@misc{9226033,
  abstract     = {{Large and old trees provide important habitat structures and support a high diversity of species. Habitat continuity and landscape connectivity is crucial for species associated with oaks. Fragmentation, agriculture intensification and changed forest management has caused a reduction of old and large oaks, which threatens the long-term persistence of oak associated species by reducing habitat continuity and connectivity. This study examines oak population structures and landscape connectivity in and between four nature reserves in southern Sweden. This was done to assess their capacity to maintain long term habitat availability, using the scarab beetle Osmoderma eremita as an umbrella species representing organisms dependent on habitat structures associated with mature oaks. Oak populations were surveyed using diameter at breast height (DBH) size classes (10-39 cm, 40-69 cm and ≥ 70 cm). Tree densities were compared with established reference values. Connectivity between the reserves was evaluated by surveying oak occurrence within the surrounding matrix. None of the studied reserves met the reference values across all size classes. Several reserves showed an imbalance between large and smaller trees, indicating potential temporal gaps in habitat continuity. In some reserves, larger trees were present but younger trees scarce, while in others younger trees were more common but large trees were largely absent, suggesting different types of recruitment gaps among the sites. The surrounding matrix contained low and clustered densities of oaks, suggesting limited connectivity for species with low dispersal ability such as Osmoderma eremita. The results suggest that the reserves largely function as independent habitat patches. Conservation efforts should prioritise protection of existing mature oaks, promote recruitment of future habitat trees and improve the connectivity in the surrounding landscape.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Elin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Large and old oaks (Quercus robur) in fragmented landscapes: Continuity and connectivity in and between four nature reserves in southern Sweden}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}