Shifting tree species composition affects biodiversity of multiple taxa in Central European forests

Leidinger, Jan; Blaschke, Markus; Ehrhardt, Michael; Fischer, Anton; Goßner, Martin M.; Jung, Kirsten; Kienlein, Sebastian; Kózak, Johanna; Michler, Barbara; Mosandl, R.; Seibold, Sebastian; Wehner, Katja; Weisser, Wolfgang W.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119552

Cited by 35 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Notably, however, local mixtures of beech with either of the two conifer species did not feature higher bird species richness or functional diversity than pure beech stands. This partly contradicts the general expectation that tree mixtures promote the diversity of associated biota (Ampoorter et al, 2020; Leidinger et al, 2021)—although mixtures in fact showed positive effects compared to pure stands of the two conifer species planted outside their natural range. Several reasons may explain the lack of strong and general mixture effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Point counts were conducted from the centre of each study plot by always the same observer (P.H.). All bird species seen and heard during the point counts and their abundances were recorded (excluding overflying individuals) within a 50‐m radius from the plot centre (since plots were selected within larger stands, the 50‐m radius warrants adequate consideration of stand types; see also Pedley et al, 2019; Leidinger et al, 2021). Since most recorded birds were heard, we are confident that surveys were not biased by differences in stand structure that we would expect to particularly affect visual detection probability.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, tree species planted outside their natural range can compromise positive tree mixture effects on forest biota, as these tree species often show poorer associations with native flora and fauna (Brändle & Brandl, 2001; Castaño‐Villa et al, 2019). The ecological consequences of many non‐native tree species are still poorly understood, because they have been cultivated for only few generations (Pötzelsberger et al, 2020) and it is often unclear at what mixture proportions potentially negative effects emerge (Leidinger et al, 2021; Oxbrough et al, 2016). For example, North‐American Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii is promoted in Central Europe to ensure future economic benefits (Thomas et al, 2022), in part replacing native (but planted outside its natural range) Norway spruce Picea abies that recently showed large, drought‐induced diebacks (Popkin, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various studies have shown responses of birds to stand diversification and non‐native tree species (e.g. Hanzelka & Reif, 2016; Leidinger et al, 2021; Nell et al, 2018; Pedley et al, 2019; Sweeney et al, 2010), but less is known about how local mixture proportions and the landscape configuration of monocultures versus mixtures influence bird species richness and especially functional diversity (Leidinger et al, 2021; Pedley et al, 2019). While these questions have recently received increased attention in the study of other taxa (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Schuldt

Huke

Glatthorn

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Recent biodiversity loss has emphasized the necessity to critically evaluate the consequences of human alterations of forest ecosystems. Stand diversification via tree species mixtures and the use of non-native trees are two such alterations currently gaining importance as climate change adaptations. However, the effects of local versus regional tree mixing on associated biodiversity and notably the modifying role of tree species growing outside their natural range remain poorly understood.2. We assessed how monocultures and mixtures of native and introduced tree species influence the taxonomic and functional diversity of bird communities at stand and landscape scales in north-west Germany. We focused on the dominant natural tree species (Fagus sylvatica) and economically important conifer species planted outside their natural range (the native Picea abies and non-native Pseudotsuga menziesii).3. We found that bird species richness and functional diversity were generally higher in pure and mixed stands of native F. sylvatica than in pure conifer stands, especially in comparison to non-native P. menziesii. These differences were particularly strong at the landscape scale. Pure conifer stands harboured only a reduced set of functionally similar bird species. Structural diversity based on tree microhabitat availability emerged as a key predictor of bird diversity. Synthesis and applications.Our study suggests that tree species mixtures do not necessarily increase bird diversity compared to pure stands of native trees, but can promote bird diversity relative to pure stands of species planted outside their natural range. Moreover, local mixtures, rather than a mosaic of pure stands, may promote bird diversity also at the landscape scale. By contrast, pure stands of tree species planted outside their natural range can increase biotic homogenization of forest birds. Promoting structural diversity of microhabitats via tree retention and ensuring that non-native trees are planted in mixtures

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Schuldt

Huke

Glatthorn

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Any preference for one management method leads to a substantial homogenization of regional biodiversity 108 . Solutions can be sought in integrative management 23 , 109 , creating suitable ecological niches through deadwood enrichment. There, rarer species from small-area reserves that abound with high volumes of deadwood may gradually spread 110 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small-scale spontaneous dynamics in temperate beech stands as an importance driver for beetle species richness

Zumr

Remeš

Nakládal

2022

Sci Rep

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Natural dynamics in forests play an important role in the lives of many species. In the landscape of managed forests, natural disturbances are reduced by management activities. This usually has a significant effect on insect diversity. The effect of small-scale natural dynamics of protected beech stands on the richness of saproxylic and non-saproxylic beetles was investigated. Sampling was carried out by using flight interception traps in the framework of comparing different developmental stages: optimum, disintegration, and growing up, each utilizing 10 samples. We recorded 290 species in total, of which 61% were saproxylic. The results showed that the highest species richness and thus abundance was in the disintegration stage. In each developmental stage, species variation was explained differently depending on the variable. Deadwood, microhabitats, and canopy openness were the main attributes in the later stages of development for saproxylic beetles. For non-saproxylics, variability was mostly explained by plant cover and canopy openness. Small-scale disturbances, undiminished by management activities, are an important element for biodiversity. They create more structurally diverse stands with a high supply of feeding and living habitats. In forestry practice, these conclusions can be imitated to the creation of small-scale silvicultural systems with active creation or retention of high stumps or lying logs.

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Metabarcoding reveals that mixed forests mitigate negative effects of non‐native trees on canopy arthropod diversity

Wildermuth,

Seifert,

Husemann

et al. 2023

Ecological Applications

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Averting climate change‐induced forest diebacks increasingly relies on tree species planted outside of their natural range and on the addition of non‐native tree species to mixed‐species forests. However, the consequences of such changes for associated biodiversity remain poorly understood, especially for the forest canopy as a largely understudied forest stratum. Here, we used flight interception traps and a metabarcoding approach to study the taxonomic and functional (trophic guilds) composition and taxon richness of canopy arthropods. We sampled 15 monospecific and mixed stands of native European beech, native Norway spruce—planted outside its natural range—and non‐native Douglas fir in North‐West Germany. We found that diversity of arthropods was lower in non‐native Douglas fir compared to native beech stands. Taxon richness of herbivores was reduced by both conifer species. Other functional guilds, however, were not affected by stand type. Arthropod composition differed strongly between native broadleaved beech and monospecific coniferous (native spruce or non‐native Douglas fir) stands, with less pronounced differences between the native and non‐native conifers. Beech‐conifer mixtures consistently hosted intermediate arthropod diversity and community composition compared to the respective monospecific stands. Moreover, arthropod diversity had a positive relationship with the number of canopy microhabitats. Our study shows that considering arthropod taxa of multiple functional groups reveals the multifaceted impact of non‐native tree species on forest canopy arthropod communities. Contrasting to previous studies that primarily focused on the forest floor, we found that native beech hosts a rich diversity of arthropods, compared to lower diversity and distinct communities in economically attractive, and especially in non‐native, conifers with few canopy microhabitats. Broadleaf‐conifer mixtures did not perform better than native beech stands, but mitigated negative effects of conifers—making such mixtures a compromise to foster both forest‐associated diversity and economic yield.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Shifting tree species composition affects biodiversity of multiple taxa in Central European forests

Cited by 35 publications

References 74 publications

Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity

Small-scale spontaneous dynamics in temperate beech stands as an importance driver for beetle species richness

Metabarcoding reveals that mixed forests mitigate negative effects of non‐native trees on canopy arthropod diversity

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