Effects of forest management on ground beetle diversity in alpine beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 2014-09, Vol.328, p.300-309
• Main Authors: Negro, Matteo, Vacchiano, Giorgio, Berretti, Roberta, Chamberlain, Dan E., Palestrini, Claudia, Motta, Renzo, Rolando, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ageing islands; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Beech; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity; Carabus; Carabus olympiae; Conversion to high forest; Coppice; Fagus sylvatica; Forest management; Forest management. Stand types and stand dynamics. Silvicultural treatments. Tending of stands. Natural regeneration; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Homogenizing; Insect ecology; Stand types and stand dynamics. Silvicultural treatments. Tending of stands. Natural regeneration; Stands; Supports; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Trees; Wood
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.05.049

•We examine the influence of beech forest management on ground beetle diversity.•The diversity of forest specialist carabids was higher in over-mature coppices.•We detected a positive response of several diversity variables to coarse wood debris.•In beech forest stands is essential to promote structural and microhabitat diversity. European beech forests are of particular importance for biodiversity, although relatively little is known about how beech forest management impacts on invertebrate communities. In this paper we investigated the influence of beech forest management history [i.e. over-mature coppices (OC) and coppices in conversion to high forests (CCHF)], climatic, topographic and microhabitat characteristics on ground beetle diversity (measured as total relative abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity and abundance of the endangered endemic species Carabus olympiae) in northern Italy. The diversity of forest specialist carabids was higher in OC and in forest stands characterized by a higher mean temperature and lower relative humidity. Moreover, we detected a positive response of several diversity variables to coarse wood debris cover or volume, herb cover, and the standard deviation of tree diameter. Currently, OC seems to be a more favorable habitat for forest carabids, including C.olympiae, although succession over time can lead to a progressive homogenization of the vegetation structure, with negative consequences for the conservation of the forest carabid assemblage. Based on our results, we suggest that the traditional management of beech coppice and its conversion to high forest be modified by including practices aimed at promoting structural and microhabitat diversity such as retention of large trees, creation of canopy gaps, retention of coarse wood debris and the preservation of ‘islands’ of older trees in the managed stands.