scholarly journals Communities of epigeic beetles in tree line from montane spruce forest to secondary meadow in the different stage of the forest decline in the area of Modrava (Bohemian forest, Czech Republic)

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-349
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Boháč ◽  
Karel Matějka

Abstract Communities of epigeic beetles were studied using pitfall trapping on 10 plots with the different stage of decline and clear-cut plots without coarse woody debris. Species richness (number of all species, S), total species diversity as the Shannon-Wiener’s index (H) and equitability (e) were calculated in the DBreleve. The Ward’s method of hierarchical agglomerative classification with Euclidean distance was used for the differentiation of the communities on the plots. Species data for this analyse were represented by logarithm-transformed activities [log(x+1)]. The single-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical testing of differences in structural parameters (e.g. species richness and diversity) amongst distinguished groups of the plots. The species diversity and activity differs on glades without trees and coarse woody debris. The highest number of species was found in clear-cut areas. The lowest number of species was found on the plots with the living forest particularly invaded by bark beetle. This fact is caused by the fact that the clear-cut plots are invaded by ubiquitous and anthropotolerant species with good migration possibilities. These species are adapted to habitats without trees and are able to leave even in the habitats with very sparse or without vegetation. Species living in the forest even under the bark beetle attack are often stenotopic and adapted to the forest microclimate (higher humidity and low average temperature). These species are very sensitive to great difference in the daily changes of microclimate. The study of beetle communities support the hypothesis that the keeping of dead tree stands on plots after bark beetle outbreak is better for biodiversity conservation than the cutting down of trees and the abolishment of stems.

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar ◽  
Han Y.H. Chen ◽  
Sean C. Thomas ◽  
Chander Shahi

Although the importance of coarse woody debris (CWD) to understory species diversity has been recognized, the combined effects of CWD decay and substrate species on abundance and species diversity of epixylic vegetation have received little attention. We sampled a wide range of CWD substrate species and decay classes, as well as forest floors in fire-origin boreal forest stands. Percent cover, species richness, and evenness of epixylic vegetation differed significantly with both CWD decay class and substrate species. Trends in cover, species richness, and evenness differed significantly between nonvascular and vascular taxa. Cover, species richness, and species evenness of nonvascular species were higher on CWD, whereas those of vascular plants were higher on the forest floor. Epixylic species composition also varied significantly with stand ages, overstory compositions, decay classes, substrate species, and their interactions. Our findings highlight strong interactive influences of decay class and substrate species on epixylic plant communities and suggest that conservation of epixylic diversity would require forest managers to maintain a diverse range of CWD decay classes and substrate species. Because stand development and overstory compositions influence CWD decay classes and substrate species, as well as colonization time and environmental conditions in the understory, our results indicate that managed boreal landscapes should consist of a mosaic of different successional stages and a broad suite of overstory types to support diverse understory plant communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitti Ramlah ◽  
YANTO SANTOSA ◽  
NYOTO SANTOSO ◽  
SITI BADRIYAH RUSHAYATI

Abstract. Ramlah S, Santosa Y, Santoso N, Rushayati SB. 2021. The variation of bird diversity in various oil palm land cover in North Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3068-3074. The development of oil palm plantations provides various positive impacts. On the other hand, this development is suspected to bring negative impacts on biodiversity, especially reducing bird species diversity. Based on the other research, well-managed oil palm plantations that maintain high conservation value areas have high species diversity. This study aimed to identify bird species diversity in different types of oil palm plantation land covers in North Mamuju. Data observation of bird species was performed using the transect method. There were 4 transects on each land cover. The results of this study showed that the young oil palm area had a high index of diversity and species richness. The high species diversity in the young palm area was caused by habitat variations. There was a water flow that provides more feed sources. The distance between the young oil palm area and secondary forest area affected the number of species, species richness and diversity of bird species. The category of insectivore guild which included aerial insectivores and insectivores was the dominant guild in all types of land cover, both in the number of species and the number of individual abundances.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Opoku-Nyame ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton

Clear cut harvest simplifies and eliminates old growth forest structure, negatively impacting biodiversity. Partial cut harvest has been hypothesized (1) to have less impact on biodiversity than clear cut harvest, and (2) to encourage old growth forest structures. Long-term studies are required to test this hypothesis as most studies are conducted soon after harvest. Using epixylic bryophytes as indicators, this study addresses this knowledge gap. Fourteen years after harvest, we examined changes in epixylic bryophyte community composition richness and traits, and their microhabitats (coarse woody debris characteristics and microclimate) along an unharvested, partial cuts and clear cuts harvest treatment in 30 permanent plots established in the boreal black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of northwestern Quebec, Canada. Our results were compared to those of an initial post-harvest study (year 5) and to a chronosequence of old growth forests to examine species changes over time and the similarity of bryophyte communities in partial cut and old growth forests. Coarse woody debris (CWD) volume by decay class varied among harvest treatments with partial cuts and clear cuts recording lower volumes of early decay CWD. The epixylic community was richer in partial cuts than in mature unharvested forests and clear cuts. In addition, species richness and overall abundance doubled in partial and clear cuts between years 5 and 14. Species composition also differed among treatments between years 5 and 14. Furthermore, conditions in partial cut stands supported small, drought sensitive, and old growth confined species that are threatened by conditions in clear cut stands. Lastly, over time, species composition in partial cuts became more similar to old growth forests. Partial cuts reduced harvest impacts by continuing to provide favorable microhabitat conditions that support epixylic bryophytes. Also, partial cut harvest has the potential to encourage old growth species assemblages, which has been a major concern for biodiversity conservation in managed forest landscapes. Our findings support the promotion of partial cut harvest as an effective strategy to achieve species and habitat conservation goals.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 768-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga N Krankina ◽  
Mark E Harmon ◽  
Yuri A Kukuev ◽  
Rudolf F Treyfeld ◽  
Nikolai N Kashpor ◽  
...  

To assess regional stores of coarse woody debris (CWD) in seven major forest regions of Russia, we combined data collected as part of the routine forest inventory with measurements in 1044 sample plots and the results of density sampling of 922 dead trees. The stores of CWD in the western part of Russia (St. Petersburg, Central, Khanty-Mansi, and Novosibirsk regions) were on average lower (14–20 m3/ha or 4.0–5.8 Mg/ha) than in the East Siberian and Far Eastern regions (40–51 m3/ha or 11.0–14.4 Mg/ha). The difference in CWD stores was particularly large between young forests in two western regions (2.4 Mg/ha in St. Petersburg and 3.4 Mg/ha in the Central region) and in the east (20.4–24.4 Mg/ha). This difference is associated with the prevailing disturbance type: clear-cut harvest in western Russia and natural disturbances in the east. Analysis of variance in CWD stores indicates that region, dominant species, forest age group, productivity class, and interactions of these factors explain 87–88% of the total variance and the strongest effects are for age group and region. Lower stores of CWD within the intensively managed forest regions suggest that further expansion of forest use in many regions of Russia may reduce regional stores of CWD and carbon.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Moore ◽  
L. E. Valentine ◽  
M. D. Craig ◽  
G. E. S. J. Hardy ◽  
P. A. Fleming

Context Large portions of the world’s forests and woodlands are currently affected by declines in canopy condition of dominant tree species; however, the effects of these declines on faunal communities are largely unknown. Eucalyptus wandoo woodlands in the south-west region of Western Australia have demonstrated declines in condition since the early 1990s. Such declines in tree condition can result in reduced understorey vegetation, increased leaf-litter cover and coarse woody debris, potentially altering the habitat and resource available to reptiles. Prescribed fire events, another mechanism of habitat change for reptiles, are a common occurrence in these woodlands. Aims The present research investigated whether reptile communities were influenced by E. wandoo tree condition, and the changes in the habitat associated with E. wandoo decline. Methods Reptile trapping was conducted at 24 E. wandoo-dominated sites (of varying condition) in Dryandra State Forest and Wandoo Conservation Park, Western Australia. Overall, reptile abundance, species richness and individual reptile species abundances (only those species captured in sufficient numbers for analysis) were compared with a range of habitat characteristics that are likely to be altered by changes in E. wandoo tree condition. Key results Overall, higher reptile abundance and species richness were observed at sites with longer time since fire and more site litter cover. There was also a greater abundance and diversity of reptiles at sites where E. wandoo trees exhibited fewer symptoms of tree decline. Similar analyses for the five most common skink species indicated species-specific relationships with tree-condition measures, time since last fire, site litter cover, distance to drift fence from E. wandoo trees, understorey vegetation density and the density of coarse woody debris. Conclusions Abundance and species diversity of the reptile communities in E. wandoo woodlands were strongly related to time since last fire, E. wandoo tree condition and habitat characteristics such as site litter cover and the density of coarse woody debris. Implications Decline in the condition of E. wandoo trees and the fire events in E. wandoo woodlands are both mechanisms of change correlated with reptile habitat and resources. Future management of E. wandoo woodlands may include reducing prescribed fire events in areas demonstrating symptoms of tree decline, to conserve reptile abundance and species richness.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reda Iršėnaitė ◽  
Ernestas Kutorga

Wood-inhabiting fungi on pedunculate oak (<em>Quercus robur</em>) coarse woody debris (CWD) was investigated in 50 plots of 0.1 ha in oak stands of different ages in Lithuania. In maturing stands (50-120 years) the average volume of oak CWD was 4.7 m<sup>3</sup>/ha, and in mature stands (over 120 years) – 13.9 m3/ha. Both in maturing and mature stands, the greatest fraction of CWD consisted of fallen oak branches (81 % and 84 % respectively), whereas fallen trunks comprised about 10 % of the total units of CWD. In total 1350 records of 203 species (49 ascomycetes and 154 basidiomycetes) were collected during 2 years of investigation. Species richness and abundance increased significantly with the increase of volume and abundance of CWD. Higher species richness was detected in mature stands than in maturing ones. Wood-inhabiting species composition varied greatly at stand scale, and one third of all detected species occurred only in one plot. Red-listed fungi were found only in mature stands. We conclude that, even in managed oak stands, oak CWD maintains a rather diverse species composition of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. However, the current practice of forestry in Lithuania of removing dying or dead wood of large volume, e.g. standing and fallen trunks, reduce the distribution of highly specialized, usually rare, and endangered fungi.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1558
Author(s):  
Andrzej Mazur ◽  
Radosław Witkowski ◽  
Robert Kuźmiński ◽  
Roman Jaszczak ◽  
Mieczysław Turski ◽  
...  

Background: Resources of dying and dead trees, decaying fragments of stems, stumps and branches, i.e., coarse woody debris (CWD), are an important structural element of biocenoses and are drivers of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to describe assemblages of saproxylic beetles in pine stands of western Poland in view of dead wood resources. We present faunistic (species identity) and quantitative (species and individual counts) data from two types of stands: 1. unmanaged pine stands, in which no trees have been extracted for over 30 years, with processes connected with tree dying and self-thinning of stands being undisturbed, 2. managed pine stands, in which routine tending operations extracting trees are performed in accordance with forest management plans and naturally dying trees are removed in the course of tending and sanitary logging; Methods: Beetles were captured in the years 2013–2014 using window flight traps. Assemblages of saproxylic beetles were assessed based on the indices of dominance, diversity (the Shannon–Weiner index), and species richness (Margalef’s index) as well as the estimated habitat fidelity index, feeding habits, and zoogeographical distribution. Similarity between the assemblages was evaluated applying cluster analysis. Dependence between dead wood resources and the diversity and species richness indices were analysed; Results: A total of 2006 individuals classified to 216 species were captured. Assemblages show considerable similarity on the local scale. Higher values of species diversity indicators were observed in unmanaged stands, in which no sanitation cuttings are performed; Conclusions: The decision to refrain from sanitation logging in pine monocultures results in increased CWD resources, which nevertheless does not lead to a marked increase in the values of biodiversity indicators. Unmanaged stands were characterised by a high share of zoophagous, mycetophagous, and saproxylic species. In contrast, managed stands were characterised by a high share of xylophagous beetles.


1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 878-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bruce Pollard ◽  
Michael Berrill

Exuviae of 37 species of dragonflies were collected from the emergent vegetation of 19 small (<35 ha) lakes across a pH gradient (range 4.9–8.1) in south-central Ontario to assess the effect of low environmental pH on species richness and diversity. The number of species present in a lake was not significantly correlated with lake pH. Two measures of diversity (Keefe and Bergersen's TU and McIntosh's M) indicate an increase in species diversity with decreasing lake pH. Species shifts in the communities were also correlated with lake pH: five species were apparently excluded from lakes with a midsummer epilimnetic pH below 5.8, and seven species were apparently restricted to lakes with a pH of less than 6.2.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 172055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley Davis ◽  
Euan G. Ritchie ◽  
Sarah Avitabile ◽  
Tim Doherty ◽  
Dale G. Nimmo

Fire shapes the composition and functioning of ecosystems globally. In many regions, fire is actively managed to create diverse patch mosaics of fire-ages under the assumption that a diversity of post-fire-age classes will provide a greater variety of habitats, thereby enabling species with differing habitat requirements to coexist, and enhancing species diversity (the pyrodiversity begets biodiversity hypothesis). However, studies provide mixed support for this hypothesis. Here, using termite communities in a semi-arid region of southeast Australia, we test four key assumptions of the pyrodiversity begets biodiversity hypothesis (i) that fire shapes vegetation structure over sufficient time frames to influence species' occurrence, (ii) that animal species are linked to resources that are themselves shaped by fire and that peak at different times since fire, (iii) that species’ probability of occurrence or abundance peaks at varying times since fire and (iv) that providing a diversity of fire-ages increases species diversity at the landscape scale. Termite species and habitat elements were sampled in 100 sites across a range of fire-ages, nested within 20 landscapes chosen to represent a gradient of low to high pyrodiversity. We used regression modelling to explore relationships between termites, habitat and fire. Fire affected two habitat elements (coarse woody debris and the cover of woody vegetation) that were associated with the probability of occurrence of three termite species and overall species richness, thus supporting the first two assumptions of the pyrodiversity hypothesis. However, this did not result in those species or species richness being affected by fire history per se. Consequently, landscapes with a low diversity of fire histories had similar numbers of termite species as landscapes with high pyrodiversity. Our work suggests that encouraging a diversity of fire-ages for enhancing termite species richness in this study region is not necessary.


2007 ◽  
Vol 07 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35
Author(s):  
Anatolio Polinar ◽  
◽  
Uwe Muuss ◽  

The study was conducted to determine species diversity and similarity within a two-hectare secondary forest of the Visayas State University forest reservation. The diversity value of trees ranged from 3.09 - 4.53. Results of the study indicate that the middle layer of both blocks was observed as the most luxuriant among all layers. A total of 173 species in 113 genera and 51 families; and 92 species, in 69 genera and 37 families were recorded in the middle layer of Block 1 and Block 2, respectively. The genus Ficus of the family Moraceae was identified as the most highly represented in terms of species in both blocks. Moreover, results of the study show that species richness increased within an increasing area but with a decreasing number of species. As to species similarities, it was discovered that 28% of the identified specieds are common to both blocks.


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