Stand Composition, Tree-Related Microhabitats and Birds—A Network of Relationships in a Managed Forest

Forest ecosystems contain many tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), which are used by various groups of organisms. Birds use TreMs for shelter, foraging and breeding. The abundance and variability of TreMs is related to tree stand composition and age. Over the last few centuries there has been a drastic decline in the structural and biological diversity of temperate forests over large areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These changes have reduced the diversity and quantity of TreMs. In this study we showed the relationships between stand composition, the abundance of TreMs, and the species richness of birds in a managed forest. We focused on TreMs that are important to birds: woodpecker breeding cavities, rot holes, dead branches, broken treetops, and perennial polypores. Our study was performed in a managed lowland temperate forest. In 94 plots (10 ha each) we made bird surveys and inventoried the stand composition and TreMs. Our results show that the tree stand composition of a managed forest affects the abundance of TreMs. The share of deciduous trees in the stand favors the occurrence of such TreMs as dead branches, rot holes and perennial polypores. The overall richness of bird species and the species richness of primary cavity nesters depended on the total basal area of oak, hornbeam and birch, whereas the species richness of secondary cavity nesters increased with the total basal area of birch and oak.

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Can clearcuts increase bird species richness in managed forests?

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/787-jfs ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 54 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 189-193

Author(s):

M. Żmihorski

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Cumulative Number ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Managed Forest ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Forest Interior ◽

Transect Counts ◽

The Difference

Clearcuts are one of the results of forest management. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clearcuts on bird communities in a managed forest in Western Poland. I applied the method of point transect counts. 20 points were located near clearcuts (less than 100 m from the nearest clearcut) and 25 points in the forest interior. In total, 36 bird species were recorded. On average, I found 9.20 bird species at points located near clearcuts and 6.72 species at points situated in the forest interior, and the difference was significant. The cumulative number of bird species for a given number of sampling points in the vicinity of clearcuts was higher than in the forest interior. The obtained results indicate that in managed, even-aged forests the generation of clearcuts can lead to an increase in local bird species richness.

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Longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) diversity in a fragmented temperate forest landscape

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.1-25.v1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Daniel M Pavuk ◽

Andrea M Wadsworth

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Temperate Forest ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Forest Landscape ◽

Longhorned Beetle ◽

Longhorned Beetles ◽

Forest Size

Longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are an important component of temperate forest ecosystems. We trapped longhorned beetles in forests in northwest Ohio during 2008 to test the hypothesis that larger forests have greater species diversity than smaller forests. Large forests had a significantly greater cerambycid species richness than small forests (t = 3.16. P = 0.02), and there was a significant relationship between forest size and cerambycid species richness.

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Laser remote sensing of canopy habitat heterogeneity as a predictor of bird species richness in an eastern temperate forest, USA

Remote Sensing of Environment ◽

10.1016/j.rse.2006.11.016 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 108 (3) ◽

pp. 254-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 212

Author(s):

S GOETZ ◽

D STEINBERG ◽

R DUBAYAH ◽

B BLAIR

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Species Richness ◽

Habitat Heterogeneity ◽

Temperate Forest ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Laser Remote Sensing

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Temporal and Spatial Use of Even-Aged Reproduction Stands by Bird Communities in Central Pennsylvania

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/20.3.117 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 117-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Susan C. Talbott ◽

Richard H. Yahner

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Tree Species ◽

Management Practice ◽

Bird Species ◽

Basal Area ◽

Total Species Richness ◽

Species Richness And Abundance ◽

Overstory Trees ◽

Total Species

Abstract In 1992, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry adopted a new forest management practice known as even-aged reproduction with reservation (EAR), which replaces clearcutting on state forestlands. The EAR guidelines mandate the retention of at least 12 trees/ha and 24–36 m2/ha of basal area, representing a diversity of overstory and understory species. During summer 1998, we compared the temporal (breeding season vs. mid-summer) and spatial (edge versus interior) use of EAR stands by birds. In addition, we compared observed vs. expected use of overstory trees in EAR stands. In each of ten representative EAR stands, we sampled birds twice per season along two-edge and two-interior transects. Total species richness and abundance (all species combined), species richness and abundance of ground-shrub foragers, and species richness of canopy-sallier foragers were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the breeding season than in mid-summer. Eight of 20 common bird species analyzed also were significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant during the breeding season (e.g., black-and-white warbler and chestnut-sided warbler), and one species was significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant during mid-summer. Total species richness, total abundance, and abundance of ground-shrub foragers were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in interiors compared to edges of EAR stands. Five species also were significantly (P < 0.05) more abundant in interiors of EAR stands, whereas no species was more common in edges. All species combined and three foraging guilds showed differential use (P < 0.05) of overstory tree species; eight species also differed significantly in their use of abundant tree species. Based on our findings, we believe that EAR stands are excellent substitutes for clearcuts on state forestlands, although we caution that our findings were based only on one yr of data. We recommend the continued retention of a diversity of overstory trees, especially snags and rough-barked trees, in both edges and interiors of EAR stands for use by a variety of bird species during both the breeding season and mid-summer. North. J. Appl. For. 20(3):117–123.

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Longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) diversity in a fragmented temperate forest landscape

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.1-25.v2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 25 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniel M Pavuk ◽

Andrea M Wadsworth

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Temperate Forest ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Forest Landscape ◽

Longhorned Beetle ◽

Longhorned Beetles ◽

Forest Size

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Functional evenness of bird communities varies along the elevational gradient in Europe: Conservation implications

10.32942/osf.io/sx9n8 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Federico Morelli ◽

Yanina

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Bird Species ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Negative Association ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Breeding Bird ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Large Spatial Scale ◽

Functional Evenness

ContextThe negative association between elevation and species richness is a well-recognized pattern in macro-ecology. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate changes in functional evenness of breeding bird communities along an elevation gradient in Europe. MethodsUsing the bird data from the EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds we estimated an index of functional evenness which can be assumed as a measure of the potential resilience of communities.ResultsOur findings confirm the existence of a negative association between elevation and bird species richness in all European eco regions. However, we also explored a novel aspect of this relationship, important for conservation: Our findings provide evidence at large spatial scale of a negative association between the functional evenness (potential community resilience) and elevation, independent of the eco region. We also found that the Natura2000 protected areas covers the territory most in need of protection, those characterized by bird communities with low potential resilience, in hilly and mountainous areas.ConclusionsThese results draw attention to European areas occupied by bird communities characterized by a potential lower capacity to respond to strong ecological changes, and, therefore, potentially more exposed to risks for conservation.

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