Non-native Douglas fir promotes epigeal spider density, but has a mixed effect on functional diversity

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

With climate change altering ecosystems worldwide, forest management in Europe is increasingly relying on more adaptable non-native tree species, such as Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). However, the ecological consequences of the increased utilization of Douglas fir on arthropod diversity and ecosystem functioning are not fully known. Here we assessed how non-native Douglas fir as well as large- and small-scale differences in the environmental context, affect epigeal spider abundance, biomass, taxonomic and functional diversity, and community structure in Central European forests. Our study sites were divided into two regions with large differences in environmental conditions, with seven replicates of five stand types, including monocultures of native European beech (Fagus sylvatica), non-native Douglas fir and native Norway spruce (Picea abies), as well as two-species mixtures of European beech and each of the conifers. Contrary to our expectations, Douglas fir promoted small-scale spider diversity, and abundance and biomass (activity density). On the other hand, it decreased spider functional divergence and altered spider community structure. Microhabitat characteristics had opposing effects on spider diversity and activity density, with more open stands harboring a more diverse but less abundant spider community. Overall, our findings suggest that increasing Douglas fir utilization at the expense of Norway spruce does not necessarily decrease the diversity of epigeal arthropods and may even promote local spider diversity and activity density. However, care needs to be taken in terms of biodiversity conservation because typical forest spider species and their functional divergence were more strongly associated with native beech than with coniferous stands.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiodiversity and Conservation
Volume32
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)1233-1250
Number of pages18
ISSN0960-3115
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 03.2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
D.M. acknowledges funding by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 316045089/GRK2300.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

    Research areas

  • Community structure, Forest specialists, Microhabitat variability, Mixed-species forestry, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Top-down control

Recently viewed

Activities

  1. Measurement of Perceived Mental Strain and Physical Exertion Using the Category Partitioning Procedure
  2. CGCS Visiting Scholar Seminar at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania 2011
  3. Fachbereich Informatik und Gesellschaft (IUG) der Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V. (GI) (Externe Organisation)
  4. Formative und summative Ansätze der Evaluation der Einführung des Praxissemesters am Standort Paderborn
  5. Conceptual and procedural mathematical knowledge of beginning mathematics majors and preservice teachers
  6. 13. Fachgruppentagung der Arbeits-, Organisations- und Wirtschaftspsychologie und Ingenieurspsychologie 2023
  7. Schöne neue Arbeitswelt.: Beeinträchtigt die Arbeit unsere psychische Gesundheit heute stärker als früher?
  8. From Fast to Slow Fashion: Management Challenges for the Sustainability Transformation of Business Models
  9. Beyond the supply chain – Sustainability-oriented product innovations through a transdisciplinary approach
  10. Zusammenarbeit von Aufsichtsrat, Interner Revision und Abschlussprüfer bei der Nachhaltigkeitsüberwachung
  11. Gesundheitskompetenz von angehenden Lehrkräften und die besondere Rolle der beruflichen Selbstregulation
  12. Verband für Geographie an deutschsprachigen Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen (Externe Organisation)
  13. Leveraging ambiguity: How objects in laboratory experiments and music studio recordings co-generate novelty
  14. Von „Salus per Aquam“ bis „Ich-Zeit“ – Veränderungen der Destinationen und Gästewünsche im Gesundheitstourismus
  15. Selbstkonzepte und mathematische Weltbilder in einem Seminar zu realitätsbezogenen Aufgaben mit MathCityMap
  16. University-industry collaboration to stimulate learning in the context of sustainability-oriented innovations

Publications

  1. Traits of dominant plant species drive normalized difference vegetation index in grasslands globally
  2. Stakeholder expectations on CSR management and current regulatory developments in Europe and Germany
  3. Psychometric Properties of the German Short Version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Survey
  4. Linking Sustainable Business Models and Supply Chains – Toward an Integrated Value Creation Framework
  5. Doppelte Professionalisierung von Sportlehrkräften – ein theoretischer Anspruch im Praxis(semester)test
  6. Disentangling trade-offs and synergies around ecosystem services with the influence network framework
  7. Copper phytoremediation potential of wild plant species growing in the mine polluted areas of Armenia
  8. Unterrichtsbesprechungen als Orte der institutionenübergreifenden Zusammenarbeit im Langzeitpraktikum
  9. Merkmalsextraktion und semantische Integration von Ultrabreitband-Sensoren zur Erkennung von Notfällen
  10. Internet-based treatment of major depression for patients on a waiting list for inpatient psychotherapy
  11. Data-driven and physics-based modelling of process behaviour and deposit geometry for friction surfacing
  12. Konsequenzen der bankaufsichtlichen Neuregelungen bei operationellen Risiken für Genossenschaftsbanken
  13. Totgesagte leben länger – Zur kulturwissenschaftlichen Renaissance und den Paradoxien von Authentizität
  14. Influence of grid-connected solar inverters and mains monitoring systems on the spectral grid impedance
  15. Challenges for biodiversity monitoring using citizen science in transitioning social-ecological systems
  16. Der Mobile Diagnoseassistent – Wie mobile Anwendungen die Pflege im häuslichen Umfeld verbessern können
  17. Micro-scale Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis of a Calcium Chloride Methanol System for Process Cooling
  18. Technical Note—The Joint Impact of F-Divergences and Reference Models on the Contents of Uncertainty Sets
  19. Auswirkungen einer systemorientierten Bauweise von Windenergieanlagen auf die erzielbaren Börsenpreise
  20. Promoting landscape heterogeneity to improve the biodiversity benefits of certified palm oil production
  21. Die nichtfinanzielle Erklärung und die Diversity-Berichterstattung nach dem CSR-Richtlinie-Umsetzungsgesetz
  22. Age-related differences in processing visual device and task characteristics when using technical devices
  23. Design principles for advancing higher education sustainability learning through transformative research
  24. Beyond the Supply Chain – Sustainability-Oriented Product Innovations through a Transdisciplinary Approach
  25. Medienwissenschaft und ‚Behinderung‘. Zu Ursprüngen und Bewusstwerdung eines epistemologischen Hindernisses
  26. A systematic survey of business models for smart micro-grids under current legal and incentive conditions
  27. Lingua musica? Zur Erfassung musiksprachlicher Kompetenzen Jugendlicher in textbasierten Testinstrumenten.
  28. Rentabilitäts- und Risikoaspekte landwirtschaftlicher Investments in Erneuerbare Energien aus Bankensicht
  29. Perceived contributions of multifunctional landscapes to human well-being: Evidence from 13 European sites
  30. Landwirtschaft und Lebenswirklichkeiten in kleinen landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben in Ost- und Südostpolen
  31. Performance predictors for graphics processing units applied to dark-silicon-aware design space exploration