Przepióra Fabian, Lewandowski Paweł, Ciach Michał
Department of Forest Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
Department of Forest Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland.
Sci Total Environ. 2025 Jan 15;960:178319. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178319. Epub 2025 Jan 7.
Tree-related Microhabitats (TreMs) are essential for sustaining forest biodiversity. Although TreMs represent ephemeral resources that are spread across the landscape, their spatial distribution within temperate forests remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study on 90 sample plots (0.05 ha each) located in a primeval mountain European beech Fagus sylvatica-dominated forest (Bieszczady Mountains, Carpathians). We explored the TreM profile with its link to habitat characteristics and described the spatial distribution of TreM indices. We identified 61 TreM types, with a mean richness of 19.7 ± 4.9 SD TreM types per plot, a mean density of 740.7 ± 292.5 SD TreM-bearing trees ha and a mean TreM diversity of 1.2 ± 0.1 SD. The diameter and living status of trees (living vs dead standing tree) were correlated with TreM richness on an individual tree. The stand structure, i.e. density and/or basal area of living and/or dead standing trees, and topographic conditions, i.e. slope exposure, were correlated with the TreM richness, density and diversity recorded on a study plot. We found no relationship between TreM richness, density and diversity and the presence of canopy gaps, which indicates that the influence of small-scale disturbances on the TreM profile is limited. However, our analysis revealed a clustered spatial pattern of TreM indices, with TreM-rich habitat patches (hot-spots) covering ~20 % of the forest. A moderate TreM richness, density and diversity dominated ~60 % of the forest, while TreM-poor habitat patches (cold-spots) covered ~20 %. Based on our findings, we advise the transfer of knowledge on the spatial distribution of TreMs from primeval to managed forests and advocate the '2:6:2' triad rule: to allocate 20 % of forests as strictly protected areas, to dedicate 60 % to low-intensity forest management with the retention of large living trees and all dead standing trees, and to use the remaining 20 % for intensive timber production. To ensure the continuance of the majority of TreM types, ≥55 living trees ha >60 cm in diameter should be retained. Such an approach will maintain a rich and diverse TreM assemblage across a broad spatial scale, which in turn will support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in secondary or managed forests.
与树木相关的微生境（TreMs）对于维持森林生物多样性至关重要。尽管TreMs代表着分布于整个景观中的短暂资源，但其在温带森林中的空间分布仍知之甚少。为了填补这一知识空白，我们对位于欧洲原始山区以欧洲山毛榉（Fagus sylvatica）为主的森林（喀尔巴阡山脉的别斯查迪山脉）中的90个样地（每个样地0.05公顷）进行了研究。我们探究了TreM概况及其与栖息地特征的联系，并描述了TreM指数的空间分布。我们识别出61种TreM类型，每个样地TreM类型的平均丰富度为19.7±4.9 SD，每公顷带有TreM的树木平均密度为740.7±292.5 SD，TreM的平均多样性为1.2±0.1 SD。树木的直径和存活状态（活立木与枯立木）与单株树木的TreM丰富度相关。林分结构，即活立木和/或枯立木的密度和/或断面积，以及地形条件，即坡面朝向，与研究样地上记录的TreM丰富度、密度和多样性相关。我们发现TreM丰富度、密度和多样性与林冠空隙的存在之间没有关系，这表明小规模干扰对TreM概况的影响有限。然而，我们的分析揭示了TreM指数的聚集空间模式，富含TreM的栖息地斑块（热点）覆盖了约20%的森林。中等TreM丰富度、密度和多样性占主导的区域约占森林的60%，而TreM贫乏的栖息地斑块（冷点）覆盖约20%。基于我们的研究结果，我们建议将TreMs空间分布的知识从原始森林转移到人工管理森林，并倡导“2:6:2”三元法则：将20%的森林划定为严格保护区，60%用于低强度森林管理，保留大型活立木和所有枯立木，其余20%用于集约木材生产。为确保大多数TreM类型得以延续，每公顷应保留≥55株直径>60厘米的活立木。这样的方法将在广泛的空间尺度上维持丰富多样的TreM组合，进而支持次生林或人工管理森林中的生物多样性保护和生态系统恢复。
