Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe
Research Highlights: The percentage of canopy closure was found to be the main factor associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The latter two variables increased as canopy closure increased, probably because a high percentage of canopy closure provides a stable and humid envir...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1223 |
| _version_ | 1797519219557924864 |
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| author | Jaroslav Holuša Tomáš Fiala Jiří Foit |
| author_facet | Jaroslav Holuša Tomáš Fiala Jiří Foit |
| author_sort | Jaroslav Holuša |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research Highlights: The percentage of canopy closure was found to be the main factor associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The latter two variables increased as canopy closure increased, probably because a high percentage of canopy closure provides a stable and humid environment suitable for the growth of ambrosia fungi. Objectives: Oak is a common host tree for ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), which have independently evolved a nutritional mutualism with fungi. We suspected that ambrosia beetles might have specific habitat preferences that are different from those of other saproxylic beetles and that reflect the specific habitat preferences of their food, i.e., ambrosia fungi. Methods: We assessed ambrosia beetle abundance with ethanol-lured traps in five old-growth oak dominated forests and five managed oak dominated forests (one trap per forest) during the vegetation period in 2020. We determined whether ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness depend on forest type (managed vs. unmanaged), degree of canopy closure, abundance of oak trees, abundance of coarse deadwood, and abundance of dead oak branches. Results: In total, 4137 individuals of six species of ambrosia beetles associated with oaks were captured. The native ambrosia beetle <i>Anisandrus dispar</i> represented the majority of trapped ambrosia bark beetles. <i>A. dispar</i> along with another ambrosia beetle, <i>Xyleborinus saxesenii</i>, represented 99% of all captured beetles. Conclusions: In addition to canopy closure, the abundance of oak trees and the abundance of dead oak branches were significantly associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The abundance of <i>A. dispar</i> was mainly correlated with dead oak branch abundance and the degree of canopy closure, whereas the abundances of <i>X. saxesenii</i> and of the invasive species <i>Xyleborinus attenuatus</i> and <i>Cyclorhipidion bodoanum</i> were mainly correlated with the net area occupied by oak trees. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a32aa3cc3415482e929ff00a610e90f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-a32aa3cc3415482e929ff00a610e90f72023-11-22T13:07:55ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-09-01129122310.3390/f12091223Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central EuropeJaroslav Holuša0Tomáš Fiala1Jiří Foit2Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Praha, Czech RepublicFaculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Praha, Czech RepublicFaculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech RepublicResearch Highlights: The percentage of canopy closure was found to be the main factor associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The latter two variables increased as canopy closure increased, probably because a high percentage of canopy closure provides a stable and humid environment suitable for the growth of ambrosia fungi. Objectives: Oak is a common host tree for ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), which have independently evolved a nutritional mutualism with fungi. We suspected that ambrosia beetles might have specific habitat preferences that are different from those of other saproxylic beetles and that reflect the specific habitat preferences of their food, i.e., ambrosia fungi. Methods: We assessed ambrosia beetle abundance with ethanol-lured traps in five old-growth oak dominated forests and five managed oak dominated forests (one trap per forest) during the vegetation period in 2020. We determined whether ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness depend on forest type (managed vs. unmanaged), degree of canopy closure, abundance of oak trees, abundance of coarse deadwood, and abundance of dead oak branches. Results: In total, 4137 individuals of six species of ambrosia beetles associated with oaks were captured. The native ambrosia beetle <i>Anisandrus dispar</i> represented the majority of trapped ambrosia bark beetles. <i>A. dispar</i> along with another ambrosia beetle, <i>Xyleborinus saxesenii</i>, represented 99% of all captured beetles. Conclusions: In addition to canopy closure, the abundance of oak trees and the abundance of dead oak branches were significantly associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The abundance of <i>A. dispar</i> was mainly correlated with dead oak branch abundance and the degree of canopy closure, whereas the abundances of <i>X. saxesenii</i> and of the invasive species <i>Xyleborinus attenuatus</i> and <i>Cyclorhipidion bodoanum</i> were mainly correlated with the net area occupied by oak trees.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1223<i>Anisandrus dispar</i><i>Cyclorhipidion bodoanum</i>deadwoodinvasive species<i>Xyleborus saxesenii</i><i>Xyleborinus attenuatus</i> |
| spellingShingle | Jaroslav Holuša Tomáš Fiala Jiří Foit Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe Forests <i>Anisandrus dispar</i> <i>Cyclorhipidion bodoanum</i> deadwood invasive species <i>Xyleborus saxesenii</i> <i>Xyleborinus attenuatus</i> |
| title | Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe |
| title_full | Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe |
| title_fullStr | Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe |
| title_short | Ambrosia Beetles Prefer Closed Canopies: A Case Study in Oak Forests in Central Europe |
| title_sort | ambrosia beetles prefer closed canopies a case study in oak forests in central europe |
| topic | <i>Anisandrus dispar</i> <i>Cyclorhipidion bodoanum</i> deadwood invasive species <i>Xyleborus saxesenii</i> <i>Xyleborinus attenuatus</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/9/1223 |
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