Contrasting responses of bats and macro-moths to structural complexity in forest borders

IF 3.7 2区农林科学 Q1 FORESTRY

Forest Ecology and Management Pub Date : 2024-11-30 DOI:10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122416

Heather Wood , Adam Kimberley , Sara A.O. Cousins

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation increases the proportion of forest borders in the landscape and many forest borders lose their structural complexity due to modern forestry practices. However, remnants of structurally complex deciduous forests can remain as ecotones between plantations and agricultural fields. In this study we used terrestrial laser scanning to measure structural complexity of different forest borders, measured microclimate, and surveyed bats and macro-moths to understand how these taxa are affected. Our aim is to disentangle the main drivers, direct or indirect, that influence bat and moth assemblages. We studied 79 forest borders, and surrounding landscapes and compared them with adjacent agricultural fields and coniferous plantations. Overall, we found less bat activity and lower macro-moth diversity in simple compared to complex borders. Using structural equation modelling, we show the contrasting responses of forest-specialist bats and moths to structural complexity; with bats responding positively and moths negatively. We found similar divergent results in relation to understorey openness; with increasing forest-specialist bat activity but a lower diversity of forest-specialist moths in more open borders. Understorey vegetation also appears to regulate microclimate with more open borders being warmer and less humid. This has a potential knock-on effect for bats as they favoured borders that were warmer and more humid. Surrounding land-cover was more important than structural complexity for generalist species; with increasing generalist bat activity due to a higher proportion of local deciduous forest cover and increasing generalist moth diversity in landscapes with more forest borders. Overall, these complex relationships between forest structure, microclimate and landscape factors, coupled with divergent responses of both taxa highlight their diverse ecological needs. Therefore, we highlight the importance of managing forest borders to retain complexity and connectivity within multifunctional landscapes.

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蝙蝠和飞蛾对森林边界结构复杂性的反应对比

生境破碎化增加了森林边界在景观中的比例，由于现代林业实践，许多森林边界失去了其结构复杂性。然而，结构复杂的落叶森林的残余物可以作为人工林和农田之间的过渡带保留下来。在本研究中，我们利用陆地激光扫描测量了不同森林边界的结构复杂性，测量了小气候，并对蝙蝠和巨蛾进行了调查，以了解这些分类群是如何受到影响的。我们的目的是解开主要驱动因素，直接或间接，影响蝙蝠和蛾的组合。我们研究了79个森林边界及其周围景观，并将其与邻近的农田和针叶人工林进行了比较。总体而言，与复杂边界相比，我们发现简单边界的蝙蝠活动较少，大蛾多样性较低。利用结构方程模型，我们展示了森林专家蝙蝠和飞蛾对结构复杂性的对比反应；蝙蝠的反应是积极的，飞蛾的反应是消极的。我们在下层开放度方面发现了类似的不同结果；随着森林专家蝙蝠活动的增加，但在更开放的边界，森林专家飞蛾的多样性较低。下层植被似乎也调节着小气候，越开放的边界越温暖，湿度越低。这对蝙蝠有潜在的连锁反应，因为它们喜欢更温暖、更潮湿的边界。对于多面手物种，周围土地覆盖比结构复杂性更重要；在森林边界较多的景观中，由于当地落叶森林覆盖率的增加，一般蛾的活动增加，一般蛾的多样性增加。总体而言，森林结构、小气候和景观因子之间的复杂关系，加上两个类群的不同响应，凸显了它们不同的生态需求。因此，我们强调管理森林边界的重要性，以保持多功能景观的复杂性和连通性。

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来源期刊

Forest Ecology and Management 农林科学-林学

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

10.80%

发文量

665

审稿时长

39 days

期刊介绍： Forest Ecology and Management publishes scientific articles linking forest ecology with forest management, focusing on the application of biological, ecological and social knowledge to the management and conservation of plantations and natural forests. The scope of the journal includes all forest ecosystems of the world. A peer-review process ensures the quality and international interest of the manuscripts accepted for publication. The journal encourages communication between scientists in disparate fields who share a common interest in ecology and forest management, bridging the gap between research workers and forest managers. We encourage submission of papers that will have the strongest interest and value to the Journal''s international readership. Some key features of papers with strong interest include: 1. Clear connections between the ecology and management of forests; 2. Novel ideas or approaches to important challenges in forest ecology and management; 3. Studies that address a population of interest beyond the scale of single research sites, Three key points in the design of forest experiments, Forest Ecology and Management 255 (2008) 2022-2023); 4. Review Articles on timely, important topics. Authors are welcome to contact one of the editors to discuss the suitability of a potential review manuscript. The Journal encourages proposals for special issues examining important areas of forest ecology and management. Potential guest editors should contact any of the Editors to begin discussions about topics, potential papers, and other details.