Hotspots of Insect Diversity in Boreal Forests

Abstract

Abstract: Insect diversity patterns in boreal forests are largely unknown, and many specific microhabitats have been overlooked in the past. I reviewed some of the evidence on species richness, host specificity, and rarity of insects confined to one such specific microhabitat, namely the fruiting bodies of wood‐decaying macrofungi. I concluded that the insect communities occurring within the fruiting bodies are rich in species, many of which show preference for a specific fungal host. The relatively high number of rare insect species underscores the importance of fungal fruiting bodies for biodiversity maintenance in boreal forests. In the light of this importance and the fact that fruiting bodies occur as distinct, species‐rich islands in the boreal forest landscape, I suggest that the fruiting bodies of wood‐decaying macrofungi can be considered hotspots of insect diversity. Because many forest insects are negatively affected by forestry, practical forest management should pay more attention not only to fungal fruiting bodies but also to other similar microhabitats.