Changing management in Scottish birch woodlands: a potential threat to local invertebrate biodiversity

The silvicultural management of Scottish birch woodlands for timber production is replacing traditional low intensity management practices, such as domesticated livestock grazing. These new management practices involve thinning of existing woodlands to prescribed densities to maximize biomass and ti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of entomological research 2003-04, Vol.93 (2), p.159-167
Main Authors: Woodcock, B.A., Leather, S.R., Watt, A.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Betula
Biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
Biomass
Cattle
Coleoptera - growth & development
Community structure
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Domestication
Ecosystem
Environmental conditions
Forestry
Forestry - trends
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Grazing
Insects
Invertebrates
Investigations
Livestock
Logging
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
Population Dynamics
Scotland
Timber
Woodlands
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Summary:The silvicultural management of Scottish birch woodlands for timber production is replacing traditional low intensity management practices, such as domesticated livestock grazing. These new management practices involve thinning of existing woodlands to prescribed densities to maximize biomass and timber quality. Although presently infrequent, the wide scale adoption of this practice could affect invertebrate community diversity. The impact of these changes in management on Staphylinidae and Carabidae (Coleoptera) in 19 woodlands in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland was investigated. Grazing and logging practices were important determinants of beetle community structure. Woodland area had no effect on any measure of beetle community structure, although isolation did influence the abundance of one carabid species. Changes towards timber production forestry will influence the structure of invertebrate communities, although the scale at which this occurs will determine its effect.
ISSN:0007-4853
1475-2670
DOI:10.1079/BER2003227