Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies

Forest biodiversity benefits from warmer microclimate, but only in colder regions

The study shows that warmer microclimates in forest gaps boost biodiversity in colder regions but not in warmer ones, suggesting climate-specific forest management strategies.

Coarse Woody Debris of Mixed Tree Species Overrides Soil Matrix Constraints on Microbial Richness and Abundance in an Ancient Broad-Leaved Forest

This study shows that coarse woody debris from mixed tree species increases microbial diversity and abundance in forest soils by creating specialized microhabitats that override soil constraints.

Moisture limits the diversity of nesting bees, wasps, and parasitoids in lying and standing deadwood

The paper examines how moisture affects nesting diversity of bees, wasps, and parasitoids in deadwood, finding that lying deadwood has lower diversity due to higher moisture retention.

Heterotrophic succession of invertebrate assemblages on fallen guava fruits in a tropical grove

The paper studies invertebrate succession on fallen guava fruits in a tropical grove, finding that decomposition stages strongly influence diversity and community composition.

Sample coverage standardization ranks species richness of saproxylic beetles across European tree genera

The paper standardizes sample coverage to compare saproxylic beetle diversity across European tree genera, finding oak supports higher richness while resource availability and tree height are key drivers.

Arthropod succession from deadwood to soil: increasing diversity and transitions between major forest substrates

The paper studies arthropod succession from deadwood to soil in boreal forests, finding increased diversity and community transitions along the decay gradient.

DEADMON: A protocol for long-term monitoring of deadwood-associated species

The paper develops and tests a DNA-based monitoring protocol for deadwood-associated species in boreal forests, finding that DNA methods detect different species than morphological methods.

Reforestation under climate change - a cross-regional deadwood retention experiment to develop multifunctional forests on disturbed Norway spruce areas

The paper describes a cross-regional field trial testing deadwood retention practices to improve multifunctional forest regeneration after Norway spruce disturbances.

From guidelines to practice: Operational criteria for identifying old-growth forests in northern Europe

The paper provides science-based operational criteria for identifying old-growth forests in northern Europe to meet EU legal standards and improve conservation efforts.

Deadwood-related microhabitats in old-growth forests in Poland

The paper introduces and quantifies Deadwood-related Microhabitats (DreMs) on CWD in Polish old-growth forests, finding higher DreM richness with larger CWD diameter and intermediate decay stages.

Beyond deadwood volume: structural heterogeneity and species-specific dispersal shape saproxylic beetle genetics

This study identifies deadwood diversity as a key factor influencing genetic diversity in saproxylic beetles, showing that regional gene-flow patterns vary among species.

Local and biogeographical determinants of the diversity and structure of invertebrate communities in rot holes of ash, Fraxinus excelsior

This study examines invertebrate communities in ash tree rot holes across Wales and western England, finding that both local and biogeographical factors influence diversity and structure.

Internal decay in living trees: a quantitative tomography framework and its application in a temperate forest

The paper quantifies internal tree decay using tomography in a temperate forest, finding species and site differences in decay prevalence and severity.

Leveraging a genetically tractable alphaproteobacterium reveals molecular determinants of bacterial growth in fungal-decayed wood

This study investigates how a model brown rot fungus and a model Alphaproteobacterium interact with decayed wood, revealing bacterial preference for non-aromatic compounds and metal-induced stress responses.

Phenotypic Variation Reveals Contrasting Ecological Strategies in Wood-Decay Fungal Ecotypes Across a Hybrid Zone

This study examines phenotypic variation in two ecotypes of Meruliopsis taxicola across a hybrid zone, revealing contrasting ecological strategies in growth and decay traits.

Informative priors contribute to quantifying the occurrence rate of a rare tree-related microhabitat in a managed forest

The paper uses informative priors to improve the estimation of trunk-base rot-hole occurrence in oaks, showing they enhance model precision and predictive ability in a managed forest.

Fungal-beetle networks in deadwood are modular and shaped by tree species and deadwood type

The paper examines fungal-beetle networks in deadwood, finding tree species and deadwood type shape community composition and network structure.

The potential role of volatile organic compounds on the colonisation of deadwood by saproxylic beetles

This study investigates how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from deadwood influence saproxylic beetle colonization, finding distinct VOC profiles linked to tree species and beetle assemblages.

Long-term shift in community composition of deadwood fungi after clear-cutting

The paper examines how clear-cutting affects deadwood fungal communities over time, finding shifts in composition rather than species loss, with rare and common species responding differently to habitat changes.

Decoupling species richness and interaction frequency reveals how fungal interactions regulate wood decomposition

This study decouples species richness and interaction frequency in wood decay fungi to show how they influence decomposition rates and chemical changes in wood.

Perceived urban microhabitat heterogeneity impacts carabid beetle communities

The paper examines how perceived urban habitat heterogeneity affects carabid beetle communities, finding that species richness is higher in homogeneous habitats despite expectations.

From forest decline to salvage logging: cascading impacts on saproxylic beetle diversity

This study examines how forest decline and salvage logging affect saproxylic beetle diversity across different European forest types.

The Invisible Heterogeneity of a Forest -- Beta Diversity of Volatiles

The paper quantifies how forest structural changes affect volatile organic compound beta-diversity and finds deadwood, not canopy openness, drives this increase.

Enhanced forest heterogeneity drives stronger functional than taxonomic shifts in soil nematodes

The paper manipulates forest structural complexity to study its effects on soil nematode diversity, finding functional diversity responds more strongly than taxonomic diversity to structural changes.

Experimentally manipulating forest structure to mimic management strategies: effects on deadwood fungal diversity and related ecosystem processes

The paper tests how forest management strategies affect deadwood fungal diversity and decomposition by manipulating canopy cover and deadwood enrichment in beech and pine forests.

Diverging drivers of alpha and beta diversity across management types in Swedish boreal forests

The paper examines how alpha and beta diversity in boreal forests relate to management types and habitat structures, finding that species richness and turnover are influenced differently by deadwood, tree density, and spatial factors.

Bark beetles as ecosystem engineers: triggered tree mortality rearranges the assemblage of Tree-related Microhabitats in old-growth coniferous forest

The paper examines how bark beetle-induced canopy gaps alter Tree-related Microhabitats (TreMs) in old-growth coniferous forests, finding increased saproxylic TreM abundance but no overall increase in diversity.

Dung beetles do not profit from enhanced spatial heterogeneity in production forests: a large-scale forest manipulation experiment

This study examines the effects of forest structural heterogeneity on dung beetle diversity and ecosystem function in Central Europe, finding no benefit to dung beetle diversity or dung removal rates in more heterogeneous forests.

Spatial distribution of Tree-related Microhabitats in a primeval mountain forest: from natural patterns to landscape planning and forest management recommendations

This study maps the spatial distribution of Tree-related Microhabitats (TreMs) in a primeval mountain forest and recommends a 2:6:2 forest management strategy to conserve biodiversity.

Changes in the diversity and composition of tree-related microhabitats across climate and human impact gradients on a tropical mountain

This study examines how tree-related microhabitat diversity and composition change along climate and human impact gradients in tropical ecosystems on Kilimanjaro.