Monitoring of saproxylic beetles and fungi in forest reserves

In the joint forest reserve monitoring project of WSL and ETH Zurich data on tree growth and structure of forest reserves have been recorded for decades. In order to assess the effects of the setting-aside of forest stands on the associated organisms a standardized monitoring of saproxylic beetles and saprophytic fungi has been initiated. In addition, the same monitoring procedure is applied in comparable managed forests. In this project we focus on beech forests.

This monitoring will be the basis for later inventories in order to evaluate the long-term effects of forest reserves on the biodiversity of beetles and fungi.