Bird and beetle assemblages in relict beech forests of central Italy: a multi-taxa approach to assess the importance of dead wood in biodiversity conservation

L. Redolfi De Zan; C. Battisti; G. Carpaneto

doi:10.1556/comec.15.2014.2.12

Community Ecology

Volume/Issue:: Volume 15: Issue 2

Bird and beetle assemblages in relict beech forests of central Italy: a multi-taxa approach to assess the importance of dead wood in biodiversity conservation

Authors:

L. Redolfi De Zan

L. Redolfi De Zan Roma Tre University Department of Sciences Viale Marconi, 446 00146 Roma Italy

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C. Battisti

C. Battisti Environmental Service, Province of Roma “Torre Flavia” LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station Via Tiburtina 691 Roma Italy

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, and

G. Carpaneto

G. Carpaneto Roma Tre University Department of Sciences Viale Marconi, 446 00146 Roma Italy

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Pages:: 235–245

Online Publication Date:: 17 Nov 2014

Publication Date:: 01 Dec 2014

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1556/comec.15.2014.2.12

Keywords:: Animal diversity; Dead wood decay classes; Forest management; Hole-nesting birds; Saproxylic beetle

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The awareness of the importance of deadwood in forest ecosystems has increased in recent decades. Today, dead wood is recognized as a key factor affecting diversity of forest communities. Hole-nesting birds and saproxylic organisms represent an active part of the animal community through the recycle of decaying wood into the forest soils. Three relict beech forests of central Italy were surveyed for both saproxylic beetles and hole-nesting birds, using two different types of interception traps for the former group and point count method for the latter. The variables of dead wood quality were recorded from ten plots, particularly the decaying class and typology of all the wood debris with a diameter ≥ 5 cm. In order to correlate richness and abundance of beetles and birds in a symmetric way, we used co-inertia analysis (CoIA). To correlate in a predictive way the dead wood attributes (dead wood typology and class decay) with birds and beetles assemblages we used partial redundancy analysis (RDA). Our results showed a significant relationship between saproxylic beetle and hole-nesting bird communities. Three dead wood variables (the volume of standing dead trees, stumps and large branches on the ground) appeared to be good predictors of saproxylic beetle richness while the volume of standing dead tree and of dead trees on the ground were the same for hole-nesting birds. These results suggest specific recommendations useful for forest management and planning.

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Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies

Print ISSN:: 1585-8553

Online ISSN:: 1588-2756

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Community Ecology
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	2000
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Issues per Year	3
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Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
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ISSN	1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2756 (Online)