Tree microhabitats as indicators of bird and bat communities in Mediterranean forests |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences, Bat Research Group, Palaudàries, 102. Jardins Antoni Jonch Cuspinera, 08402 Granollers, Catalonia, Spain;2. Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;3. Galanthus Association, Carretera de Juià 46, 17460 Celrà, Catalonia, Spain;4. Servei d’Estadística Aplicada, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Campus UAB, Edifici CM7, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;2. InVivo Agrosolutions, Direction Technique et Développement, 83 Avenue de la Grande Armée, 75 782 Paris, France;1. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Praha 6, Suchdol 16521, Czech Republic;2. PRALES, Odtrnovie 563, 013 22 Rosina, Slovakia;3. Department of Biology and General Ecology, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, Masaryka 24, 96053 Zvolen, Slovakia;4. Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic;5. Irstea, UR EFNO, Domaine des Barres, 45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France;6. INRA, UMR1201 DYNAFOR, Chemin de Borde Rouge, Auzeville, CS 52627, 31326 Castanet Tolosan Cedex, France;7. CRPFOcc, 7 chemin de la Lacade, 31320 Auzeville Tolosane, France;8. Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;9. PSEDA-ILIRIA organization, Tirana 1000, Albania;10. Department of Biometry and Forest Productivity, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. 29-Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland;11. University of Zagreb, Forestry Faculty, Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Svetošimunska 25, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia;12. “Marin Drăcea” National Research-Development Institute in Forestry, Station Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Calea Bucovinei 73b, 725100 Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Suceava, Romania;13. Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Universităţii 13, 720229 Suceava, Romania;14. Agricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Forestry Sciences, 1029 Koder-Kamez, Albania;15. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland;p. SwissForestLab, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland;q. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland;1. Irstea, UR EFNO, Domaine des Barres, 45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France;2. MECADEV, UMR 7179 MNHN/CNRS, CP50, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France;3. Office National des Forêts, Département Recherche et Développement, Boulevard de Constance, 77300 Fontainebleau, France;4. Réserves Naturelles de France, CS 67524, 21075 Dijon cedex, France;5. Irstea, UR EMGR, 2 rue de la Papeterie, BP 76 – 38402 St-Martin-d''Hères cedex, France;1. Northwest A&F University, College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, CN-712100 Yangling, China;2. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden;3. University of Copenhagen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Rolighedsvej 23, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark;4. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;5. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden |
| |
| Abstract: | Tree microhabitats (e.g., canopy deadwood, cavities, and loose bark) may play an important role in forest biodiversity conservation. Indeed, many species depend on tree microhabitats during their life-cycles for food, shelter, and breeding habitat. Although recent studies have developed a set of definitions and descriptions for tree microhabitats, the relationships between tree microhabitat inventory data and biodiversity remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified relationships among tree microhabitat variables (i.e., the density and diversity of microhabitat) and bird and bat metrics using data from 59 plots in 3 Mediterranean forest ecosystems in France. In each plot, 9 types of tree microhabitats were inventoried: canopy deadwood; woodpecker cavities; non-woodpecker cavities (divided into lower, medium, and upper cavities); Cerambyx cavities; loose bark or cracks; conks of fungi; and ivy. We also assessed structural characteristics (e.g., basal area, stand height), the time since last cutting (i.e., the number of years since the stand was last cut), the number of forest habitats, and the distance to the nearest road. We performed bird and bat inventories in the same plots and we used abundances and a number of bird and bat community indices (e.g., species richness, mean forest specialization). We found that variations in tree microhabitat (more specifically, variations in microhabitat diversity) were a major factor in explaining the abundance and community response of birds and bats. Bird species, including cavity-nesting birds, were most strongly affected by tree microhabitat diversity, while bat species were positively affected by both the diversity of the tree microhabitat and the density of cavities created by Cerambyx spp. Tree microhabitats were better predictors of bird and bat responses than other stand characteristics. Tree microhabitat characteristics provide a reliable measure of ecological niches in forest ecosystems and we propose that these microhabitats be used as indicators for assessing biodiversity in forests. |
| |
| Keywords: | Tree microhabitats Stand characteristics Biodiversity indicators Birds Bats |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
