Influence of European Beech (Fagales: Fagaceae) Rot Hole Habitat Characteristics on Invertebrate Community Structure and Diversity.

Jordan P Cuff,T Hefin Jones,Lynne Boddy,Fredric M Windsor,Emma C Gilmartin,Brian Aukema

doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieab071

Jordan P Cuff, T Hefin Jones + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab071

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Abstract

Hollows of veteran trees (i.e., rot holes) provide habitat for many rare and threatened saproxylic invertebrates. Rot holes are highly heterogeneous, particularly in terms of substrate and microclimate conditions. There is, however, a dearth of information regarding the differences in biological communities inhabiting rot holes with different environmental conditions. Invertebrates were sampled from European beech (Fagus sylvatica) rot holes in Windsor, Savernake, and Epping Forests (United Kingdom). For each rot hole, physical and environmental conditions were measured, including tree diameter, rot hole dimensions, rot hole height, substrate density, water content, and water potential. These parameters were used to assess the influence of environmental conditions and habitat characteristics on invertebrate communities. Rot hole invertebrate communities were extremely diverse, containing both woodland generalist and saproxylic specialist taxa. Large variation in community structure was observed between rot holes and across woodlands; all sites supported threatened and endangered taxa. Environmental conditions in rot holes were highly variable within and between woodland sites, and communities were predominantly structured by these environmental conditions. In particular, turnover between invertebrate communities was linked to high β-diversity. The linked heterogeneity of environmental conditions and invertebrate communities in rot holes suggests that management of deadwood habitats in woodlands should strive to generate environmental heterogeneity to promote invertebrate diversity. Additional research is required to define how management and conservation activities can further promote enhanced biodiversity across rot holes.

Highlights

Rot holes, or tree hollows and cavities, can provide stable and long-lasting habitats for many organisms (Müller et al 2014), including saproxylic invertebrates (Ódor et al 2006, Abrego et al 2015, Horák 2017) which depend on deadwood during at least one stage of their life cycle
Physical and environmental conditions were measured, including tree diameter, rot hole dimensions, rot hole height, substrate density, water content, and water potential.These parameters were used to assess the influence of environmental conditions and habitat characteristics on invertebrate communities
Turnover between invertebrate communities was linked to high βdiversity.The linked heterogeneity of environmental conditions and invertebrate communities in rot holes suggests that management of deadwood habitats in woodlands should strive to generate environmental heterogeneity to promote invertebrate diversity

Summary

Introduction

Tree hollows and cavities, can provide stable and long-lasting habitats for many organisms (Müller et al 2014), including saproxylic invertebrates (Ódor et al 2006, Abrego et al 2015, Horák 2017) which depend on deadwood during at least one stage of their life cycle. Management of rot hole habitats, including the maintenance of inter-hole heterogeneity, is fundamental for the conservation and restoration of woodland biodiversity (Rotherham 2013, Siitonen and Ranius 2015, Horák 2017, Hall 2018) and saproxylic taxa not found in other woodland habitats (Müller et al 2014, Quinto et al 2014, Schauer et al 2018). The relationship between rot hole conditions and associated biological communities is, poorly. It was hypothesized that rot holes contain diverse invertebrate communities that are: (i) significantly different from one another within and between woodland sites; (ii) related to physical habitat characteristics such as tree diameter and rot hole height; and (iii) different from one another across gradients of microhabitat conditions (e.g., rot density and water content)

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