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Biodiversity and its assessment in boreal and nemoral forests

Nilsson, Sven LU ; Hedin, Jonas LU and Niklasson, Mats (2001) In Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 16(Suppl. 3). p.10-26
Abstract
We review species richness in major organism groups, mainly using examples from northern Europe. A high proportion of these species is forest living, and large numbers are dependent on decaying wood. Biodiversity can be assessed at various scales using two different principles. One is to use features. such as ancient and dead trees, known to be important for a large number of species. The other method is to choose species or groups of species known to indicate high biodiversity or presence of many red-listed species. We argue that any serious biodiversity assessment method should include the most species rich organism groups, for example insects. In the present paper we point out the most important features for high biodiversity (old trees... (More)
We review species richness in major organism groups, mainly using examples from northern Europe. A high proportion of these species is forest living, and large numbers are dependent on decaying wood. Biodiversity can be assessed at various scales using two different principles. One is to use features. such as ancient and dead trees, known to be important for a large number of species. The other method is to choose species or groups of species known to indicate high biodiversity or presence of many red-listed species. We argue that any serious biodiversity assessment method should include the most species rich organism groups, for example insects. In the present paper we point out the most important features for high biodiversity (old trees and large dead trees), and review the quantities of these features in near-virgin forests. The natural disturbance regime of a region should be the basis for defining a suitable scale and the appropriate features for biodiversity assessment. Possible indicator species for high biodiversity in northern Europe are suggested. based on previous investigations. Among epiphytic lichens and wood-living beetles there are many potentially useful species in addition to vascular plants in the nemoral forest. Among vertebrates, woodpeckers and grouses seem to be the most useful. Validation tests for indicator structures and species are largely lacking but urgently needed. The implications of possible delayed local extinctions tire important to bear in mind when managing for sustainable forestry. The knowledge of forest history is useful when developing cost-efficient measures. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
volume
16
issue
Suppl. 3
pages
10 - 26
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:0000823877
ISSN
0282-7581
DOI
10.1080/028275801300090546
project
SUFOR
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0b8bc931-9a7a-4a82-9d14-887ba981db3b (old id 145812)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:20:05
date last changed
2022-03-06 23:09:26
@article{0b8bc931-9a7a-4a82-9d14-887ba981db3b,
  abstract     = {{We review species richness in major organism groups, mainly using examples from northern Europe. A high proportion of these species is forest living, and large numbers are dependent on decaying wood. Biodiversity can be assessed at various scales using two different principles. One is to use features. such as ancient and dead trees, known to be important for a large number of species. The other method is to choose species or groups of species known to indicate high biodiversity or presence of many red-listed species. We argue that any serious biodiversity assessment method should include the most species rich organism groups, for example insects. In the present paper we point out the most important features for high biodiversity (old trees and large dead trees), and review the quantities of these features in near-virgin forests. The natural disturbance regime of a region should be the basis for defining a suitable scale and the appropriate features for biodiversity assessment. Possible indicator species for high biodiversity in northern Europe are suggested. based on previous investigations. Among epiphytic lichens and wood-living beetles there are many potentially useful species in addition to vascular plants in the nemoral forest. Among vertebrates, woodpeckers and grouses seem to be the most useful. Validation tests for indicator structures and species are largely lacking but urgently needed. The implications of possible delayed local extinctions tire important to bear in mind when managing for sustainable forestry. The knowledge of forest history is useful when developing cost-efficient measures.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Sven and Hedin, Jonas and Niklasson, Mats}},
  issn         = {{0282-7581}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{Suppl. 3}},
  pages        = {{10--26}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research}},
  title        = {{Biodiversity and its assessment in boreal and nemoral forests}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4369568/644960.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/028275801300090546}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}