Arthropod biodiversity in virgin and managed forests in Central Europe

Abstract

The species composition of arthropods was used for a pair-wise comparison of the biodiversity in virgin forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians and managed Swiss forests with similar tree species composition. In both countries, pure beech forests and fir-spruce-beech forests were assessed at comparable altitudes and exposures.<br/>\nBoth types of extensively managed forests in Switzerland yielded slightly more species and considerably more individuals in most arthropod taxa than their virgin counterparts in Transcarpatia. On the other hand, the Shannon index of diversity and evenness were almost consistently higher in the Ukrainian virgin forests.<br/>\nSeparating the collected arthropods into trophic groups highlights the Saprophaga and Xylophaga as indicators for natural or virgin forests.The size spectrum of the predatory carabid beetles was much broader in virgin forests than in managed forests; both large and very small species were lacking in the managed forests ill Switzerland, indicating a limited potential for ecosystem functions.