A sneak peek on the upcoming results of the comparison studies regarding the declining Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) in Scania, Sweden
(2018) BIOK01 20181Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- In recent years the populations of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) has been declining in Sweden. Many other species, like for example the marsh tit (Poecile palustris), depend on woodland structures that the lesser spotted woodpecker creates such as nesting holes. I did a comparison study between data from The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Project made in 1980’s and my own recently collected data. With this information the following three questions regarding the lesser spotted woodpecker: i) Is there any change in suitable habitat area? ii) Has the presence of lesser spotted woodpecker changed since the last inventory? iii) What has changed regarding the forest composition in the squares where the lesser spotted woodpecker... (More)
- In recent years the populations of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) has been declining in Sweden. Many other species, like for example the marsh tit (Poecile palustris), depend on woodland structures that the lesser spotted woodpecker creates such as nesting holes. I did a comparison study between data from The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Project made in 1980’s and my own recently collected data. With this information the following three questions regarding the lesser spotted woodpecker: i) Is there any change in suitable habitat area? ii) Has the presence of lesser spotted woodpecker changed since the last inventory? iii) What has changed regarding the forest composition in the squares where the lesser spotted woodpecker does not occur anymore? In addition to these questions I will also answer the following two questions regarding the marsh tit: iv) Does the marsh tit occur in the same areas as the lesser spotted woodpeckers? v) Does the size of the connected suitable habitat area differ whether the marsh tit is present or not? Mainly the same field work was performed as in The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Project (1985). By taking a closer look at the localities where the lesser spotted woodpecker today is absent some changes in woodland structures could be detected such as a decline in old forests and area of suitable habitat. To be able to help the lesser spotted woodpecker to regain their viability conservational work should focus on preserving old forests with dead trees and forest management should make sure that today and future forests contain a full range of growth stages. By protecting the lesser spotted woodpeckers habitat both they and other species such as the marsh tit will benefit. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Why is The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker declining in Sweden?
It is the smallest woodpecker in Europe and yet does it have such a big impact on its surrounding area and fellow forest inhabitants. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), are considered to be ecosystem engineers as they provide the forests with important woodland structures. These small woodpeckers build approximately five nestholes per individual which leaves a lot of empty ones. nest holes which provide other species such as mammals, other birds and even invertebrates with nesting spots and hideaways. In Sweden the populations of the lesser spotted woodpecker has been declining. The species is now, according to the IUCN Red list, classified as near threatened... (More) - Why is The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker declining in Sweden?
It is the smallest woodpecker in Europe and yet does it have such a big impact on its surrounding area and fellow forest inhabitants. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), are considered to be ecosystem engineers as they provide the forests with important woodland structures. These small woodpeckers build approximately five nestholes per individual which leaves a lot of empty ones. nest holes which provide other species such as mammals, other birds and even invertebrates with nesting spots and hideaways. In Sweden the populations of the lesser spotted woodpecker has been declining. The species is now, according to the IUCN Red list, classified as near threatened (NT). But why the populations have been declining it is still unknown. Declines have also been detected in other countries such as England and Finland. To understand the decline of endangered species it is necessary to monitor them, and their habitats, during long periods in time. The marsh tit (Poecile palustris) is a species very sensitive to forest fragmentation and is therefore a great species to study regarding this. Their viability also highly depend on the number of tree cavities in a forest. Which is something that the lesser spotted woodpeckers provide.
During a month in spring I was out at different locations in Scania, Sweden, and scouted for the lesser spotted woodpeckers and their nests. The presence of marsh tits was also noted as well as any changes in the forest structure. These structures include forest age, thinning degree and number of potential nesting spots for the lesser spotted woodpecker. With this data I was able to make some comparison studies with the data from The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Projekt in 1986-1987.
The lesser spotted woodpecker was absent from three localities. Two out of these areas have worsen the habitat conditions for the lesser spotted woodpecker. The total suitable habitat area and amount of old forests has declined together with the number of potential nesting trees. In contrast the one remaining locality shows an increase in total suitable habitat area and amount of old forest. But since the local was visited before spring has really begun and the data may be incorrect. Because maybe hadn't started their intense drumming and nest building at that time yet.
Conservation actions towards the lesser spotted woodpecker is highly relevant because helping these birds will also help secondary cavity users as the marsh tit. Rotational thinning schemes can help forest managers to preserve old forests. Preserving large connected areas is also recommended to favour our smallest woodpecker. It's important to remember that even the small creatures can make big impacts in our forests.
Supervisor: Ola Olsson
Bachelor thesis 15 credits in Biology 2018
Biological department, Lund University (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8962289
- author
- Danielsson, Natalie
- supervisor
-
- Ola Olsson LU
- organization
- course
- BIOK01 20181
- year
- 2018
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 8962289
- date added to LUP
- 2018-10-24 15:05:42
- date last changed
- 2018-10-24 15:05:42
@misc{8962289,
abstract = {{In recent years the populations of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) has been declining in Sweden. Many other species, like for example the marsh tit (Poecile palustris), depend on woodland structures that the lesser spotted woodpecker creates such as nesting holes. I did a comparison study between data from The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Project made in 1980’s and my own recently collected data. With this information the following three questions regarding the lesser spotted woodpecker: i) Is there any change in suitable habitat area? ii) Has the presence of lesser spotted woodpecker changed since the last inventory? iii) What has changed regarding the forest composition in the squares where the lesser spotted woodpecker does not occur anymore? In addition to these questions I will also answer the following two questions regarding the marsh tit: iv) Does the marsh tit occur in the same areas as the lesser spotted woodpeckers? v) Does the size of the connected suitable habitat area differ whether the marsh tit is present or not? Mainly the same field work was performed as in The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Project (1985). By taking a closer look at the localities where the lesser spotted woodpecker today is absent some changes in woodland structures could be detected such as a decline in old forests and area of suitable habitat. To be able to help the lesser spotted woodpecker to regain their viability conservational work should focus on preserving old forests with dead trees and forest management should make sure that today and future forests contain a full range of growth stages. By protecting the lesser spotted woodpeckers habitat both they and other species such as the marsh tit will benefit.}},
author = {{Danielsson, Natalie}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{A sneak peek on the upcoming results of the comparison studies regarding the declining Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) in Scania, Sweden}},
year = {{2018}},
}