Second, because their correlation (scores-cost) is positive, trees in a score-based selection have economic values higher than average, an effect of diameter being part of the score (see also Babcock et al. 1997). Although retention approaches in forestry were introduced only a few decades ago (Gustafsson et al. 2012), a large number of ecological studies have been performed in relation to this practice (Lindenmayer et al. 2012). Reviews of results have also been made, indicating overall positive effects to biodiversity (Gustafsson et al., 2010, Rosenvald

and Lõhmus, 2008 and Vanderwel et al., 2007). Still, the knowledge on links between specific tree properties and tree-associated plants FK228 solubility dmso and animals are scarce for retention trees. Our study shows that for aspen, black-colored bark and slow tree growth as well as other features related to tree form and bark texture, are important for the epiphytic lichen flora. Stem shape and bark properties have also been found to be important in other studies on lichen epiphytes in different environments, although their relative importance vary (e.g. Fritz et al., 2009 and Ranius et al., 2008). Mechanisms behind the influence of the tree properties seem related to factors

like bark chemistry and water-holding capacity (Ellis 2011). Balmford and Gaston (1999) suggest that the savings in the amount of land to protect that comes from a more efficient, complementarity-based BMN 673 order site

selection is commonly at least 5%. In our score-based selection, with representation of all species or all species of conservation concern as the conservation goal, 3.5 fewer trees (11.7% of all trees) were needed, supporting their suggestion. Making a selection of the cheapest trees, by prioritizing small diameters, led to more trees, but with lower economic value. Thus, this type of selection, which has been demonstrated also in other studies (see e.g. (Juutinen et al., 2004, Moore et al., 2004 and Perhans et al., 2008) could be an alternative strategy. But, it is opposite to current, field-based knowledge from biologists and researchers, selleck who usually view large aspen trees as having special value to epiphytic lichens (e.g. Nitare, 2000 and Gärdenfors, 2010). Importance of large-diameter trees for lichens has been found also for other tree species (e.g. Aragon et al., 2010, Johansson et al., 2007 and Thor et al., 2010). Thus, we caution against applying this strategy until more studies have been made on the link between aspen diameter and the epiphytic lichen flora. Occupancy or representation on the clearcut is a baseline starting point. However, the relationship between occupancy and long-term viability in the landscape is the ultimate response variable or target for conservation, but beyond what could be studied with this dataset.

) Karst and Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menzienzii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations, 30 species in even-aged oak, and 24 species in mixed regenerated conifer-oak stands ( de Warnaffe and Lebrun, 2004). The carabid species richness we observed at Donglingshan is also only marginally lower than that of assemblages in one of the few remaining primary temperate forest ecosystems of northern China, Changbai Mountain, where 47 species were encountered in mature forest habitats along an altitudinal gradient from 700 to 2000 m, while only 20 of these species were found between 1100 and 1500 m in native mature mixed coniferous forest which corresponds to the altitudinal

range of our site ( Zou et al., 2014). Our recording of 18

species within secondary mixed selleck chemicals llc forest might therefore suggest that these forests support a considerable proportion of the native forest carabid fauna, although a comparison with the species composition reported from Changbai Mountain shows considerable faunal differences, which might suggest that a substantial proportion of the Donglingshan carabid fauna consists of more generalist species. In contrast both to studies from North America and Europe that report www.selleckchem.com/products/BMS-754807.html highest carabid α-diversity in native deciduous woodlands relative to plantations (Fahy and Gormally, 1998, Elek et al., 2001, Magura et al., 2003 and Finch, 2005), and to Yu et al. (2010) who report significantly higher diversity in oak forests than in pine plantations in northern China, our results suggest that the native oak-dominated forest harbours a similar diversity to pine plantations, while carabid species richness in these habitats was clearly surpassed by the mixed

forests. Despite the natural dominance of oak in the study area, mature pristine forests in this region generally contain a mixture of tree species; high beetle diversity in mixed forest may therefore be a consequence of greater habitat similarity with natural forest that formerly covered the area. Mixed forests also represent a low contrast matrix among other forest types, providing heterogeneous ground cover Diflunisal and leaf litter conditions that can provide microhabitats suitable for a wide variety of carabid species, including species using them chiefly as corridors. We suggest that the strong differences in canopy cover among forest types is an important factor explaining observed differences in beetle species richness and composition. Canopy cover influences ground beetles indirectly through changes in microclimatic and soil moisture conditions, as well as shaping the density and composition of the understory vegetation layer (Fuller et al., 2008).