The influence of mature oak stands and spruce plantations on soil-dwelling click beetles in lowland plantation forests

Abstract

Most European forests have been converted into forest plantations that are managed for timber production. The main goal of this paper was to determine the difference between mature native sessile oak (Quercus petraea) stands and non-indigenous Norway spruce (Picea abies) plantations with respect to communities of Athous click beetles in approximately 6,500 ha of lowland plantation forest area in the Czech Republic. Athous subfuscus was the most abundant and widespread species, followed by A. zebei and A. haemorrhoidalis, while A. vittatus was considered rare. Spatial analysis of environmental variables inside studied patches showed that the species composition of Athous beetles best responded to a 20 m radius surrounding traps. Species’ responses to the environment showed that A. vittatus and A. haemorrhoidalis preferred oak stands, while A. zebei and A. subfuscus were associated with spruce plantations. In addition, oak stands showed higher diversity of beetle communities. The studied species are important for their ecosystem services (e.g. predation on pests or bioturbation) and seems to tolerate certain degrees of human disturbances, which is beneficial especially for forest plantations managed for timber production.

The effects of within stand disturbance in plantation forests indicate complex and contrasting responses among and within beetle families

“…Another potential explanation might be that the current presence and extent of mature oak stands is below the threshold area and fragmentation caused by isolation that is acceptable for the successful development of populations of oak-associated click beetles (Alexander, 2002). This appears to be well reflected in the fact that only two relatively common species (Loskotová & Horák, 2016) significantly preferred oak stands, whereas four species were associated with spruce plantations. The opposite relationship was observed for diversity and, thus, we concluded that tree species that is not native in the studied area can negatively influence the diversity of the family; however, why the other traits responded differently remains unclear (Loehle, 2003).…”

“…Oaks that were dominant in the study territory in the past (Neuhauselova & Moravec, 2001) are mostly no longer present as a dominant species (Loskotová & Horák, 2016). One potential reason why oak stands did not lead to the expected promotion of the majority of the studied taxa was that total area of broadleaved stands was relatively low and isolation was high compared with in conifer plantations (Loskotová, 2013).…”

“…We used non-attractive crossed-panel window traps. The height of the center of the trap was 1.3 m. Traps were fixed using two iron sticks and were located in the center of the stand (Loskotová & Horák, 2016). All of the traps were activated at the beginning of March and were deactivated at the end of September 2011.…”

“…Individual rove beetle (Staphylinidae) species preferences for stands dominated by Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and Norway spruce (Picea abies), canopy openness and area in lowland plantation forests; t and P values (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01) are derived from species response curves; species with fewer than ten individuals were not analyzed. The effects of within stand disturbance in plantation forests on beetles as a dominant species (Loskotová & Horák, 2016). One potential reason why oak stands did not lead to the expected promotion of the majority of the studied taxa was that total area of broadleaved stands was relatively low and isolation was high compared with in conifer plantations (Loskotová, 2013).…”

Are Small Dung Beetles (Aphodiinae) useful for monitoring neotropical forests’ ecological status? Lessons from a preliminary case study in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Albeit neotropical forests inclusion in the biological hotspots of our planet (Foley et al, 2007;Chazdon et al, 2009), the forests and the species encompassed are threatened by local and global anthropogenic stressors (Carnus et al, 2006;Loskotová and Horák, 2016). Scientist also highlight that the conservation of neotropical forest, such as the Brazilian Amazon (Amazonia) represents a core challenge for regulating earth's functioning and ultimately humankind (e.g.…”