Effect of canopy gaps on species assemblages of saproxylic beetles in the Uholka Forest, Ukraine

New gap in the Uholka forest

Hemispherical photograph of a gap

PhD Student: Maksym Chumak, Uzhgorod National University, Ukraine
Supervisors: Thibault Lachat, Beat Wermelinger, WSL

Timber production is one of the main goal of forest management. Consequently, mature trees are exploited and exported out of the forest before they reach the age, at which they would naturally die. The decaying phases, where old trees break down and create canopy gaps are therefore mostly lacking in managed forests.

In Uholka forest, the largest virgin forest of European Beech, the natural dynamic is still intact and canopy gaps are expected to be available and to influence not only the forest dynamic, but also the saproxylic beetles in terms of diversity, abundance and composition of species assemblages. However, there is little information about the effects of gaps on saproxylic species.

Main Questions

1. Does saproxylic beetle diversity differ between canopy gaps, ecotons and high forests?
2. Which parameters of canopy gaps (area, flowers abundance, light, amount of deadwood, ...) influence the saproxylic beetles?

In a first phase (2010), characteristics of the canopy gaps will be inventoried on 4 sites containing each 5 gaps of different size of the Uholka forest. For the sampling of the insects, two types of traps will be used: Combi trap and Barber traps. Sampling period are planned for 2011 and 2012.

Links

• Structure and dynamics of virgin and (formerly) managed beech forests
• Stichprobeninventur Uholka-Schyrokyj Luh (in german)
  
  

Contact

• Thibault Lachat
  

Combi trap and Barber trap will be used to study the effect of canopy gaps on the saproxylic beetles.