Abstract
Purpose of the ReviewThe concept of tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) is an approach to assess and manage multi-taxon species richness in forest ecosystems. Owing to their provision of special habitat features, TreMs are of special interest as a surrogate biodiversity indicator. In particular, in retention forestry, TreMs have gained attention over the past decade as a selection criterion for retained structural elements such as habitat trees. This review seeks to (a) address the suitability of TreMs as biodiversity indicator in the context of retention forestry, (b) summarize drivers of TreM occurrence and the status quo of the implementation of TreM-based retention concepts in forest management, and (c) discuss current and future challenges to the use of TreMs as biodiversity indicator.Recent FindingsThe TreM concept originated in Europe where it is now increasingly implemented. Most studies of the quantity, quality, and diversity of TreMs are focused on tree species from this region, although it is increasingly applied in other contexts. In addition to tree species, tree dimensions and live status have been identified as the main drivers of TreM occurrence. One major remaining research challenge is to verify relationships between the occurrence and abundance of forest-dwelling species from different taxonomic groups and TreMs to improve the evidence basis of this concept and thus increase its integration in forest conservation approaches.SummaryTreMs are not the “silver bullet” indicator to quantify biodiversity of forest dwelling species, but they provide an important tool for forest managers to guide the selection of habitat trees for the conservation of the associated biodiversity.
Highlights
Initial studies of tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) were conducted with individual typologies and definitions to capture the variation of microhabitats and to classify them according to different habitat functions [1–3]
Curr Forestry Rep (2021) 7:59–68 least a part of their life cycle to develop, feed, shelter or breed” [4]. This definition was established during the course of an expert working group led by the European Forest Institute (EFI), which resulted in first recommendations for the application of a standardized TreM concept [5]
The use of TreMs as biodiversity indicators is no exception to this rule, and while so far relatively weak statistical correlations with different taxonomic groups have been documented, TreMs have been widely accepted by forest managers and the wider public as a tool to promote and assess integrative, conservation-minded forest management
Summary
Initial studies of tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) were conducted with individual typologies and definitions to capture the variation of microhabitats and to classify them according to different habitat functions [1–3]. A number of institutions, federal states, as well as certification schemes (PEFC, FSC) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France use TreMs as selection criteria for habitat trees (Table 1; [66]), they often are referred to with other terms.
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