Northwest Germany Research Articles

Implementing telemedicine with 5G technologies in a nursing home for reducing emergency admissions– study protocol of a mixed-methods study

BackgroundBy transmitting various types of data, telemedical care enables the provision of care where physicians and patients are physically separated. In nursing homes, telemedicine has the potential to reduce hospital admissions in nonemergency situations. In this study, telemedicine devices were implemented with the new 5G mobile communications standard in selected wards of a large nursing home in Northwest Germany. The main aim of this study is to investigate which individual and organizational factors are associated with the use of telemedicine devices and how users perceive the feasibility and implementation of such devices. Moreover, it is investigated whether the telemedical devices help to reduce the number of emergency admissions.MethodsTelemedicine devices are implemented over an 18-month period using a private 5G network, and all users receive training. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods: To assess the individual and organizational factors associated with the use of telemedicine devices, survey data from employees before and after the implementation of these devices are compared. To assess the perception of the implementation process as well as the feasibility and usability of the telemedical devices, the nursing staff, physicians, medical assistants and residents are interviewed individually. Moreover, every telemedicine consultation is evaluated with a short survey. To assess whether the number of emergency admissions decreased, data from one year before implementation and one year after implementation are compared. The data are provided by the integrated dispatch centre and emergency medical services (EMS) protocols. The interview data are analysed via structured qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz. Survey data are analysed using multivariable regression analysis.DiscussionLearnings from the implementation process will be used to inform future projects implementing telemedicine in care organizations, making the final telemedicine implementation and care concept available to more nursing homes and hospitals. Moreover, the study results can be used to provide use cases for appropriate and targeted application of telemedicine in nursing homes and to define the role of 5G technologies in these use cases. If the intervention is proven successful, the results will be used to promote 5G network rollout.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register – trial registration number: DRKS00030598.

Long-term analysis of drinking water quality in poultry and pig farms in Northwest Germany

Hygienically safe drinking water is essential for the health, well-being, and efficient production of livestock. In contrast to drinking water for human consumption, there are guidelines but no legal limits for drinking water for animals. Risk factors due to hygienically relevant microorganisms or chemical compounds in drinking water are known from literature, but there is little information on the quality of drinking water for livestock in Germany. To gain an overview of the quality of drinking water, data from samples collected from pig and poultry farms in Northwest Germany over a 10-year period were analyzed retrospectively. Data consisted of 326 samples analyzed chemically, and 519 samples analyzed microbiologically. Of these, 80 water samples were analyzed for both chemical and microbial contaminants. There was no correlation between samples exceeding chemical and microbial guideline levels. The number of samples exceeding the chemical guideline values (58.0%) was higher than the number of samples exceeding the microbiological guideline values (47.4%). This long-term study illustrated the potential risk to pigs and poultry from drinking water and highlights the need for effective hygiene measures to prevent the transmission of microorganisms and chemicals residues through water to maintain animal health and safe food products.

Mud and blood in the final months of World War II: ‘soil’ maps of north-west Germany that helped to guide British and Canadian military operations in early 1945

ABSTRACT Towards the end of World War II, from January 1945, British/Canadian forces supplemented the use of topographical maps by compiling innovative specialist thematic maps to assist troops advancing eastwards from Belgium and the Netherlands into north-west Germany. ‘Soil’ maps were used to predict (1) cross-country trafficability and (2) potential airfield construction sites. Intensive bombardment of ground that was unexpectedly waterlogged as well as deliberate flooding by the enemy created mud which initially slowed cross-country movement. So too did determined German military resistance: the campaign included arguably the bloodiest operation for troops of 21st Army Group since their battle for Normandy in the summer of 1944. Significant maps, mostly at 1:100,000, are now preserved in England within the Shotton Archive at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, Birmingham. Together with expertise from geologists Major F.W. Shotton and Squadron Leader J.F. Kirkaldy, the maps contributed to terrain analysis that assisted with operational planning.

Filamentous Fungi Associated with Disease Symptoms in Non-Native Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in Germany-A Gateway for Alien Fungal Pathogens?

Filamentous fungi associated with disease symptoms in non-native giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in Germany were investigated in ten cases of disease in Northwest Germany. During the study period from 2018 to 2023, a total of 81 species of Dikaria were isolated from woody tissue and needles of giant sequoia and morphotyped. Morphotypes were assigned to species designations based on ITS-sequence comparison and, in part, multi-locus phylogenetic analyses. Nine species were recognised as new reports for Germany or on giant sequoia: Amycosphaerella africana, Botryosphaeria parva, Coniochaeta acaciae, C. velutina, Muriformistrickeria rubi, Pestalotiopsis australis, P. monochaeta, Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis, and Rhizosphaera minteri. The threat posed to giant sequoia and other forest trees in Germany by certain, especially newly reported, fungal species is being discussed. The detection of a considerable number of new fungal records in the trees studied suggests that giant sequoia cultivation may be a gateway for alien fungal species in Germany.

Impact of mechanical weed control on soil N dynamics, soil moisture, and crop yield in an organic cropping sequence

Mechanical weed control is a major element of weed suppression in organic farming systems. In addition to the direct effect on weed growth, mechanical weeding, such as harrowing or hoeing, is known to induce side effects on several soil- and crop-related properties. In this study, we investigated the impact of mechanical weeding on soil mineral nitrogen (SMN), soil moisture, and crop yield in an organic crop rotation of grass-clover (Lolium multiflorumLam., Trifolium pratense L.), silage maize (Zea mays L.) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The experiment was conducted in two consecutive years (2021, 2022), where each crop was grown in each year on a Plaggic Anthrosol with sandy loam in North-West Germany. Two weed control treatments (mechanical: harrowing, hoeing; chemical: herbicide application) were implemented in a randomized block design with four replications. Greater net nitrogen (N) mineralization in maize compared to winter barley were attributed to the incorporation of grass-clover residues before sowing of maize and greater mineralization potential during the maize growing season. Higher weed growth in maize after mechanical weeding resulted in a reduction of up to 47% in SMN content in the topsoil. In barley, no differences in weed suppression were observed between the treatments and only small effects on SMN were determined after mechanical weeding. The soil water content in the mechanically weeded plots was significantly higher at several events in both years and for both crops, which was attributed to increased water infiltration by disrupting the soil crust. Neither crop yield nor N uptake in harvest products was affected by the different treatments.

Psychological characteristics of environmental stakeholders and interactions in their social network

This research explores the roles of (1) the stakeholder categories conservation association, land use association, public authority and research group, (2) Organizational Culture, operationalized by the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument; (3) Environmental Worldview, operationalized by the New Environmental Paradigm; and (4) Environmental Risk Perception, operationalized by the Myths of Physical Nature, in shaping the interactions in the social network of environmental stakeholders in the city and district of Osnabrück in Northwest Germany. First, the study examines the stakeholder categories (1), regarding the expression of the constructs (2), (3) and (4) among them. Second, all constructs (1), (2), (3) and (4) are examined regarding possible correlations with the presence of collaboration and conflict between stakeholders. Our analysis reveals that (1) Stakeholder Categories are significantly correlated with the presence of collaboration, but not of conflict. (2) A significant correlation between membership of a stakeholder category and the dominant manifestation of a particular organizational culture is present, while no correlation between Organizational Cultures and the presence of collaborations or conflicts could be found. Moreover, the study highlights (3) a generally pro-environmental orientation across stakeholders as captured by the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP), indicating a shared foundation for potential collaborative efforts. (4) Analysis of Environmental Risk Perception, through the Cultural Theory’s myths of physical nature, uncovers a widespread preference for the hierarchical myth, suggesting a common perception of environmental risks and resilience. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding psychological and social dimensions in environmental stakeholder management to enhance collaborative efforts towards sustainable development. It highlights the need for management approaches that acknowledge the complex interplay of diverse psychological constructs in driving effective and sustainable collaborations between stakeholders of regional land use, nature conservation, public authorities, academia and other sectors depending on the context. Through its insights into stakeholder interactions, this research contributes to the broader discourse on achieving sustainable development goals through informed, cooperative stakeholder engagement.

Anti-Leptospira Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Forestry Workers in Lower Saxony, North-West Germany.

As leptospirosis is re-emerging, a seroprevalence study was conducted, assessing the prevalence of anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies and infection-associated risk factors among forestry workers (FWs) in Lower Saxony, Germany, to develop targeted public health measures. Sera of 877 FWs, sampled in 2016, were tested for anti-Leptospira seropositivity by commercial IgG-ELISA. Data on demographics and Leptospira-specific exposures, knowledge, sources of information, and preventive measures were collected by standardized, self-administered questionnaire. A subset of 244 sera was retested via in-house IgG-ELISA. Risk factors were assessed from the subset using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The commercial IgG-ELISA revealed a seroprevalence of 4.8% (95% confidence interval CI95 = 3.5-6.4). Of the 601 FWs who completed the questionnaire, 67.9% had been informed about leptospirosis and Leptospira spp., mainly by employers (55.2%) and peers (38.9%). Positive associations with seropositivity were observed for canoeing (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.35, p = 0.044), touching rodents (aOR = 2.4, p = 0.021), and living close to beech trees (aOR = 2.18, p = 0.075). Frequently cleaning animal stables was negatively associated (aOR = 0.20, p = 0.002). The unexpected positive association with wearing gloves when handling plants and soil (aOR = 2.16, p = 0.011) needs further discussion. Overall, seroprevalence was in the range of other studies in Germany. The identified factors will be used to develop targeted information reaching out to at-risk groups tapping various communication channels.

Early Holocene inundation of Doggerland and its impact on hunter-gatherers: An inundation model and dates-as-data approach

Sea-level rise was a key factor changing environments during the Early Holocene in Northwest Europe. It affected Mesolithic hunter-gatherer communities by inundating large areas in the current North Sea, commonly referred to as Doggerland. In this paper we present novel inundation models for the southern North Sea providing visualisations of lateral inundation driven by sea-level rise and relate it to frequency analysis of radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites. These improve on previous studies that relied on bathymetric data, which includes post-inundation overprints of Holocene sedimentation and erosion, and thus significantly underestimates the timing of inundation in some areas.We constructed a paleoDEM (a composite elevation grid of the top of the Pleistocene) for the eastern part of the southern North Sea; and sea level surfaces that combine relative sea-level curves from glacio-isostatic adjustment models optimised for Britain and southern Scandinavia respectively. We corrected our paleoDEMs for tectonic background basin subsidence, and in the inundation modelling account for pre-compaction elevation of peat in coastal areas. We evaluated the impact of these model components on our results and describe the possible inundation history of Doggerland. We suggest earlier inundation than predicted by previous models, showing significant area loss around 10.5–10 ka cal BP.Palaeogeographic changes are compared with archaeological radiocarbon data using a dates-as-data approach. Composite Kernel Density Estimate and permutation tested Summed Probability Distributions are used as a proxy for the visibility, nature and intensity of human activity. Results indicate key periods of growth and decline recorded in the dataset, as well as regional differences in growth rate, some correlating with inundation phases. Chiefly, we find elevated growth rates around 10.5–10 ka in northwest Germany and the Netherlands, contemporaneous with the abovementioned phase of extensive area loss, and moreover, with changes in culture and practices on Early Mesolithic sites.However, the spatiotemporal distribution of archaeological data is significantly influenced by accessibility and preservation of sediments of a certain age. We discuss the importance of inundation modelling and sediment data in understanding how landscape taphonomy affects archaeological patterning, especially in dates-as-data approaches.

A daily diary study on associations between school-based ethnic discrimination and school engagement

AbstractBeing the target of discriminatory actions because of their ethnicity can lead ethnic minority students to disengage from school. Research has relied on cross-sectional survey data to show that students who experience more frequent discrimination are more likely to be disengaged from school (i.e., between-person associations). Less is known about whether ethnic discrimination is responsible for day-to-day dynamic fluctuations in school engagement (i.e., within-person associations). The current study focuses on within-person processes to assess how different types (i.e., overt- vs. subtle behavior) and sources (i.e., peer vs. teacher) of school-based ethnic discrimination are linked to behavioral, emotional, and cognitive school engagement at the same- and next-day levels. Participants were secondary school students of Turkish and Arab descent (N = 87, Mage = 15, 62% female) in an ethnically diverse area of north-west Germany. Using an interval-contingent design, participants completed a daily diary once a day over a two week-period using a smartphone application. At the within-person level, multilevel models indicated that more frequent discrimination from teachers was associated with lower levels of cognitive engagement on the same day and emotional engagement on the next day. We found little evidence for links between any discrimination types and sources and behavioral school engagement. This study documents the negative consequences of experiencing school-based ethnic discrimination on student school engagement.

Sustainable Heat Supply for Greenhouses with Heatpumps

The heating of greenhouses in Germany is yearly responsible for the emission of about 3 million tCO2eq. In the small horticultural city of Straelen in North-west Germany, the possibility to partially replace the heat supply of greenhouses with heat pumps instead of CO2-intensive coal and oil boilers has been investigated. Different scenarios based on the power of the heat pump and the type of source (air or ground) have been simulated and compared economically and ecologically. Over the lifetime of the whole system, the levelized cost of heat for a combined heat pump & gas boiler heating system is lower than the reference case (coal & gas boilers). The installation of a heatpump covering at least 70% of the yearly heat demand would reduce the CO2-emission from minimum 70%.

Beneficial effects of native broadleaved forests on canopy beetle diversity are not reduced by admixture of non‐native conifers

Abstract Biodiversity loss and vast forest diebacks due to climate change‐induced disturbances require adapted forest management strategies that reconcile economic interests and conservation. Tree species selection, including admixture of fast‐growing and drought‐tolerant non‐native species to native forests, is an increasingly considered approach. However, we lack data on how such mixtures affect native forest biodiversity, especially for the sparsely researched major above‐ground part of trees, the canopy. In 40 temperate forest plots in northwest Germany, we investigated how monocultures and admixtures of introduced fast‐growing conifers (native Norway spruce planted outside its natural range and non‐native Douglas fir) to native broadleaved European beech forests affect abundance, biomass, taxonomic and functional diversity and community composition of canopy beetles across trophic guilds. Diverse arthropod communities are vital contributors to forest health and resilience, and therefore valuable indicators to assess and evaluate forestry measures. Monospecific stands of non‐native Douglas fir reduced canopy beetle abundance and diversity compared to native European beech, exceeding the negative effects of Norway spruce. These effects were more pronounced for herbivorous beetles, while they were less strong for predators. Beetle communities in monospecific Norway spruce stands had low functional richness. European beech and mixtures with non‐native Douglas fir had high dissimilarity between local communities (turnover, i.e. beta diversity) and high total beetle diversity at landscape scale (gamma diversity). Mixtures generally mitigated the negative effects of introduced conifers, including shifts in species community composition compared to native European beech. Synthesis and applications: Monospecific stands of fast‐growing non‐native Douglas fir and native Norway spruce planted outside its natural occurrence showed undesirable effects such as low diversity and a shifted community composition of canopy beetles compared to native European beech. However, mixed stands mitigated negative effects and specifically admixed non‐native Douglas fir did not reduce species turnover and landscape‐scale beetle diversity. In line with recent studies on other forest taxa, we conclude that admixtures of introduced conifers to European beech forests, but not monospecific plantations, can potentially serve as a compromise between conservational and economic interests.

Improving the Care of Severe, Open Fractures and Postoperative Infections of the Lower Extremities: Protocol for an Interdisciplinary Treatment Approach.

Patients with open fractures often experience complications during their injury. The treatments incur high costs. Interdisciplinary cooperation between different medical disciplines may improve treatment outcomes. Such cooperation has not yet been envisaged in the German health care system. The aim of the study is to improve the treatment of fractures with open soft tissue damage or postoperative complications in terms of duration and sustainability in a region in northwest Germany. Largely standardized diagnostics and therapy are intended to optimize processes in hospitals. In addition, a reduction in the duration of treatment and treatment costs is to be achieved. Using a digital platform, physicians from 31 hospitals present patient cases to an interdisciplinary group of experts from the fields of plastic surgery, infectiology, hygiene, and others. The group of experts from the environment of the University Hospital Münster promptly makes a joint treatment recommendation for the individual case. The plan is to examine 3300 patients with open fractures or surgical complications. As consortium partners, there are also 3 statutory health insurance companies. The extent to which the therapy recommendations are effective and contribute to cost reduction in the health care system will be empirically investigated in a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized design. In addition, medical and nonmedical professional groups involved in the project will be asked about their work in the project (in total, 248 clinic employees). The primary outcome is the complication rate of open fractures or the occurrence of postoperative complications. As secondary outcomes, the number of antibiotics administered, limb function, and quality of life will be assessed. The health economic evaluation refers to the costs of health services and absenteeism. For the work-related evaluation, workload, work engagement, work-related resources, readiness for technology, and ergonomic aspects of the new telemedical technology will be collected. In addition, clinic employees will give their assessments of the success of the project in a structured telephone interview based on scaled and open-ended questions. The project started in June 2022; data collection started in April 2023. As of mid-June 2024, data from 425 patients had been included. In total, 146 members of staff had taken part in the questionnaire survey and 15 had taken part in the interviews. Standardized treatment pathways in the standard care of patients with open fractures and postoperative infections will be established to reduce complications, improve chances of recovery, and reduce costs. Unnecessary and redundant treatment steps will be avoided through standardized diagnostics and therapy. The interdisciplinary treatment perspective allows for a more individualized therapy. In the medium term, outpatient or inpatient treatment centers specialized in the patient group could be set up where the new diagnostic and therapeutic pathways could be competently applied. German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00031308; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00031308. DERR1-10.2196/57820.

INFLUENCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

English is a West Germanic language that originated from Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain in the mid 5th to 7th centuries AD by Anglo-Saxon migrants from what is now northwest Germany, west Denmark and the Netherlands. The language has undergone major changes and developments in its pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and orthography throughout its over 1500 year history. This article provides an overview of the key influences and developments that have shaped the English language into its present global form. It examines the linguistic influences of Celtic, Norse, French, Latin, Greek and other languages on English. It also explores the impact of historical events, the growth of literacy, the invention of the printing press, dictionary compilation and standardized spelling on the development of English. The analysis shows that English has an unparalleled capacity to absorb, adapt and incorporate words and features from other languages. Through the early spread of English around the British Isles, and later via 19th and 20th century colonization and globalization, English has become the most widely spoken language worldwide with over 1.35 billion speakers.

Of Coffee Cups and Beer Glasses: Material Drinking Culture and Colonial Beverages in Rural Northwest Germany, 1600–1800

abstract: This article explores the spread of material drinking culture of colonial and domestic beverages in rural regions in early modern northwest Germany. The rapid diffusion of colonial beverages in early modern Europe is well established in literature on consumption and material culture. But historians have yet to adequately answer questions concerning the way these beverages influenced material culture in intermediate regions, which were neither centers of (global) trade networks nor at their periphery. This article argues that while rural, intermediate areas lagged behind the development of centers, they also produced new forms of material drinking culture distinct from cities.

Effects of birch encroachment, water table and vegetation on methane emissions from peatland microforms in a rewetted bog

This study investigated the influence of vegetation and microforms on methane (CH4) balances of a rewetted bog in north-west Germany. The two study sites are in close proximity on the same former peat extraction area, one dominated by Sphagnum-mosses and the other one by a dense Betula pubescens stand with a high Eriophorum vaginatum cover. The contribution of microforms (hummocks/hollows) to CH4 emissions and the effect of Betula encroachment has been studied. Transparent and opaque chambers were used to measure CH4 fluxes every 3–4 weeks during daytime for one year. For the estimation of annual balances, three methods were compared and the method using water level and soil temperature as explanatory variables was selected. Fluxes were scaled to the site level. The annual emissions per site are and 7.1 ± 1.5 g CH4-C m−2 year−1 at the treed site and 36.1 ± 3.5 g CH4-C m−2 year−1 at the open site, mainly controlled by higher water levels. Highest annual emissions originated from hollows at the open site, but in the vegetation period, hummock emissions tend to be higher. At the tree site, emission differences between the microforms were less pronounced. There were no differences between fluxes from transparent and opaque chambers.

Process Hygiene Criterion for Campylobacter and Number of Campylobacter Enteritis Cases in Northwest Germany.

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported bacterial foodborne disease in the European Union. Its transmission is often associated with the consumption of poultry meat. In 2018, Regulation (EC) No. 2017/1495 introduced a process hygiene criterion and with this, the testing requirements for Campylobacter. The results of microbiological testing for Campylobacter of chicken carcass neck skin samples from several slaughter lines in Northwest Germany collected by the food business operators and contamination levels (cfu/g Campylobacter) of these samples were analysed from 2018 to 2021. Classification into three different categories was made based on contamination levels. The proportion of highly contaminated (category three) neck samples (>1000 cfu/g) decreased from 2018 to 2021. Our analysis showed a relationship between the number of neck samples with high Campylobacter contamination levels (>1000 cfu/g) and human cases in Northwest Germany. Spearman's rank test (p < 0.01) showed a higher correlation in 2018 (0.66) and 2019 (0.58) compared to 2020 and 2021. Campylobacter enteritis cases in Northwest Germany stayed at a low level in 2020 and 2021. It remains unclear whether the decrease in reported Campylobacter enteritis cases is related to a decrease in Campylobacter levels on chicken carcasses or due to other reasons like underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore must be investigated in further analyses.

Understanding small‐scale private forest owners is a basis for transformative change towards integrative conservation

Abstract Balancing societal demands on forests is a major challenge in current forest management. Small‐scale private forest owners are an important ownership group that is rarely addressed directly in this discussion. Our study aims to identify and differentiate between private forest owner groups. Based on this, we take a systemic approach and determine leverage points that can be used to foster transformative change towards integrative conservation‐oriented forest management. We conducted a survey of 1656 small‐scale private forest owners in northwest Germany within a typical European multi‐ownership landscape and formed three clusters based on their activities. While all groups generally perceived nature conservation as important, they differed with regard to their forest management activities. Multiple‐use‐oriented forest owners (45%) were most active, including in terms of conservation measures. Conservation‐oriented owners (25%) mainly focused on passive measures, and conventional owners (30%) showed only a little engagement with conservation‐related activities. Despite the differences, common instruments promoting conservation activities were identified. They included, for example on‐site consultation, information about legal regulations and financial incentives. Based on four system characteristics (parameters, feedback, design and intent), we identified leverage points towards transformative change. The deep and thus effective leverage points are changing the discourse, accounting for the heterogeneity of private forest owners as well as for uncertainty related to climate change and adapting measures to local contexts. Furthermore, working towards increasing awareness, knowledge and interest as well as accounting for the desire for autonomy and control are promising pathways for change. A holistic transformation of forest policy and management towards integrative conservation is urgently needed to meet the current challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and timber demand. This transformation has to go beyond the adaptation of existing policy instruments and instead focus on systematic and cross‐sectoral changes in the underlying policy orientation, its design and its implementation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Oviposition abundance and diversity in the Middle Pennsylvanian: the exceptional fossil lagerstätte Piesberg, northwest Germany

Oviposition abundance and diversity in the Middle Pennsylvanian: the exceptional fossil lagerstätte Piesberg, northwest Germany

Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus – a case report of sudden death in a German sow farm

A farm in North-West Germany experienced a high morbidity and mortality in their sow herd. Sows showed fever, lethargy, oedema, mucosal discharge and dyspnoea. Necropsy revealed a severe fibrinous and purulent polyserositis. Haematological and histological examinations confirmed septicaemia. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus was isolated in high yields from major organs. Sequence typing of this isolate (21/455) revealed a new sequence type showing a significantly higher proliferation rate in comparison to two other isolates. Other infectious agents (influenza A virus, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Porcine Circovirus 2, african swine fever virus, classical swine fever virus, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae) were excluded by routine diagnostic examinations. A climate check revealed an insufficient air supply in the area for the gestating sows. This case describes the first disease outbreak in swine due to S. zooepidemicus in Germany.

Metabarcoding reveals that mixed forests mitigate negative effects of non-native trees on canopy arthropod diversity.

Averting climate change-induced forest diebacks increasingly relies on tree species planted outside of their natural range and on the addition of non-native tree species to mixed-species forests. However, the consequences of such changes for associated biodiversity remain poorly understood, especially for the forest canopy as a largely understudied forest stratum. Here, we used flight interception traps and a metabarcoding approach to study the taxonomic and functional (trophic guilds) composition and taxon richness of canopy arthropods. We sampled 15 monospecific and mixed stands of native European beech, native Norway spruce-planted outside its natural range-and non-native Douglas fir in northwest Germany. We found that the diversity of arthropods was lower in non-native Douglas fir compared with native beech stands. Taxon richness of herbivores was reduced by both conifer species. Other functional guilds, however, were not affected by stand type. Arthropod composition differed strongly between native broadleaved beech and monospecific coniferous (native spruce or non-native Douglas fir) stands, with less pronounced differences between the native and non-native conifers. Beech-conifer mixtures consistently hosted intermediate arthropod diversity and community composition compared with the respective monospecific stands. Moreover, arthropod diversity had a positive relationship with the number of canopy microhabitats. Our study shows that considering arthropod taxa of multiple functional groups reveals the multifaceted impact of non-native tree species on forest canopy arthropod communities. Contrasting with previous studies that primarily focused on the forest floor, we found that native beech hosts a rich diversity of arthropods, compared with lower diversity and distinct communities in economically attractive, and especially in non-native, conifers with few canopy microhabitats. Broadleaf-conifer mixtures did not perform better than native beech stands, but mitigated the negative effects of conifers, making such mixtures a compromise to foster both forest-associated diversity and economic yield.