Multiple uncertainties require a change of conservation practices for saproxylic beetles in managed temperate forests.

ABSTRACT: In Europe, intensive forest management has severely compromised the habitat of forest insects, especially saproxylic beetles, due to the removal of deadwood and veteran trees. The loss of insect diversity may disrupt ecosystem functioning and affect the provision of important ecosystem goods and services in the future. Here we propose a novel approach for the implementation of conservation policies, by optimally allocating forest reserves and deadwood islands under multiple sources of uncertainty and minimizing economic risk. We use the saproxylic beetle Lucanus cervus as umbrella species, requiring that deadwood islands were spaced within its dispersal capacity. We show that current management and conservation practices are increasingly inefficient under changing environmental conditions

SUBMITTER: Augustynczik ALD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6175923 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature