for a successful conservation of the saproxylic beetle fauna it is important to keep downed oak trunks, and particularly large ones, in forest and pastures as they constitute a saproxylic habitat that differs from that of living trees.

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Influence of tree hollow characteristics and forest structure on saproxylic beetle diversity in tree hollows in managed forests in a regional comparison

Henneberg

Bauer

Birkenbach

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Tree hollows are among the rarest habitats in today's Central European managed forests but are considered key structures for high biodiversity in forests. To analyze and compare the effects of tree hollow characteristics and forest structure on diversity of saproxylic beetles in tree hollows in differently structured managed forests, we examined between 41 and 50 tree hollows in beech trees in each of three state forest management districts in Germany. During the two-year study, we collected 283 saproxylic beetle species (5880 individuals; 22% threatened species), using emergence traps. At small spatial scales, the size of hollow entrance and the number of surrounding microhabitat structures positively influenced beetle diversity, while the stage of wood mould decomposition had a negative influence, across all three forest districts.We utilized forest inventory data to analyze the effects of forest structure in radii of 50-500 m around tree hollows on saproxylic beetle diversity in the hollows. At these larger spatial scales, the three forest management districts differed remarkably regarding the parameters that influenced saproxylic beetle diversity in tree hollows. In Ebrach, characterized by mostly deciduous trees, the amount of dead wood positively influenced beetle diversity. In the mostly coniferous Fichtelberg forest district, with highly isolated tree hollows, in contrast, only the proportion of beech trees around the focal tree hollows showed a positive influence on beetle diversity.In Kelheim, characterized by mixed forest stands, there were no significant relationships between forest structure and beetle diversity in tree hollows. In this study, the same local tree hollow parameters influenced saproxylic beetle diversity in all three study regions, while parameters of forest structure at larger spatial scales differed in their importance, depending on tree-species composition.

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Influence of tree hollow characteristics on the diversity of saproxylic insect guilds in Iberian Mediterranean woodlands

Cited by 43 publications

References 40 publications

Contrasting functional structure of saproxylic beetle assemblages associated to different microhabitats

Contrasting functional structure of saproxylic beetle assemblages associated to different microhabitats

Assemblages of saproxylic beetles on large downed trunks of oak

Influence of tree hollow characteristics and forest structure on saproxylic beetle diversity in tree hollows in managed forests in a regional comparison

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