The Structure of Saproxylic Beetle Assemblages in View of Coarse Woody Debris Resources in Pine Stands of Western Poland

Abstract

Background: Resources of dying and dead trees, decaying fragments of stems, stumps and branches, i.e., coarse woody debris (CWD), are an important structural element of biocenoses and are drivers of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to describe assemblages of saproxylic beetles in pine stands of western Poland in view of dead wood resources. We present faunistic (species identity) and quantitative (species and individual counts) data from two types of stands: 1. unmanaged pine stands, in which no trees have been extracted for over 30 years, with processes connected with tree dying and self-thinning of stands being undisturbed, 2. managed pine stands, in which routine tending operations extracting trees are performed in accordance with forest management plans and naturally dying trees are removed in the course of tending and sanitary logging; Methods: Beetles were captured in the years 2013–2014 using window flight traps. Assemblages of saproxylic beetles were assessed based on the indices of dominance, diversity (the Shannon–Weiner index), and species richness (Margalef’s index) as well as the estimated habitat fidelity index, feeding habits, and zoogeographical distribution. Similarity between the assemblages was evaluated applying cluster analysis. Dependence between dead wood resources and the diversity and species richness indices were analysed; Results: A total of 2006 individuals classified to 216 species were captured. Assemblages show considerable similarity on the local scale. Higher values of species diversity indicators were observed in unmanaged stands, in which no sanitation cuttings are performed; Conclusions: The decision to refrain from sanitation logging in pine monocultures results in increased CWD resources, which nevertheless does not lead to a marked increase in the values of biodiversity indicators. Unmanaged stands were characterised by a high share of zoophagous, mycetophagous, and saproxylic species. In contrast, managed stands were characterised by a high share of xylophagous beetles.

Beetles (Coleoptera) in deciduous dead wood tree species trunks in Lithuania

“…Of the 490 beetle species we identified, 440 were previously discovered in dead wood of various tree species: European ash, small-leaved linden, common oak, aspen, birch, black alder, Norway spruce ( Picea abies ), pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), common beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), silver fir ( Abies alba ), rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia ) and goat willow ( Salix caprea ), which are the most common tree species in Europe ( Kaila 1993 , Irmler et al 1996 , Martikainen 2001 , Jonsell et al 2004 , Lindhe and Lindelöw 2004 , Wikars et al 2005 , Byk et al 2006 , Gibb et al 2006 , Müller et al 2007 , Djupström et al 2008 , Müller and Bussler 2008 , Unal et al 2009 , Hjältén et al 2010 , Horák 2011 , Ranius et al 2011 , Bouget et al 2012 , Jonsell 2012 , Lassauce et al 2013 , Sawoniewicz 2013 , Vindstad et al 2014 , Redolfi De Zan et al 2014 , Papis and Mokrzycki 2015 , Milberg et al 2016 , Seibold et al 2016 , Selberg 2019 , Procházka and Schlaghamerský 2019 , Parisi et al 2021 , Vogel et al 2021 , Mazur et al 2021 , Graf et al 2022 ). Out of the 198 beetle species identified from birch dead wood, about a half (91 species) were also presented in beetle species lists obtained from Germany ( Vogel et al 2021 ), Poland ( Sawoniewicz 2013 ), Norway ( Kaila 1993 , Vindstad et al 2014 ) and Sweden ( Lindhe and Lindelöw 2004 ).…”

Diversity and Distribution of Forest Insects

“…Moreover, the authors noted that unmanaged stands were characterised by a high share of zoophagous, mycetophagous and saproxylic species. In contrast, managed stands showed a high share of xylophagous beetles [2].…”

“…Resources of dying and dead trees, decaying fragments of stems, stumps and branches, i.e., coarse woody debris (CWD), are an important structural element of biocenoses and are drivers of biodiversity. The aim of a study published by Mazur et al [2] was to describe assemblages of saproxylic beetles in pine stands of western Poland in view of rotting wood resources. The authors present faunistic (species identity) and quantitative (species and individual counts) data from two types of stands: − Unmanaged pine stands, in which no trees have been extracted for over 30 years, with processes connected with tree dying and self-thinning of stands being undisturbed; − Managed pine stands, in which routine tending operations extracting trees are performed in accordance with forest management plans, and naturally dying trees are removed in the course of tending and sanitary logging.…”