Saproxylic beetles in natural and man-made deciduous high stumps retained for conservation

• Published in: Biological conservation 2004-07, Vol.118 (2), p.163-173
• Main Authors: Jonsell, Mats, Nittérus, Karolina, Stighäll, Kristoffer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biologi; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Boreal forest; Cerambycidae; Coleoptera; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; CWD; Dead wood; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Scolytidae
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2003.08.017

Intensive forest management in Scandinavia has decreased the amount of dead wood required by saproxylic (wood-living) organisms. To reduce this problem, some dead wood is now retained during forest operations, often in the form of man-made high stumps (ca. 4 m high). Most often these stumps are cut with a harvester, although the stumps in this study were made with explosives. The aims of this study were to determine whether such stumps of aspen ( Populus tremula) and birch ( Betula spp.) could be used by red-listed saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera), and to examine how the fauna of man-made high stumps differs from that of natural stumps. We also studied how tree species, sun-exposure, stage of decay and trunk diameter influenced the fauna. In 169 samples of bark from high stumps 116 saproxylic species were found, of which 21 were red-listed. Many species, including red-listed ones, were more associated with man-made stumps than with natural stumps. However, in total, more species were found in the natural than in the man-made stumps. This is probably because man-made stumps provide a more homogeneous type of wood substrate than natural ones. Among the other variables the difference between aspen and birch was the most important. We conclude that man-made high stumps are valuable habitats for many saproxylic beetle species.