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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
A comparison of the saproxylic beetle fauna between lowland and upland beech forests in southern Sweden
Contributor:
Brunet, Jörg;
Isacsson, Gunnar
imprint:
Wiley-Blackwell, 2010
Published in:Ecological Bulletins
Language:
English
ISSN:
0346-6868
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
<p>The aim of this study was to compare the saproxylic beetle fauna between lowland and upland beech Fagus sylvatica forests in southern Sweden and to relate differences in species composition to gradients in site conditions and dead wood characteristics. Beetle surveys conducted with window traps close to snags (naturally broken high stumps with fungal fruiting bodies) were analysed from 10 lowland and 25 upland sites, respectively. Lowland beech forests contained larger proportions of species developing in well decayed wood and in rot holes, whereas the proportions of fungicolous species and of species dependent on fresh dead wood were higher in upland beech forests. Complete surveys of beech snags in the lowland forest ofTorup and the upland forest in Söderasen National Park revealed that the snags in the lowland forest had a larger diameter (median dbh 71 cm and 49 cm, respectively) and were taller than the snags in the upland forest at Söderasen. The lowland area also had a lower proportion of snags with fruiting bodies of Fomes fomentarius. Larger wood dimensions and lower humidity in lowland beech forests imply a slower decay of coarse woody debris. This may explain the higher proportion of beetle species developing in well decayed coarse wood and in rot holes, e.g. the red-listed species Ampedus rufipennis, Anoplodera scutellata and Dorcusparalellepipedus.Snags and logs in the less productive upland forests are of smaller, less persistent dimensions. The humid climate of the uplands also favours the activity of decomposing wood fungi. Such conditions are probably the reason for the higher proportion of fungicolous beetles species found, e.g. Latridius brevicollis and Opbcephala haemorrhoidalis.We conclude that a balanced conservation of beech forests in both lowland and upland areas is necessary in order to maintain the existing diversity of saproxylic beetles in beech forests.</p>