Effect of forest clear cuts on plant–pollinator interactions: the case of three ericaceous subshrubs in Lithuanian pine forests

Remigijus Daubaras,Vytautas Tamutis,Vidas Stakėnas,Marcin Zych,Laima Cesoniene

doi:10.5586/aa.1707

Abstract

Managed boreal pine forests are subject to regular clear cuts causing significant disturbances to these ecosystems. It is believed that, to some extent, they resemble natural cycles of forest growth, decline, and regeneration and can benefit, e.g., mutualistic relations among plants and pollinators. To study the impact of forest management (clear cuts) on pollinator visitation, we focused on three ericaceous plant species, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, and Calluna vulgaris, common elements of pine forest understory. Our observations, conducted in Lithuania, showed that there are no differences among control mature stands and clear cut areas in terms of visitation frequency for all three studied species. However, at least for C. vulgaris, a shift toward fly visits was observed in the clear cut site, showing that open areas are preferred habitats for these insects. Ants constituted an important share of visitors to flowers of V. myrtillus and C. vulgaris, suggesting their important role in reproduction of these plant species.

Highlights

Mutualistic interactions forming large and complex networks of reciprocally beneficial interactions and connecting dozens or even hundreds of species are regarded as “architecture of biodiversity” [1]
To study the impact of forest management on pollinator visitation, we focused on three ericaceous plant species, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, and Calluna vulgaris, common elements of pine forest understory
We focused on three ericaceous subshrub species: Calluna vulgaris L., Vaccinium myrtillus L. and V. vitis-idaea L., which are common elements of North European conifer forest understory [6,7]

Summary

Introduction

Mutualistic interactions forming large and complex networks of reciprocally beneficial interactions and connecting dozens or even hundreds of species are regarded as “architecture of biodiversity” [1]. Pollination of flowers by animals, which involves approximately 90% of all angiosperm species [2] and a significant fraction of invertebrate animals [3], is believed to play a crucial role in generating and sustaining the biodiversity of terrestrial ecosystems. Even boreal forest ecosystems occupying northern parts of Europe, formed by gymnosperm tree species and rather poor in flowering species, are home to many zoogamous plants and invertebrate pollinators that sustain a considerable part of forest biodiversity [4]. The sustainability of the pollination process can have a direct effect on economically important plants affecting crop production [5]. In European boreal forests, such species include, e.g., those of the Ericaceae family, especially species of the genus Vaccinium (e.g., V. myrtillus L. and V. vitis-idaea L.), which, together with Calluna vulgaris, are common and abundant elements of boreal ecosystems. Apart from the biological and ecological importance (see e.g., [6,7] and references cited), they provide significant socioeconomic services, in the case of Vaccinium spp. being

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Conclusion