Persistence of a keystone microhabitat in boreal forests: Cavities of Eurasian Three-toed Woodpeckers (Picoides tridactylus)

Hardenbol, Alwin; Pakkala, Timo; Kouki, Jari

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117530

Cited by 16 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Despite marked differences in the bird assemblages in different parts of Europe, some bird species have similar ecological and geographical preferences. For example, the preference of Three-toed Woodpecker for coniferous trees in Europe has been reported [44,45] and confirmed in our study. In Finland, as in our study, the Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, and Blue Tit preferred deciduous forests in the south [5].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Factors Affecting the Winter Distribution of Birds in Forests at the Eastern Edge of Europe

Askeyev,

Askeyev

et al. 2024

Birds

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We show for the first time the results of a study into the spatial distribution of birds in forests at the eastern edge of Europe (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia) and changes from early to late winter. A transect method was used to census randomly selected plots spread over a large geographical area in the winters 2018/9–2022/3. We used regression and ordination methods to assess the influence of key environmental factors on species richness, total density of birds, biological diversity, and the probabilities of occurrence of individual species. The most abundant bird species in early winter was the Willow Tit, and in the late winter was the Common Redpoll. Compared with the end of the 20th century, the number of wintering bird species has increased in the study area, likely due to climate warming. Species richness, total density, and the Shannon Index of diversity were higher in early winter than in late winter. Species richness and the Shannon Index were also higher at low elevations and in the west of the study region. Our research shows strong ecological-geographical differences in the preferences of individual bird species in the studied forests. However, almost without exception, birds had a higher probability of occurrence at lower elevation and toward the west.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Factors Affecting the Winter Distribution of Birds in Forests at the Eastern Edge of Europe

Askeyev,

Askeyev

et al. 2024

Birds

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Aspen is an important host for many species. Aspen trees are inhabited by epiphytic bryophytes and lichens (Kuusinen, 1994;Gustafsson and Eriksson, 1995;Hazell, 1998;Pykälä et al, 2006), pathogens (Callan, 1998), herbivorous invertebrates (Robinson et al, 2012), mammals such as the flying squirrel (Pteromys volans; Hanski, 1998;Remm et al 2017) and birds such as woodpeckers and owls (Hågvar et al, 1990;Angelstam and Mikusinski, 1994;Tikkanen et al, 2006;Hardenbol et al 2019). Secondary hole-nesters, including many tits, flycatchers, owls, ducks and flying squirrels, are dependent on cavities excavated by woodpeckers (Martin and Eadie, 1999;Baroni et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A keystone species, European aspen (Populus tremula L.), in boreal forests: Ecological role, knowledge needs and mapping using remote sensing

Kivinen

Koivisto

Keski‐Saari

et al. 2020

Forest Ecology and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Cavity users may be classified as excavators (e.g., aforementioned woodpeckers) or secondary cavity users (e.g., parrots [Psittaciformes]), the latter depending on existing cavities (Martin & Eadie, 1999). Because of the essential role of cavities for both types of cavity users, followed by associated or cascading ecological interactions, we may find cavity density to be indicative of other elements of forest systems and biodiversities such as richness, intactness, or resilience (Cockle et al, 2012; Hardenbol et al, 2019; Ibarra et al, 2020; Micó et al, 2015). But to effectively gain insights into forest ecosystems from data on cavity density and characteristics, as well as the value of those cavities for cavity users, we first need a region‐specific baseline understanding of cavity availability (Cockle, Martin, & Wesołowski, 2011; Cockle, Martin, & Wiebe, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density and characteristics of tree cavities inside and outside Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Niringiyimana

Nzarora

Twahirwa

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tree cavities, formed by animal excavation or processes of fungal decay and mechanical damage, may provide nesting, roosting, or resting opportunities to many invertebrate and vertebrate species. Although cavity availability has been linked to patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning elsewhere, there have been few such studies in the Afrotropics. Here, we present a baseline survey of cavity availability inside the high elevation (2200-3714 m) Afromontane forest ecosystems of Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda. We aimed to provide such reference data in the form of summary statistics on cavity density and characteristics in a collection of 400 m 2 plots that together cover 8.8 ha inside and 0.68 ha outside VNP. We also explored the relative importance of fungal decay vs. excavators in the formation of cavities, tested for the relative role of standing dead trees and living trees as cavity substrates, considered differences in diameter and height between cavity-bearing trees and trees without cavities, tested whether cavity density varies across elevation, and determined the orientation of cavity entrances. We found 109 cavities in 52 cavity-bearing trees (dominated by Hagenia abyssinica) inside VNP, for a density of 12.4 cavities and 5.9 cavity-bearing trees per hectare, and none outside the park. More cavities were decay-formed (n = 90) than excavated (n = 19), and though most cavities were found in living trees (n = 44), the number of cavities in dead trees (n = 8) was high relative to dead tree substrate availability. We also found that cavity-bearing trees were larger than those without cavities, that excavated cavities were predominantly oriented toward the southeast and decay-formed cavities to the northeast, and that cavity density declined with increases in elevation. Our results show that large and dead trees of particular species are important cavity substrates that need to be given attention in conservation and management, as is clearly illustrated by the lack of cavities in the highly managed Eucalyptus stands outside VNP.

show abstract

Persistence of a keystone microhabitat in boreal forests: Cavities of Eurasian Three-toed Woodpeckers (Picoides tridactylus)

Cited by 16 publications

References 66 publications

Factors Affecting the Winter Distribution of Birds in Forests at the Eastern Edge of Europe

Factors Affecting the Winter Distribution of Birds in Forests at the Eastern Edge of Europe

A keystone species, European aspen (Populus tremula L.), in boreal forests: Ecological role, knowledge needs and mapping using remote sensing

Density and characteristics of tree cavities inside and outside Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About