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a Sample-based rarefaction (solid lines) and extrapolation (dotted lines, up to twice the actual sample size) of saproxylic insect (beetles and true bugs) gamma diversity, along with 95% unconditional confidence intervals (transparent shading), of the insects collected at each of the four host tree species. Species diversity was estimated for q = 0 (species richness), q = 1 (exponential of Shannon’s entropy index), and q = 2 (inverse of Simpson’s concentration index), as indicated. Solid symbols represent the total number of reference samples. b Species diversity as a function of increasing sample coverage
Source publication
In Central European temperate forests, the host tree identity is one factor that determines the diversity of saproxylic organisms. These forests have been affected by humans for millennia, in contrast to the Hyrcanian forests south of the Caspian Sea, with their numerous old-growth features and endemic species. How the tree host species in this tem...
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Deadwood is a fundamental forest habitat component and highly important for biodiversity conservation. Its availability, composition, size, categories and distribution depend on various structural and environmental factors (e.g., forest age, management, tree mortality, climate, decomposition). We analysed deadwood patterns along altitudinal gradien...
Citations
... In conclusion, the report of the family Xylophagidae in the Hyrcanian forest of Iran also has important implications for the conservation of forest ecosystems and their associated fauna. The potential impacts of anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, climate change and maybe even forest hygiene on insect diversity and ecosystem functioning have been well documented (Müller et al. 2018, Kazerani et al. 2020, 2021, Farashiani et al. 2022. Further investigation should establish how rare and vulnerable X. lukjanovitshi and X. ater are in the Hyrcanian forest of Iran and if they should be addressed in conservation measures to protect and maintain biodiversity in forested areas. ...
During a study of saproxylic insects in the Hyrcanian forest from 2017 to 2019, we identified two species of the family Xylophagidae: Xylophagus ater Meigen, 1804
and Xylophagus lukjanovitshi Krivosheina & Mamayev, 1972. The present record of Xylophagus lukjanovitshi constitutes the first record since its description and the first record of a female. A description of the female is provided. The presence of these species in Iran expands the known range of Xylophagidae, underscoring the significance of continued exploration for biodiversity in the region.
... Four species of Triplax have been recorded from Iran (Węgrzynowicz 2007;Müller et al. 2018;Samin et al. 2018), namely Triplax lepida (Faldermann, 1837), Triplax elongata Lacordaire, 1842, Triplax russica (Linnaeus, 1758), and T. collaris. These species are characterized by an orange-yellow pronotum and legs, with black metallic elytra. ...
The status of Triplax collaris sulphuricollis Reitter, 1887 is reevaluated based on recent records from the Hyrcanian forests in northern Iran. Morphological features and barcoding support separate species status as Triplax sulphuricollis Reitter, 1887, new status. Morphological characteristics include an orange-yellow antennal club and elytral punctation arranged in striae. Triplax sulphuricollis is associated with oyster fungi of the genus Pleurotus growing on dead wood of deciduous trees.
... Saproxylic organisms include insects, fungi, and vertebrates that rely for at least part of their life cycle on dead or decaying wood (Müller et al. 2018). The amount of deadwood in forests affects the species composition and functional characteristics of saproxylic insects such that it often correlates with the biodiversity of this group (Seibold and Thorn 2018). ...
... In a study of the Tugai forest in Kazakhstan, 91 saproxylic species were identified, with most of them belonging to the families of Buprestidae, Curculionidae, and Cerambycidae (Borissova 2018). However, despite the importance of saproxylic beetles in forest conservation, little is known about their populations in many countries, including Iran (Müller et al. 2018). Thus far, nearly 270 species of saproxylic beetles have been recorded in Iran′s Mazandaran province, most of them associated with decaying wood (Haghverdi et al. 2013;Müller et al. 2018). ...
... However, despite the importance of saproxylic beetles in forest conservation, little is known about their populations in many countries, including Iran (Müller et al. 2018). Thus far, nearly 270 species of saproxylic beetles have been recorded in Iran′s Mazandaran province, most of them associated with decaying wood (Haghverdi et al. 2013;Müller et al. 2018). These species feed on different host plants and most have been identified as bark and wood-boring beetles. ...
Saproxylic beetles play a vital role in conservation as indicators of the status of unmanaged forests. In light of the concern regarding the adverse impact of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity, an essential step in forest conserva-tion strategy is the identification of saproxylic beetles. The Hyrcanian forests are a unique remnant of natural broadleaf temperate forests, with an evolutionary history that can be traced to the Tertiary and a high diversity tree species. Here we present the first checklist of saproxylic beetles in the Hyrcanian forests, including 398 species of saproxylic beetles, belonging to 207 genera and 46 families, identified by us. Based on our results and literature data, at least 670 saproxylic beetles occur in the Hyrcanian forests. The bias in our results towards some families supports the view that the detection of additional species can be expected, particularly from the forests with a greater diversity of tree species.
... Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Markazi, Isfahan, Khuzestan and Kerman). Northern Iran, which is adjacent to the Caspian Sea and belonging to the Caucasus region (Kiani et al., 2017), is expected to have the highest biodiversity of any region in Iran, where the hosts of proctotrupid wasps [especially Coleoptera (Müller et al., 2018) and Diptera (Mycetophilidae) (Lastovka and Matile, 1969)] are very abundant. No specimens of the proctotrupid species treated in this study were found in the material collected from Khuzestan, Hormozgan and Fars provinces. ...
As a result of this study on proctotrupid wasps in Iran, 15 species belonging to seven genera were identified. Among them, seven species are new records for the Iranian fauna: Mischoserphus obesus Townes, 1981, Pschornia minora Townes, 1981, Exallonyx certus Townes, 1981, Exallonyx longicornis (Nees, 1834), Exallonyx confusus (Nixon, 1938), Exallonyx pallidistigma Morley, 1922 and Exallonyx subserratus Kieffer, 1908. The genus Pschornia Townes, 1981 is recorded from Iran for the first time and Pschornia persica Izadizadeh, Kolyada & Talebi sp. nov. is described as new for science. The number of species of Proctotrupidae in Iran is now raised from 18 to 26. Diagnostic characters of the newly recorded species are provided along with illustrations. A key to all genera and species of Proctotrupidae known in Iran, as well as a distribution map of all species throughout the world, is presented.
... In the current study, we tested the hypotheses that ambrosia beetle occurrence will depend on the degree of canopy closure, the abundance of oak trees, the abundance of deadwood, and abundance of dead oak branches. We also tested the hypothesis that ambrosia beetle occurrence is greater in unmanaged oak forests than in commercial forests [31,33,34]. ...
Research Highlights: The percentage of canopy closure was found to be the main factor associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The latter two variables increased as canopy closure increased, probably because a high percentage of canopy closure provides a stable and humid environment suitable for the growth of ambrosia fungi. Objectives: Oak is a common host tree for ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), which have independently evolved a nutritional mutualism with fungi. We suspected that ambrosia beetles might have specific habitat preferences that are different from those of other saproxylic beetles and that reflect the specific habitat preferences of their food, i.e., ambrosia fungi. Methods: We assessed ambrosia beetle abundance with ethanol-lured traps in five old-growth oak dominated forests and five managed oak dominated forests (one trap per forest) during the vegetation period in 2020. We determined whether ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness depend on forest type (managed vs. unmanaged), degree of canopy closure, abundance of oak trees, abundance of coarse deadwood, and abundance of dead oak branches. Results: In total, 4137 individuals of six species of ambrosia beetles associated with oaks were captured. The native ambrosia beetle Anisandrus dispar represented the majority of trapped ambrosia bark beetles. A. dispar along with another ambrosia beetle, Xyleborinus saxesenii, represented 99% of all captured beetles. Conclusions: In addition to canopy closure, the abundance of oak trees and the abundance of dead oak branches were significantly associated with ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness. The abundance of A. dispar was mainly correlated with dead oak branch abundance and the degree of canopy closure, whereas the abundances of X. saxesenii and of the invasive species Xyleborinus attenuatus and Cyclorhipidion bodoanum were mainly correlated with the net area occupied by oak trees.
... This study was conducted in the North forest of Iran, which show high variation in plants and insects species (Sagheb Talebi et al., 2014, Müller et al., 2018. Although family Ciidae has not been specially studied in Iran, results of the current study reach the fauna of North Iran to represent 7 genera and 19 species. ...
Ciidae are a small family of mycetophagus beetles with only nine species so far recorded in Iran. The occurrence of four of them has now been confirmed. During the 2014-2017 survey in the Hyrcanian Forest, North Iran, 12 species belonging to 6 genera have been recorded for the first time in Iran. As a result of this study, the number of species known from Iran has increases to 21.
... The objectives of this study were to compare structural characteristics between managed versus unmanaged Oriental beech forests in northern Iran; compare abundance and occurrence of TreMs on living trees in managed versus unmanaged Oriental beech forests; and connect individual tree-level characteristics (stem diameter, tree species, and vitality class) with the abundance of TreMs in Oriental beech forests. The Caspian forests of northern Iran are an ideal location to examine the interaction between forest management and biodiversity indicators because these forests are home to an unusual number of endemic plant and animal species (Siadati et al. 2010, Müller et al. 2018. A number of studies have examined the volume and distribution of dead trees in Caspian forests (Sefidi and Mohadjer 2010, Sefidi et al. 2013, Sefidi and Etemad 2015, and it is anticipated that when these existing studies are viewed in combination with this examination of TreMs on living trees that forest managers can make biologically realistic goals for balancing biodiversity, conservation, and economic value for deciduous forests in this region. ...
Tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) provide ecological niches in features for a variety of species in forests and are suitable indicators of biodiversity for certain taxa. The study objective was to compare the abundance and occurrence of TreMs in managed versus unmanaged Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests of northern Iran to quantify the effect of forest management on biodiversity indicators. We inventoried 3,954 trees to identify the number of trees with TreMs and quantify the occurrence of different types of TreMs. Managed forests averaged 25 trees with TreMs per hectare, and unmanaged forests averaged 41 trees with TreMs per hectare. In both forests, larger-diameter trees (≥50 centimeters diameter at breast height [dbh]) had more TreMs than smaller-diameter trees. TreMs were found on trees larger than a minimum size (32 centimeters dbh) and were more common on trees in poor health, as indicated by vitality class. According to our findings, managed forests have a lower diversity of TreMs than unmanaged forests. However, if management plans in deciduous forests include the retention of large-diameter trees during harvesting events, it is possible to balance providing TreMs within the forest while maintaining growth of economically valuable timber.
Study Implications
Forest biodiversity is time and labor intensive to quantify, and researchers have begun using tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) as a proxy for biodiversity. This study found TreMs occurred at lower abundances but had a similar occurrence of TreM groupings (cavities, injuries and wounds, deformation/growth form, and epiphytes) in managed Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests compared with unmanaged Oriental beech forests. Managed hardwood stands provided 25 TreMs per hectare, which is similar to numbers recommended for managing for biodiversity, and thus it may be possible to promote TreM creation and retention as an opportunity to increase forest biodiversity while also managing forests for timber production. Abundance of TreMs was associated with large-diameter trees and low-vitality trees (poor health). In deciduous forests managed for timber production, the retention of large-diameter trees is likely to align more closely with other management objectives than the retention of trees in poor health.
... The protection conferred by neighbouring deserts and high alpine mountains in the south has allowed the survival of large primeval beech forests [32]. As tertiary relicts, these forests have given rise to several endemic plant and animal species [33,34]. ...
... Primeval temperate forests serve as an important reference baseline for integrative management strategies [38]. Studies of beech forests have focussed on their stand structure [23,24,29]; the amount and composition of deadwood [39]; and the composition of fungi, bryophytes [40][41][42], and beetles [34,[43][44][45]. By contrast, the composition and dynamics of TreMs in natural forests of European and Oriental beech remain poorly explored. ...
... The humid climate favours the growth of the beech trees, which reach heights of up to 47 m. The forest still harbours large primeval forests with an impressive diversity of globally threatened species and endemic species, for example, saproxylic beetles [34,37]. In this study, data on TreMs in Oriental beech were collected in five larger forests (seven stands, each with a size of 5-100 ha and 1-5 plots per stand) of three provinces (Table S1). ...
Primeval forests in the temperate zone exist only as a few remnants, but theses serve as important reference areas for conservation. As key habitats, tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) are of intense interest to forest ecologists, but little is known about their natural composition and dynamics in different tree species. Beech forms a major part of the temperate forests that extend from Europe, home to European beech Fagus sylvatica L. (Fs), eastward to Iran, where Oriental beech Fagus orientalis Lipsky (Fo) is the dominant species. In this study, we compared TreMs in primeval forests of both species, using data from Fo growing in 25 inventory plots throughout the Hyrcanian forest belt in Iran and from Fs growing in a 9 ha permanent plot in the Uholka Forest of Ukraine. TreMs based on 47 types and 11 subgroups were recorded. Beech trees in the Hyrcanian forest had a higher mean diameter at breast height (dbh) than beech trees in Uholka and contained twice as many TreMs per hectare. Although the mean richness of TreMs per TreM bearing tree was similar in the two species, on the basis of the comparison single trees in two groups (n = 405 vs. 2251), the composition of the TreMs clearly differed, as the proportions of rot holes, root-buttress concavities, and crown deadwood were higher in the Hyrcanian Forest, and those of bark losses, exposed heartwood, and burrs and cankers higher in Uholka Forest. Estimates of TreMs dynamics based on dbh and using Weibull models showed a significantly faster cumulative increase of TreMs in Fo, in which saturation occurred already in trees with a dbh of 70-80 cm. By contrast, the increase in TreMs in Fs was continuous. In both species, the probability density was highest at a dbh of about 30 cm, but was twice as high in Fo. Because of limitations of our study design, the reason behind observed Forests 2020, 11, 144 2 of 13 differences of TreM formation and composition between regions remains unclear, as it could be either result of the tree species or the environment, or their interaction. However, the observed differences were more likely the result of differences in the environment than in the two tree species. Nevertheless, our findings demonstrate that the Hyrcanian Forest, recently designated as a natural heritage site in Iran, is unique, not only as a tertiary relict or due to its endemic trees, herbs and arthropods, but also because of its TreMs, which form a distinct and rich habitat for associated taxa, including endemic saproxylic species.
Protection of forests, rangelands and other natural ecosystems in Iran is facing challenges and currently the natural areas of the country are not in favorable conditions. Some of the problems and mega global challenges that affect various natural areas in the world. This group of challenges include climate change, desertification, land degradation, global warming, deficiency of fresh water and increasing demand for energy. The second group of challenges that are specific to Iran at the national level and have affected the natural environments include lakes drying up, land subsidence, salinity and alkalinity of underground water, desertification and consequently the particulate matter air pollution. Also, the breakdown of the natural hydrology systems of the watersheds and changes in the usage of the natural areas are two man-made super challenges affecting the natural environments of Iran. In this article, the major challenges related to Iran's natural areas and the relevant national and regional challenges at the level of natural ecosystems are discussed. Finally, in order to deal with the challenges raised, the necessary solutions to protect and support Iran's natural areas as better as possible are presented. This includes paying attention to these challenges as one of the basic requirements for applying and implementing ecosystem-based management in the natural areas.
Protection of forests, rangelands and other natural ecosystems in Iran is facing challenges and currently the natural areas of the country are not in favorable conditions. Some of the problems and mega global challenges that affect various natural areas in the world. This group of challenges include climate change, desertification, land degradation, global warming, deficiency of fresh water and increasing demand for energy. The second group of challenges that are specific to Iran at the national level and have affected the natural environments include lakes drying up, land subsidence, salinity and alkalinity of underground water, desertification and consequently the particulate matter air pollution. Also, the breakdown of the natural hydrology systems of the watersheds and changes in the usage of the natural areas are two man-made super challenges affecting the natural environments of Iran. In this article, the major challenges related to Iran's natural areas and the relevant national and regional challenges at the level of natural ecosystems are discussed. Finally, in order to deal with the challenges raised, the necessary solutions to protect and support Iran's natural areas as better as possible are presented. This includes paying attention to these challenges as one of the basic requirements for applying and implementing ecosystem-based management in natural areas.
