Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mimicking natural disturbances of boreal forests: the effects of controlled burning and creating dead wood on beetle diversity

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The young successional stages of boreal forests are an important habitat for many saproxylic species. These habitats are formed by disturbances such as forest fires and they are characterized by large volumes of dead wood and sun-exposed conditions. Today, young successional stages of natural origin are very rare in Fennoscandia and there is need for restoration. We constructed a large-scale field experiment in which we studied the effects of two restoration practices on beetle diversity: controlled burning and partial harvesting with creating different volumes of dead wood. We sampled beetles with flight-intercept traps recording a total of 56,031 individuals and 755 species. The species richness and abundance of both saproxylic and non-saproxylic beetles were increased by burning and harvesting but the volume of dead wood created on harvested sites had no short-term effect on species richness or abundance. Rare species, especially saproxylic ones, preferred burned sites and a similar trend was observed among red-listed and pyrophilous species. Burning and harvesting also resulted in different species assemblages and there were some additional differences according to the volume of dead wood. We conclude that fire can be successfully used in restoration of managed boreal forests to increase species diversity and to facilitate the recovery of declined species. However, long-term monitoring is needed to clarify the effects of the restoration practices, in particular those of creating dead wood without using fire.

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
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahnlund H, Lindhe A (1992) Endangered wood-living insects in coniferous forests—some thoughts from studies of forest-fire sites, outcrops and clearcuttings in the province of Sörmland, Sweden. Entomologisk Tidskrift 113:13–23 (in Swedish with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonym (2001) Hyvän metsänhoidon suositukset. Metsätalouden kehittämiskeskus Tapio, Helsinki, Finland (in Finnish)

  • Attiwill PM (1994) The disturbance dynamics of forest ecosystems: the ecological basis for conservative management. Forest Ecol Manage 63:247–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw AD (1997) What do we mean by restoration? In: Urbanska KM., Webb NR, Edwards PJ (eds) Restoration ecology and sustainable development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 53–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelmark O (1984) Forest fires in the Muddus National Park (northern Sweden) during the past 600 years. Can J Bot 62:893–898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engelmark O (1987) Fire history correlations to forest type and topography in northern Sweden. Ann Bot Fenn 24:317–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Esseen P-A, Ehnström B, Ericson L, Sjöberg H (1997) Boreal forests. Ecol Bull 46:16–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans WG (1966) Perception of infrared radiation from forest fires by Melanophila acuminata De Geer (Buprestidae, Coleoptera). Ecology 47:1061–1065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granström A (1993) Spatial and temporal variation of lightning ignitions in Sweden. J Veg Sci 4:737–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grove SJ (2002) Saproxylic insect ecology and the sustainable management of forests. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 33:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanski I (2000) Extinction debt and species credit in boreal forests: modelling the consequences of different approaches to biodiversity conservation. Ann Zool Fenn 37:271–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyvärinen E, Kouki J, Martikainen P (2006) A comparison of three trapping methods to survey forest-dwelling Coleoptera. Eur J Entomol 103:397–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyvärinen E, Kouki J, Martikainen P, Lappalainen H (2005) Short-term effects of controlled burning and green-tree retention on beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in managed boreal forests. For Ecol Manage 212:315–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Nitterus K, Stighäll K (2004) Saproxylic beetles in natural and man-made deciduous high stumps retained for conservation. Biol Conserv 118:163–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Weslien J (2003) Felled or standing retained wood—it makes a difference for saproxylic beetles. Forest Ecol Manage 175:425–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Weslien J, Ehnström B (1998) Substrate requirements of red-listed saproxylic invertebrates in Sweden. Biodiv Conserv 7:749–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Junninen K, Similä M, Kouki J, Kotiranta H (2005) Assemblages of wood-inhabiting fungi along the gradients of succession and naturalness in boreal pine-dominated forests in Fennoscandia. Ecography 28:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaila L, Martikainen P, Punttila P (1997) Dead trees left in clearcuts benefit saproxylic Coleoptera adapted to natural disturbances in boreal forest. Biodiv Conserv 6:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch K (1989–1992) Die Käfer Mitteleuropas. Ökölogie Bds. 1–3 Goecke, Evers Verlag, Krefeld, Germany

  • Kouki J, Löfman S, Martikainen P, Rouvinen S, Uotila A (2001) Forest fragmentation in Fennoscandia: linking habitat requirements of wood-associated threatened species to landscape and habitat changes. Scand J For Res Suppl 3:27–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruys N, Jonsson BG, Ståhl G (2002) A stage-base matrix model for decomposition dynamics of woody debris. Ecol Appl 12:773–781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuuluvainen T (2002) Natural variability of forests as a reference for restoring and managing biological diversity in boreal Fennoscandia. Silva Fennica 36:97–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Larjavaara M, Kuuluvainen T, Rita H (2005) Spatial distribution of lightning-ignited forest fires in Finland. Forest Ecol Manage 208:177–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lilja S, de Chantal M, Kuuluvainen T, Vanha-Majamaa I, Puttonen P (2005) Restoring natural characteristics in managed Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands with partial cutting, dead wood creation and fire: immediate treatment effects. Scand J Forest Res Suppl 6:68–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martikainen P (2001) Conservation of threatened saproxylic beetles: significance of retained aspen Populus tremula on clearcut areas. Ecol Bull 49:205–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Martikainen P, Siitonen J, Punttila P, Kaila L, Rauh J (2000) Species richness of Coleoptera in mature managed and old-growth boreal forests in southern Finland. Biol Conserv 94:199–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muona J, Rutanen I (1994) The short-term impact of fire on the beetle fauna in boreal coniferous forest. Ann Zool Fenn 31:109–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemelä J (1999) Management in relation to disturbance in the boreal forest. For Ecol Manage 115:127–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niemelä J, Langor D, Spence JR (1993) Effects of clear-cut harvesting on boreal ground-beetle assemblages (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in western Canada. Conserv Biol 7:551–561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niklasson M, Drakenberg B (2001) A 600-year tree-ring fire history from Norra Kvills National Park, southern Sweden: implications for conservation strategies in the hemiboreal zone. Biol Conserv 101:63–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niklasson M, Granström A (2000) Numbers and sizes of fires: long-term spatially explicit fire history in a Swedish boreal landscape. Ecology 81:1484–1499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Östlund L, Zackrisson O, Axelsson A-L (1997) The history and transformation of a Scandinavian boreal forest landscape since the 19th century. Can J For Res 27:1198–1206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palm T (1951) Die Holz- und Rinden-Käfer der Nordscwedischen Laubbäume. Meddelanden från statens skokgforskningsinstitut 40. Stockholm, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  • Palm T (1959) Die Holz- und Rinden-Käfer der Süd- und Mittelschwedischen Laubbäume. Opuscula Entomologica Suppl 16. Lund, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedlar JH, Pearce JL, Venier LA, McKenney DW (2002) Coarse woody debris in relation to disturbance and forest type in boreal Canada. Forest Ecol Manage 158:189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitkänen A, Huttunen P, Tolonen K, Jungner H (2003) Long-term fire frequency in the spruce-dominated forests of the Ulvinsalo strict nature reserve, Finland. Forest Ecol Manage 176:305–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rassi P (ed) (1993) Frequency score of Coleoptera in Finland 1.1.1960–1.1.1990. Report no. 6, WWF, Helsinki, Finland

  • Rassi P, Alanen A, Kanerva T, Mannerkoski I (eds) (2001) The 2000 red list of Finnish species. Edita, Helsinki, Finland. (in Finnish with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rouvinen S, Kuuluvainen T, Karjalainen L (2002) Coarse woody debris in old Pinus sylvestris dominated forests along a geographic and human impact gradient in boreal Fennoscandia. Can J Forest Res 32:2184–2200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saalas U (1917) Die Fichtenkäfer Finnlands I. Annales Academiae Scientiarum Fennicae, Series A 8:1–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Saalas U (1923) Die Fichtenkäfer Finnlands II. Annales Academiae Scientiarum Fennicae, Series A 22:1–746

    Google Scholar 

  • Selonen VAO, Ahlroth P, Kotiaho JS (2005) Anthropogenic disturbance and diversity of species: polypores and polypore-associated beetles in forest, forest edge and clear-cut. Scand J Forest Res Suppl 6:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siitonen J (2001) Forest management, coarse woody debris and saproxylic organisms: Fennoscandian boreal forests as an example. Ecol Bull 49:11–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Silfverberg H (2004) Enumeratio nova Coleopterorum Fennoscandiae, Daniae et Baltiae. Sahlbergia 9:1–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Similä M, Kouki J, Martikainen P, Uotila A (2002) Conservation of beetles in boreal pine forests: the effects of forest age and naturalness on species assemblages. Biol Conserv 106:19–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sippola A-L, Siitonen J, Punttila P (2002) Beetle diversity in timberline forests: a comparison between old-growth and regeneration areas in Finnish Lappland. Ann Zool Fenn 39:69–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Southwood TRE (1962) Migration of terrestrial arthropods in relation to habitat. Biol Rev 37:171–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Speight MCD (1989) Saproxylic Invertebrates and their Conservation. Council of Europe, Strasbourg

    Google Scholar 

  • Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Ims RA (2002) The effect of forest clearcutting in Norway on the community of saproxylic beetles on aspen. Biol Conserv 106:347–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storaunet KO, Rolstad J (2002) Time since death and fall of Norway spruce logs in old-growth and selectively cut boreal forest. Can J For Res 32:1801–1812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ter Braak CJF (1987) CANOCO—a FORTRAN program for Canonical Community Ordination. Microcomputer Power, Ithaca, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallenius T (2002) Forest age distribution and traces of past fires in a natural boreal landscape dominated by Picea abies. Silva Fennica 36:201–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallenius T, Kuuluvainen T, Vanha-Majamaa I (2004) Fire history in relation to site type and vegetation in Vienansalo wilderness in eastern Fennoscandia. Can J For Res 34:1400–1409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wein RW, Maclean A (1983) The role of fire in northern circumpolar systems. Wiley & Sons, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wikars L-O (1997) Effects of fire and ecology of fire-adapted insects. Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 272. Acta Universitas Upsaliensis, Uppsala

    Google Scholar 

  • Wikars L-O (2002) Dependence of fire in wood-living insects: an experiment with burned and unburned spruce and birch logs. J Insect Conserv 6:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wikars L-O, Schimmel J (2001) Immediate effects of fire-severity on soil invertebrates in cut and uncut pine forests. Forest Ecol Manage 141:189–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zackrisson O (1977) Influence of forest fires on North Swedish boreal forest. Oikos 29:22–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The experiment was established by the FIRE (Fire Implications of Restoration Ecology) project of the Department of Forest Ecology of the University of Helsinki, and we thank especially Timo Kuuluvainen, Saara Lilja and Pasi Puttonen for co-operation. The treatments were conducted by the land-owners and the burning activities were helped by several students and volunteers. Jarno Nevalainen carried out a large part of beetle identification and Jaakko Mattila was great help in the identification of difficult specimens. Veli Liikanen helped in the field and sorted the material for identification with Satu Kuntsi and Elina Manninen. Juha Siitonen helped in the classification of beetles and was also involved in planning the sampling design. Mikko Mönkkönen and Jussi Päivinen gave valuable comments on the manuscript. The research was funded by Otto A. Malm’s Foundation, Jenny and Antti Wihuri’s Foundation, the MOSSE research programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Academy of Finland through the Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

    Tero Toivanen & Janne S. Kotiaho

  2. Natural History Museum, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

    Janne S. Kotiaho

Authors
  1. Tero Toivanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Janne S. Kotiaho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tero Toivanen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Toivanen, T., Kotiaho, J.S. Mimicking natural disturbances of boreal forests: the effects of controlled burning and creating dead wood on beetle diversity. Biodivers Conserv 16, 3193–3211 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9172-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9172-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation