Diameter of downed woody debris does matter for saproxylic beetle assemblages in temperate oak and pine forests |
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Authors: | Antoine Brin Christophe Bouget Hervé Brustel Hervé Jactel |
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Institution: | (1) University of Toulouse, Purpan Engineering School, 75 voie du T.O.E.C., BP 57611, 31076 Toulouse Cedex 03, France;(2) Institute for Engineering in Agriculture and Environment (Cemagref), Research Unit ‘Forest ecosystems’, Domaine des Barres, 45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France;(3) INRA, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, Laboratory of Forest Entomology & Biodiversity, 69 route d’Arcachon, 33612 Cestas, France;(4) University of Bordeaux 1, UMR1202 BIOGECO, 33612 Cestas, France |
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Abstract: | Deadwood is widely recognized to be an important issue for biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems. Establishing guidelines
for its management requires a better understanding of relationships between woody debris characteristics and associated species
assemblages. Although deadwood diameter has been identified as an important factor predicting occurrence of many saproxylic
species, the boundary between small and large diameter has not yet been precisely defined. In commercial forests, it is also
of critical importance to know which diameter is large enough to host the beetle species associated with large logs in order
to ensure cost-effectiveness of biodiversity conservation measures. We investigated the differences in saproxylic beetle assemblages
among four different diameter classes of downed woody oak and maritime pine debris, in France. Beetles were sampled using
in situ emergence traps. The diameter of deadwood pieces ranged from 1 to 40 cm. No patterns of nestedness associated with
the gradient of diameter size were identified for either tree species. More indicator saproxylic species were observed in
large logs and branches than in small logs. A clear distinction appeared in assemblage composition around the 5-cm diameter
threshold whereas no similar pattern occurred around the 10 cm value, i.e. the classical threshold used in forestry to distinguish
fine woody debris from coarse woody debris. For both tree species, the mean body length of beetles increased with the diameter
of deadwood suggesting that the quantity of available resources per piece may constitute a limiting factor for large beetle
species. This study confirms that not only large deadwood pieces are relevant for saproxylic biodiversity conservation but
also the smallest pieces. Therefore, forest managers would be well advised to maintain a high diversity of deadwoods to maintain
saproxylic biodiversity. |
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