Veteran trees have divergent effects on beetle diversity and wood decomposition

Veteran hollow trees are keystone structures in ecosystems and provide important habitat for a diverse set of organisms, many of which are involved in the process of decomposition. Since veteran trees are ‘islands’ of high biodiversity, they provide a unique system in which to study the relationship between biodiversity and decomposition of wood. We tested this relationship with a balanced experiential design, where we quantified the taxonomic and functional diversity of beetles directly involved in the process of decomposing wood, and measured the decomposition of experimentally added bundles of small diameter wood around 20 veteran trees and 20 nearby young trees in southern Norway. We found that the diversity (both taxonomic and functional) of wood-decomposing beetles was significantly higher around the veteran trees, and beetle communities around veteran trees consisted of species with a greater preference for larger diameter wood. We extracted few beetles from the experimentally added wood bundles, regardless of the tree type that they were placed near, but decomposition rates were significantly lower around veteran trees. We speculate that slower decomposition rates around veteran trees could have been a result of a greater diversity of competing fungi, which has been found to decrease decay rates. Veteran trees provide an ecological legacy within anthropogenic landscapes, enhance biodiversity and influence wood decomposition. Actions to protect veteran trees are urgently needed in order to save these valuable organisms and their associated biodiversity.

Diagnosis of hollow trees in an area of effective sustainable forest management in the Amazon forest

The sustainable practices of Forest Management activities are used with the objective of minimizing impacts to the environment, as well as exploring tree individuals with qualities that aim at the highest volumetric yield in sawmills. However, some characteristics may not be diagnosed before logging, as is the case with hollow trees, commonly found in forested areas. Thus, the objective was to diagnose the occurrence of hollow trees in two areas of forest exploitation, for the knowledge of individuals at the family and botanical species level. In order to carry out thediagnosis of the occurrence of hollow trees, data on the effective exploitation of trees in the Company's Forest Management areas were obtained through a collection of information on two Annual Production Units - UPA, named according to the company's specification as named as UPA ITP11 and UPA FLA01. In each UPA, tree individuals were identified by gender, species, family, distribution, presence of hollowness and the basic density of their wood. The results show that in the UPA ITP11 area, 7.38% of the total trees explored, had hollowness, while in the UPA FLA01 area it was 4.88% and that the majority had high basic density. Twenty botanical families were identified in the exploration areas, where the Leguminosae family obtained the greatest representation. A total of 49 botanical species explored were identified, being Manilkara huberi (Ducke) Stanley, as basic high density wood. Regarding the frequency of occurrence of hollowness, the species Dinizia excelsa Ducke, popularly known as Angelim Vermelho, stood out for the two areas under study. However, it is shown the considerable existence of hollow trees among the trees selected for forest exploitation, reinforcing the importance of better targeting of appropriate methodologies for their identification, as well as, the better volumetric utilization of logs in sawmills, in order to certify the sustainability for the activity, regardless of the structural aspect of forestry individuals.

Finds of the ant-lion Dendroleon pantherinus (Fabricius, 1787) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in Transcarpathia

These findings of Dendroleon pantherinus allow to expand modern ideas about its distribution in Ukraine and supplement the list of regional insect fauna of the Transcarpathian region with another species of reticulate, which is among the rare in the fauna of Europe. We also recommend this species for the new edition of the Red Book of Ukraine. Preservation of habitats, namely areas with old hollow trees, will help preserve populations. Formally, D. pantherinus is protected as part of the natural ecosystem of the Berehiv Hills Reserve.

Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia

Research Highlights: Tree size and wood characteristics influenced the susceptibility of five Amazonian timber tree species to heartwood decay and colonization by termites. Termites occurred in the heartwoods of 43% of the trees, with Coptotermes testaceus the most abundant species. Background and Objectives: Hollows and rotten cores in the stems of living trees have ecological and economic impacts in forests managed for timber. The decision on whether to cut or maintain hollow trees in such forests must account for the susceptibility of different tree species to decay. We investigated tree and wood characteristics of living trees of five commercial timber species in the eastern Amazon that influenced the likelihood of heartwood decay and the occurrence of termite nests inside the rotten cores. Materials and Methods: We used Pearson’s correlations and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to explore relationships among tree basal area and hollow area. We used principal components analysis (PCA) to analyze the variation of wood anatomical traits, followed by a linear regression to explore the relationships between PCA scores, and heartwood hollow area. We used a logistic model to investigate if the probability the occurrence of colonies of C. testaceus inside tree cores varied with tree and species characteristics. Results: Heartwood hollow areas increased with stem basal area. Larger hollows were more likely to occur in species with higher vessel and ray densities, and smaller diameter vessels. Termites occurred in the hollows of 43% of the trees sampled, with C. testaceus the most common (76%). The probability of encountering termite nests of C. testaceus varied among tree species and was positively related to wood density. Conclusions: This study shows that given the increased likelihood of stem hollows and rotten cores in large trees, tree selection criteria in managed tropical forests should include maximum cutting sizes that vary with the susceptibility of different tree species to stem decay.

Lotmaria Passim As Third Parasite Gastrointestinal Tract of Honey Bees Living in Tree Trunk

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) inhabiting trees in forests are not managed by humans or treated for pathogens; therefore, many researchers and beekeepers believe that viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases may lead to their decline. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of L. passim and Nosema spp. in feral colonies by real-time PCR. This study was performed on twenty-six samples of honey bees inhabiting tree trunks in north-eastern Poland. One sample consisted of sixty worker bee abdomens collected from hollow trees. Honey bees were sampled only from naturally colonized sites. Amplicons of the three evaluated pathogens were detected in twenty of the twenty-six tested samples. A significant correlation was observed between infection with three pathogens (N. apis, N. ceranae, L. passim) (r = 0.84) compared to infection with only two pathogens (N. apis and N. ceranae) (r = 0.49). N. ceranae was the predominant pathogen, but infections with various severity caused by L. passim were also noted in fourteen of the twenty-six tested samples. In view of the general scarcity of epidemiological data concerning coinfections with Nosema spp. and L. passim in honey bees in tree trunks in other countries, further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogenic infections on the decline of bee colonies.

Biologi Sarang Rayap Subfamili Nasutitermitinae di Stasiun Penelitian Suaq Balimbing Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser

A study had been carried out from May 2017 to February 2018 at Suaq Balimbing Research Center, Gunung Leuser National Park to determine the biology of termite nests of Nasutitermitinae subfamily. The termites were collected with Finding Colony method, while the identification of the termite types and data analysis was conducted in Zoology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Syiah Kuala University. The results found 3 types of termite nests, i.e., (1) arboreal mounds type (N. roboratus, N. matangensis, H. bicolor and N. neoparvus) as an attempt to disguise themselves and protect their colonies from predators; (2) wood nesting type (N. havilandi, N. proatripennis, H. hospitalis, B. neopusillus, L. leucops, and Aciculitermes sp.1) that is built using drywood to form ventilation space between nests, so the nests become sturdier; and (3) subterraneannest type (L. longipes) that has a stronger construction than arborealmounds and wood nesting since it is made of soil attached by saliva liquid. Shapes of termite nest found namely a rounded shape, a cone shape, a shape that fills in hollow trees, a shape that forms a mound on the ground, and rectangular shape. Some of the termites activities were searching for food outside the nest, consuming remaining food in the nest, and making an attack. The identification results showed that there were 18 termites species from 6 genera of Nasutitermitinae subfamily namely Nasutitermes, Hospitalitermes, Leucopitermes, Longipeditermes, Bulbitermes and Aciculitermes.