Arthropods I- Land use, above-ground arthropod diversity and arthropod-affected processes

Picture: The photo shows a close-up of a longhorn beetle.

Background

Arthropods, in particular insects, are the most diverse animal taxon on Earth and affect a multitude of ecosystem processes. We propose a long-term monitoring of arthropods, in particular insects and spiders, in all grassland and forests experimental plots (EPs), and of the ecosystem processes herbivory and parasitism/predation in forests. For the general survey, arthropods will be sampled in forests using funnel and flight-interception traps and in grasslands using funnel traps and sweepnetting.

Long-term monitoring

We will also monitor abundances and parasitism of two potential forest pests, the ambrosia beetles Trypodendron spp., and the beech leaf-mining weevil Rhynchaenus fagi. Saproxylic insects will be monitored in collaboration with the project Arthropods II on exposed logs in forest VIPs.

We will analyse the effect of land use on arthropod diversity, including functional diversity, on beech herbivory and on the biological control potential of insect pests in forests, and test the use of indicator species for monitoring arthropod diversity.

In cooperation with other projects we aim to analyse land use effects on arthropod phylogenetic diversity, identify the components of land use responsible for arthropod biodiversity change and develop a BarCoding approach for true flies (Diptera). Our project will provide important baseline information for other projects that will allow assessing the role of arthropod diversity for the diversity of other taxa and for arthropod-mediated ecosystem processes.

Publications

Dispersal ability, trophic position and body size mediate species turnover processes: Insights from a multi‐taxa and multi‐scale approach

Bae S., Heidrich L., Levick S. R., Gossner M. M., Seibold S., Weisser W. W., Magdon P., Serebryanyk A., Bässler C., Schäfer D., Schulze E.-D., Doerfler I., Müller J., Jung K., Heurich M., Fischer M., Roth N., Schall P., Boch S., Wöllauer S., Renner S. C., Müller J. (2021): Dispersal ability, trophic position and body size mediate species turnover processes: Insights from a multi‐taxa and multi‐scale approach. Diversity and Distributions 27 (3), 439-453. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13204

Multi-taxa approach shows consistent shifts in arthropod functional traits along grassland land-use intensity gradient

Grasslandnutzung verändert die mittleren Eigenschaften von Arthropodengemeinschaften

Simons N. K., Weisser W. W., Gossner M. M. (2016): Multi-taxa approach shows consistent shifts in arthropod functional traits along grassland land-use intensity gradient. Ecology 97 (3), 754–764. doi: 10.1890/15-0616.1

Effects of management on aquatic tree-hole communities in temperate forests are mediated by detritus amount and water chemistry

Waldbewirtschaftung beein-fl usst die Artengemeinschaften in wassergefüllten Baumhöhlen durch Veränderungen von Detritusmenge und Wasserchemie

Gossner M. M., Lade L., Rohland A., Sichardt N., Kahl T., Bauhus J., Weisser W. W., Petermann J. S. (2016): Effects of management on aquatic tree-hole communities in temperate forests are mediated by detritus amount and water chemistry. Journal of Animal Ecology 85 (1), 213–226. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12437

Forest management and regional tree composition drive the host preference of saproxylic beetle communities

Waldbewirtschaftung und regionale Baumartenzusammensetzung beeinflussen die Wirtspräferenz xylobionter Käfergemeinschaften

Müller J., Wende B., Strobl C., Eugster M., Gallenberger I., Floren A., Steffan-Dewenter I., Linsenmair K. E., Weisser W. W., Gossner M. M. (2015): Forest management and regional tree composition drive the host preference of saproxylic beetle communities. Journal of Applied Ecology 52 (3), 753–762. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12421

Morphometric measures of Heteroptera sampled in grasslands across three regions of Germany

Morphometrische Maße von Wanzen in Grasländern dreier Gebiete Deutschlands

Gossner M. M., Simons N. K., Höck L., Weisser W. W. (2015): Morphometric measures of Heteroptera sampled in grasslands across three regions of Germany. Ecology 96 (4), 1154–1154. doi: 10.1890/14-2159.1

A summary of eight traits of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Araneae, occurring in grasslands in Germany

Eine Zusammenstellung von 8 funktionellen Merkmalen für Arten der Käfer, Wanzen, Heuschrecken und Spinnen in Grünländern Deutschlands

Gossner M. M., Simons N. K., Achtziger R., Blick T., Dorow W. H. O., Dziock F., Köhler F., Weisser W. W. (2015): A summary of eight traits of Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Araneae, occurring in grasslands in Germany. Scientific Data 2:150013. doi: 10.1038/sdata.2015.13

Increasing temperature may compensate for lower amounts of dead wood in driving richness of saproxylic beetles

Artenreichtum xylobionter Käfer: Erhöhte Temperaturen könnten geringere Mengen an verfügbarem Totholz ausgleichen

Müller J., Brustel H., Brin A., Bussler H., Bouget C., Obermaier E., Heidinger I. M. M., Lachat T., Förster B., Horak J., Procházka J., Köhler F., Larrieu L., Bense U., Isacsson G., Zapponi L., Gossner M. M. (2015): Increasing temperature may compensate for lower amounts of dead wood in driving richness of saproxylic beetles. Ecography 38 (5) 499–509. doi: 10.1111/ecog.00908

Can rove beetles (Staphylinidae) be excluded in studies focusing on saproxylic beetles in central European beech forests?

Können Kurzflügelkäfer (Staphylinidae) in Studien mit Schwerpunkt auf Totholzkäfern in mitteleuropäischen Buchenwäldern ausgeschlossen werden?

Parmain G., Bouget C., Müller J., Horak J., Gossner M. M., Lachat T., Isacsson G. (2015): Can rove beetles (Staphylinidae) be excluded in studies focusing on saproxylic beetles in central European beech forests? Bulletin of Entomological Research 105 (1), 101-109 doi: 10.1017/S0007485314000741

Beech forest management does not affect the infestation rate of the beech scale Cryptococcus fagisuga across three regions in Germany

Waldbewirtschaftung in Buchenwäldern hat keinen Einfluss auf den Befall mit der Buchenwollschildlaus

Köhler G., Pasalic E., Weisser W. W., Gossner M. M. (2015): Beech forest management does not affect the infestation rate of the beech scale Cryptococcus fagisuga across three regions in Germany. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 17 (2), 197–204. doi: 10.1111/afe.12097

Die Buchenwollschildlaus Cryptococcus fagisuga und ihre ambivalente Rolle in thüringischen Buchenwäldern

Köhler G., Pasalic E., Gossner M. M., Baier U. (2015): Die Buchenwollschildlaus Cryptococcus fagisuga und ihre ambivalente Rolle in thüringischen Buchenwäldern. Landschaftspflege und Naturschutz in Thüringen 52 (3), 104 – 111

Limitations to the use of arthropods as temperate forests indicators

Eingeschränkte Nutzbarkeit von Arthroooden als Indikatoren in temperaten Wälder

Gossner M. M., Fonseca C. R., Pašalić E., Türke M., Lange M., Weisser W. W. (2014): Limitations to the use of arthropods as temperate forests indicators. Biodiversity and Conservation 23 (4), 945-962. doi: 10.1007/s10531-014-0644-3

Insect attraction to herbivore-induced beech volatiles in unmanaged and differently managed forests

Buche lockt Gegenspieler von Pflanzenfressern durch freigesetzte Düfte an

Gossner M. M., Weisser W. W., Gershenzon J., Unsicker S. B. (2014): Insect attraction to herbivore‑induced beech volatiles under different forest management regimes. Oecologia 176 (2), 569-80. doi: 10.1007/s00442-014-3025-4

Forest management intensity measures as alternative to stand properties for quantifying effects on biodiversity

Waldbewirtschaftungsintensitätsmaße als Alternative zu Bestandesmerkmalen zur Quantifizierung der Auswirkungen auf die Biodiversität

Gossner M. M., Schall P., Ammer C., Ammer U., Engel K., Schubert H., Simon U., Utschick H., Weisser W. W. (2014): Forest management intensity measures as alternative to stand properties for quantifying effects on biodiversity. Ecosphere 5 (9), 113. doi: 10.1890/es14-00177.1

Differential Responses of Herbivores and Herbivory to Management in Temperate European Beech

Unterschiedliche Reaktionen von Buchen-Herbivoren und -Herbivorie auf Bewirtschaftung in temperaten europäischen Wäldern

Gossner M. M., Pasalic E., Lange M., Lange P., Boch S., Hessenmöller D., Müller J., Socher S. A., Fischer M., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W. W. (2014): Differential Responses of Herbivores and Herbivory to Management in Temperate European Beech. PLoS ONE 9(8): e104876. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104876

Invertebrate herbivory decreases along a gradient of increasing land-use intensity in German grasslands

Abnahme der Herbivorie im Grünland mit zunehmender Landnutzungsintensität

Gossner M.M., Weisser W. W., Meyer S. T. (2014): Invertebrate herbivory decreases along a gradient of increasing land-use intensity in German grasslands. Basic and Applied Ecology 15 (4), 347–352. doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2014.03.003

Current Near-to-Nature Forest Management Effects on Functional Trait Composition of Saproxylic Beetles in Beech Forests

Effekte der derzeit praktizierten naturnahen Waldwirtschaft auf die funktionale Zusammensetzung von Totholzkäfern in Buchenwäldern

Gossner M. M., Lachat T., Brunet J., Isacsson G., Bouget C., Brustel H., Brandl R., Weisser W. W., Müller J. (2013): Current Near-to-Nature Forest Management Effects on Functional Trait Composition of Saproxylic Beetles in Beech Forests. Conservation Biology 27 (3), 605–614. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12023

The importance of heterogeneity revisited from a multiscale and multitaxa approach

Die Bedeutung von Heterogenität, neu analysiert anhand eines Multi-Skalen- und Multi-Taxa-Ansatzes

Gossner M. M., Getzin S., Lange M., Pasalić E., Türke M., Wiegand K., Weisser W. W. (2013): The importance of heterogeneity revisited from a multiscale and multitaxa approach. Biological Conservation 166, 212–220. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.06.033

Effect of dead wood enrichment in the canopy and on the forest floor on beetle guild composition

Effekte der Totholzanreicherung in der Baumkrone und auf dem Waldboden auf die Zusammensetzung von Käfergemeinschaften

Gossner M. M., Floren A., Weisser W. W., Linsenmair K. E. (2013): Effect of dead wood enrichment in the canopy and on the forest floor on beetle guild composition. Forest Ecology and Management 302, (404–413). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.039

Die Bedeutung von großskaligen Biodiversitätsstudien an Arthropoden am Beispiel der Biodiversitätsexploratorien

Gossner M. M. (2013): Die Bedeutung von großskaligen Biodiversitätsstudien an Arthropoden am Beispiel der Biodiversitätsexploratorien. Entomologie heute 25, 31-46.

Implications from large-scale spatial diversity patterns of saproxylic beetles for the conservation of European Beech forests

Implikationen von großskaligen räumlichen Diversitätsmustern von Totholzkäfern für die Erhaltung der europäischen Buchenwälder

Müller J., Brunet J. , Brin A., Bouget C., Brustel H., Bussler H., Förster B., Gunnar I., Köhler F., Thibault L., Gossner M. M. (2013): Implications from large-scale spatial diversity patterns of saproxylic beetles for the conservation of European Beech forests. Insect Conservation and Diversity 6 (2), 162–169. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00200.

Saproxylic beetles as indicator species for dead-wood amount and temperature in European beech forests

Lachat T., Wermelinger B., Gossner M. M., Bussler H., Isacsson G., Müller J. (2012): Saproxylic beetles as indicator species for dead-wood amount and temperature in European beech forests. Ecological Indicators 23, 323–331. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.04.013

The so-called core projects of the BE emerged from the site selection project and the establishment of the exploratories (2006-2008). Since 2008, they have been providing the infrastructure and collecting important basic information on land use, diversity and ecosystem processes (long-term monitoring) for all projects. In addition, they coordinate project-wide activities such as various large-scale experiments.