Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of fen management and habitat parameters on staphylinid beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) assemblages in north-eastern Germany

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Journal of Insect Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Because fens have undergone dramatic declines in recent decades, an important question is which management regimes and habitat parameters are most effective in preserving fen biodiversity. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of five different management regimes (intensive grassland, moist meadows, summer harvested sites, winter harvested sites, fallows) on staphylinid beetle assemblages. During the study period 5,989 individuals from 92 staphylinid beetle species were recorded. Species richness and abundance were highest on intensive grassland and fallows, and water level and vegetation height had significant impacts on the abundance of staphylinids. On winter-harvested sites species richness and abundance were lowest. In general, staphylinid beetles did not show pronounced variation among management regimes, while the environmental factors water level, vegetation height and top soil mineralisation seemed to have a larger structuring impact. The number of threatened species and the conservation index were highest on summer-harvested sites and fallows, representing fairly well-preserved fens. We conclude that summer harvest of reed beds or no management at all appears to be most beneficial for the conservation of staphylinid beetles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen A, Eltun R (2000) Long-term developments in the carabid and staphylinid (Col., Carabidae and Staphylinidae) fauna during conversion from conventional to biological farming. J Appl Entomol 124:51–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assing V, Schülke M (2011) Freude-Harde-Lohse-Klausnitzer - Die Käfer Mitteleuropas Band 4 Staphylinidae I, 2nd edn. Spektrum Akad Verlag, Heidelb und, Berlin, pp 1–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Ausden M, Sutherland WJ, James R (2001) The effects of flooding lowland wet grassland on soil macroinvertebrate prey of breeding wading birds. J Appl Ecol 38:320–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker JP, Berendse F (1999) Constraints in the restoration of ecological diversity in grassland and heathland communities. Trends Ecol Evol 14:63–68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Batáry P, Örvössy N, Kőrösi Á, Nagy MV, Peregovits L et al (2007) Microhabitat preferences of Maculinea teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in a mosaic landscape. Eur J Entomol 104:731–736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedford BL, Godwin KS (2003) Fens of the United States: distribution, characteristic, and scientififc connection versus legal isolation. Wetlands 23:608–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohac J (1991) The effect of dispersed belts in agroecosystems on communities of epigeic beetles. In: Mahn EG, Tietze F (eds) Agro-Ökosysteme und Habitatinseln in der Agrarlandschaft. Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, pp 289–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohac J (1999) Staphylinid beetles as bioindicators. Agric Ecosyst Environ 74:357–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohac J, Fuchs R (1994a) Classification and ordination of habitats of staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in agriculture landscapes of central and east Europe. Abstr. 5th Eur. Congr. Entomol. Univ. York, York, p 30

  • Bohac J, Fuchs R (1994b) Carabidae and Staphylinidae of Bohemian villages. In: Desender K, Dufrene M, Loreau M, Luff ML, Maelfait J-P (eds) Carabid beetles: ecology and evolution. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 235–240

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bohac J, Fuchs R (1996) The long-term investigations of beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in Trebon Biosphere reserve. Verhandlungen des 14. Int. Symp. für Entomofaunistik Mitteleuropa, SIEEC, München 1994, SIEEC, München, p 427

  • Bohac J, Pospisil J (1984) Carabids and staphylinids of wheat and maize fields and their relationships with surrounding biotopes. Soc Rev Ecol 3:22–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohac J, Kubes J, Fuchs R, Curnova A (1995) The use of biomonitoring for ecological planning and ecological policy in agricultural settlements. In: Munawar M, Hanninen O, Roy S, Munawar N, Karelampi L, Brown D (eds) Bioindicators of environmental health. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, pp 155–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Charman DJ (2002) Peatlands and environmental change. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis P, Doering J, Stockan JA, Jones JR, Rees ME, Vale JE, Sibbald AR (2004) Consequences for biodiversity of reducing inputs to upland temperate pastures: effects on beetles (Coleoptera) of cessation of nitrogen fertilizer application and reductions in stocking rates of sheep. Grass Forage Sci 59:121–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dufrêne M, Legendre P (1997) Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible assymetrical approach. Ecol Monogr 67:345–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg H, Weber HE, Düll R, Wirth V, Werner W, Pauliben D (1992) Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scr. Geobot. 18. Goltze, Göttingen

  • Eyre MD, Luff ML (2005) The distribution of epigeal beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages on the north-east England Coast. J Coast Res 215:982–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freier B, Volkmar C, Kreuter T, Triltsch H, Stark A, Forster R et al (1999) Nützlinge als Bioindikatoren für die ökologischen Auswirkungen des Pflanzenschutzes in Feldstudien - Methoden und die Probleme bei der Interpretation der Daten. Pest Sci 72:5–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Freude H, Harde K, Lohse G (1974) Die Käfer Mitteleuropas, vol 5. Goecke & Evers Verlag, Krefeld

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiser R (1998) Rote Liste der Käfer (Coleoptera). In: Binot M, Bless R, Boye P, Gruttke H, Pretscher P (Bearb.): Rote Liste gefährdeter Tiere Deutschlands. - Schrr. Landschaftspflege Natursch. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, pp 168–230

  • Görn S, Fischer K (2011) Niedermoore Nordostdeutschlands bewerten - Vorschlag für ein faunistisches Bewertungssystem. Naturschutz und Landschafts planung 43:211–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Görn S, Fischer K (2015) Measuring the efficiency of fen restoration on carabid beetles and vascular plants: a case study from north-eastern Germany. Restor Ecol 23:413–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Görn S, Dobner B, Suchanek A, Fischer K (2014) Assessing human impact on fen biodiversity: effects of different management regimes on butterfly, grasshopper, and carabid beetle assemblages. Biodivers Conserv 23:309–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Görn S, Schulze F, Fischer K (2015) Effects of fen management on bird communities in north-eastern Germany. J Ornithol 156:287–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardman C, Harris D, Sears J, Droy N (2012) Habitat associations of invertebrates in redbeds, with implications for management. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 22:813–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hennicke F (2001) Das Naturschutzprojekt “Peenetal-Landschaft”. In: Succow M, Joosten H (eds) Landschaftsökologische Moorkunde, 2nd edn. Schweizbart, Stuttgart, pp 487–492

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann TA, Mason CF (2006) Importance of management on the distribution and abundance of Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) on coastal grazing marshes. Agric Ecosyst Environ 114:397–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joosten H (1997) European mires: a preliminary status report. International Mire Conservation Group Members Newsletter 3:10–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Joosten H, Clarke D (2002) Wise Use of peatlands. International Mire Conservation Group and International Peat Society, Jyväskylä

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiehl K, Kirmer A, Donath T, Rasran L, Hölzel L (2010) Species introduction in restoration projects—evaluation of different techniques for the establishment of semi-natural grasslands in Central and Northwestern Europe. Basic Appl Ecol 11:285–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klimadaten der DDR (1987) Reihe B. - Band 14 - “Klimatologische Normalwerte 195/80.” Meteorologischer Dienst der DDR, Potsdam

  • Klimkowska A, Van Diggelen R, Bakker JP, Grootjans AP (2007) Wet meadow restoration in Western Europe: a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of several techniques. Biol Conserv 140:318–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klimkowska A, Van Diggelen R, Grootjans AP, Kotowski W (2010) Prospects for fen meadowrestoration on severely degraded fens. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Syst 12:245–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köhler F, Gürlich S, Bleich O (2015) Onlineportal zum Verzeichnis der Käfer Deutschlands. http://www.coleokat.de/de/fhl

  • Koivula MJ (2011) Useful model organisms, indicators, or both? Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) reflecting environmental conditions. Zookeys 100:287–317

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamers LPM, Vile MA, Grootjans AP, Acreman MC, van Diggelen R, Evans MG, Richardson CJ, Rochefort L, Kooijman AM, Roelofs JGM, Smolders AJP (2015) Ecological restoration of rich fens in Europe and North America: from trial and error to an evidence-based approach. Biol Rev 90:182–203

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mälson K, Backéus I, Rydin H (2008) Long-term effects of drainage and initial effects of hydrological restoration on rich fen vegetation. Appl Veg Sci 11:99–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mälson K, Sundberg S, Rydin H (2010) Peat disturbance, mowing, and ditch blocking as tools in rich fen restoration. Restor Ecol 18:469–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martay B, Hughes F, Doberski J (2012) A comparison of created and ancient fenland using ground beetles as a measure of conservation value. Insect Conserv Divers 5:251–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Mefford MJ (1999) Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data. Version 5.0 MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, Oregon, USA

  • MLUV (2012) Erhaltung und Entwicklung der biologischen Vielfalt in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Landesamt für innere Verwaltung, Schwerin

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann D, Krüger M (1991) Schilfhalme im Winter - Überwinterungsquartier für Insekten und Spinnen sowie Nahrungsquelle für insektivore Singvögel. Natur und Landschaft 66:166–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Schatz I, Kopf T, Steinberger K, Glaser F (2003) Die Kurzflügelkäfer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) des Frastanzer Riedes und der angrenzenden Illaue (Vorarlberg, Österreich). Voralberger Naturschau 13(13):239–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt MH, Lefebvre G, Poulin B, Tscharntke T (2005) Reed cutting affects arthropod communities, potentially reducing food for passerine birds. Biol Conserv 121:157–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staniec B, Pietrykowska-Tudruj E (2008) Morphology of the immature stages and notes on biology of Philonthus nigrita (Gravenhorst, 1806) (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) a stenotopic species inhabiting Sphagnum peatbogs. Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkd Berlin - Dtsch Entomol Zeitschrift 55:167–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StatSoft I (2007) STATISTICA for Windows (software system for data analysis). Version 8.0. www.statsoft.com

  • Tanneberger F, Wichtmann W (2011) Carbon credits from peatland rewetting. Climate—biodiversity—land use. Science, policy, implementation and recommendations of a pilot project in Belarus. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart

  • Tanneberger F, Flade M, Preiksa Z, Schröder B (2010) Habitat selection of the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola at the western margin of its breeding range and implications for management. Ibis (Lond 1859) 152:347–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timmermann T, Wichtmann W, Succow M, Billwitz K (2002) Alternative Nutzungsformen für Moorstandorte in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Greifswalder Geographische Arbeiten 31:31–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmermann T, Margóczi K, Takács G, Vegelin K (2006) Restoration of peat-forming vegetation by rewetting species-poor fen grasslands. Appl Veg Sci 9:241–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Diggelen R, Middleton B, Bakker J, Grootjans A, Wassen M (2006) Fens and floodplains of the temperate zone: present status, threats, conservation and restoration. Appl Veg Sci 9:157–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wichtmann W, Tanneberger F, Wichmann S, Joosten H (2010) Paludiculture is paludifuture-climate, biodiversity and economic benefits from agriculture and forestry on rewetted peatland. Peatlands Int 1:48–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams CD, Hayes M, Mc Donnell RJ, Anderson R, Bleasdale A, Gormley MJ (2014) Factors affecting wetland ground beetle (Carabidae) assemblages: How important are habitats, conservation designations and management? Insect Conserv Divers 7:206–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zedler JB (2000) Progress in wetland restoration ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 15:402–407

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeitz J, Stegmann H (2001) Moorbodenhorizonte und -typen. In: Succow M, Joosten H (eds) Landschaftsökologische Moorkunde, 2nd edn. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerbe S, Steffenhagen P, Parakenings K, Timmermann T, Frick A, Gelbrecht J, Zak D (2013) Ecosystem service restoration after 10 years of rewetting peatlands in NE Germany. Environ Manage 51:1194–1209

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Knut Weidemann, Enrico Hübner, Johannes Weidauer and Wilhelm Linke for their help during field work, Andreas Brisch, Florian Sievers and Rico Kaufmann for the analyses of the peat body and the vegetation, and Sonja Hennicke and Volker Assing for help with the identification of some critical taxa. Financial support was provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the funding scheme “Sustainable Land Management” (FKZ 033L030).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Johann-Sebastian-Bach Str. 11/12, 17489, Greifswald, Germany

    Hannes Hoffmann, Peter Michalik, Sebastian Görn & Klaus Fischer

Authors
  1. Hannes Hoffmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Michalik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sebastian Görn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Klaus Fischer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hannes Hoffmann.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 5.

Table 5 List of all recorded staphylinid beetle species
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hoffmann, H., Michalik, P., Görn, S. et al. Effects of fen management and habitat parameters on staphylinid beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) assemblages in north-eastern Germany. J Insect Conserv 20, 129–139 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-016-9847-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-016-9847-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation