Beetle diversity is higher in sunny forests due to higher microclimatic heterogeneity in deadwood

Lettenmaier, Ludwig; Seibold, Sebastian; Bässler, Claus; Brandl, Roland; Gruppe, Axel; Müller, Jörg; Hagge, Jonas

doi:10.1007/s00442-022-05141-8

Cited by 35 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…During summer, and to some extent also spring and autumn, a higher degree of canopy openness implied higher average and maximum temperature as well as larger daily fluctuations. Similar temperature patterns were also found between sun-exposed and shaded logs (Lettenmaier et al 2022 ). In contrast, during winter time, it was warmer where the basal area was higher.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…During the last 2 decades, a large number of studies have revealed that different deadwood and forest characteristics (wood diameter, canopy openness, whether standing or downed, and decay stage) affect occurrence patterns of saproxylic insects (Stokland et al 2012 ). At the same time, it is known that saproxylic insects are affected by the microclimatic conditions (Müller et al 2020 ; Henneberg et al 2021 ; Lettenmaier et al 2022 ). We have shown a link between these factors: deadwood and forest characteristics important for saproxylic insects are driving microclimatic conditions inside deadwood.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sheehan et al 2019 ), on the surface of logs (e.g. Kautz et al 2013 ; Müller et al 2015 , 2020 ; Lettenmaier et al 2022 ), or in the soil (e.g. Johansson et al 2017 ), but not inside deadwood (see, however, Henneberg et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is a specialised species that occurs in boreal and alpine regions and is thus a representative for many saproxylic insects favouring sun-exposed conditions in these regions. Previous studies on microclimate of saproxylic insects have been conducted mainly on beetle assemblages under warmer conditions (Sheehan et al 2019 ; Müller et al 2015 , 2020 ; Henneberg et al 2021 ; Lettenmaier et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microclimatic conditions mediate the effect of deadwood and forest characteristics on a threatened beetle species, Tragosoma depsarium

2022

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While climate change has increased the interest in the influence of microclimate on many organisms, species inhabiting deadwood have rarely been studied. Here, we explore how characteristics of forest stands and deadwood affect microclimate inside deadwood, and analyse how this affects wood-living organisms, exemplified by the red-listed beetle Tragosoma depsarium. Deadwood and forest variables explained much of the variation in temperature, but less of the variation in moisture within deadwood. Several variables known to influence habitat quality for deadwood-dependent species were found to correlate with microclimate. Standing deadwood and an open canopy generates warmer conditions in comparison to downed logs and a closed canopy, and shaded, downed and large-diameter wood have higher moisture and more stable daily temperatures than sun-exposed, standing, and small-diameter wood. T. depsarium occupancy and abundance increased with colder and more stable winter temperatures, and with higher spring temperatures. Consistently, the species occurred more frequently in deadwood items with characteristics associated with these conditions, i.e. downed large-diameter logs occurring in open conditions. Conclusively, microclimatic conditions were found to be important for a deadwood-dependent insect, and related to characteristics of both forest stands and deadwood items. Since microclimate is also affected by macroclimatic conditions, we expect species’ habitat requirements to vary locally and regionally, and to change due to climate warming. Although many saproxylic species preferring sun-exposed conditions would benefit from a warmer climate per se, changes in species interactions and land use may still result in negative net effects of climate warming.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microclimatic conditions mediate the effect of deadwood and forest characteristics on a threatened beetle species, Tragosoma depsarium

2022

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“…Beetles are ectothermic animals, and their temperature depends on the ambient temperature. The high biological value of massive trees is strongly correlated with an open canopy and sufficient insolation, and has been confirmed by several studies [9,10,40,80,84]. At a higher temperature, they are more spatially active, and their ongoing development is accelerated.…”

Section: Sun Exposurementioning

confidence: 64%

Heritage Trees as an Important Sanctuary for Saproxylic Beetles in the Central European Landscape: A Case Study from Litovelské Pomoraví, Czech Republic

Nakládal

Zumr

Remeš

et al. 2022

Forests

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Intensive forest and agroforestry management has greatly reduced the biodiversity of saproxylic organisms. Large trees are one of the most important refuges of saproxylic beetles. These large trees that grow outside and inside the forest are declining in the wider landscape. Heritage trees are one of the essential groups of beneficial trees in the landscape. We investigated saproxylic beetles associated with 35 selected oak heritage trees in Litovelské Pomoraví in the eastern Czech Republic. The study aimed to investigate the distribution of saproxylic beetles on trees growing inside or at the edge of forest stands, or on free-growing heritage trees. The other studied variables were the height, DBH, and light condition (sunny or shady) of heritage trees. The results showed that sunny habitats were the only significant factor found for all saproxylic species. However, the significance of increasing tree trunk dimension was found for the endangered species. Diversity indices q = 0 (species richness) and q = 1 (exponential of Shannon entropy index) were also higher for sunny trees, while solitary trees showed a high Shannon index value despite the low number of samples. Redundancy analysis of saproxylic species showed that the preferred habitats of most species were sunny massive solitary oaks. The results indicated that strictly protected heritage trees scattered in the landscape are crucial sanctuaries for many species—especially in landscapes where there are not enough suitable habitats for saproxylic beetles. Finding, conserving, and protecting these rare types of massive trees in the landscape has a significant impact on the conservation of saproxylic beetle biodiversity.

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Forest gaps increase true bug diversity by recruiting open land species

et al. 2023

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Forests canopy gaps play an important role in forest ecology by driving the forest mosaic cycle and creating conditions for rapid plant reproduction and growth. The availability of young plants, which represent resources for herbivores, and modified environmental conditions with greater availability of light and higher temperatures, promote the colonization of animals. Remarkably, the role of gaps on insect communities has received little attention and the source of insects colonizing gaps has not been studied comprehensively. Using a replicated full-factorial forest experiment (treatments: Gap; Gap + Deadwood; Deadwood; Control), we show that following gap creation, there is a rapid change in the true bug (Heteroptera) community structure, with an increase in species that are mainly recruited from open lands. Compared with closed-canopy treatments (Deadwood and Control), open canopy treatments (Gap and Gap + Deadwood) promoted an overall increase in species (+ 59.4%, estimated as number of species per plot) and individuals (+ 76.3%) of true bugs, mainly herbivores and species associated to herbaceous vegetation. Community composition also differed among treatments, and all 17 significant indicator species (out of 117 species in total) were associated with the open canopy treatments. Based on insect data collected in grasslands and forests over an 11-year period, we found that the species colonizing experimental gaps had greater body size and a greater preference for open vegetation. Our results indicate that animal communities that assemble following gap creation contain a high proportion of habitat generalists that not occurred in closed forests, contributing significantly to overall diversity in forest mosaics.

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Beetle diversity is higher in sunny forests due to higher microclimatic heterogeneity in deadwood

Cited by 35 publications

References 38 publications

Microclimatic conditions mediate the effect of deadwood and forest characteristics on a threatened beetle species, Tragosoma depsarium

Microclimatic conditions mediate the effect of deadwood and forest characteristics on a threatened beetle species, Tragosoma depsarium

Heritage Trees as an Important Sanctuary for Saproxylic Beetles in the Central European Landscape: A Case Study from Litovelské Pomoraví, Czech Republic

Forest gaps increase true bug diversity by recruiting open land species

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