Laboratory of Woodland Ecology
    Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS
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Habitat requirements of model species
 

Throughout the past intensive forest management or in modern days, lack of proper management has led to sharp decline in abundance of many protected species that are confined to small sites with very localized distribution. Despite their vulnerability, their biology and requirements are not fully known. Often, their cryptic life and rarity can be a major offset in the identification of main habitat features. Once assessed, habitat preferences and indicators should lead to developing decision rules for monitoring and habitat management of these species. We are interested in rare habitats, such as veteran trees and pasture woodlands that are associated with them and host a diverse array of other species. Our studies show the emphasis should be put on more traditional management practices, such as coppicing and pollarding that promote restoration of wood pastures and open forest canopy to support veteran trees formation, as an abandonment of pastures has led to the disappearance of large, old trees.

 
Members involved

Lukáš Čížek, Pavel Šebek, Michaela Helclová, Dmitry Shovkun

 
Related papers

Size matters! Habitat preferences of the wrinkled bark beetle, Rhysodes sulcatus, the relict of European primeval forests. Kostanjsek et al. 2018, Insect Conservation and Diversity.

Habitat requirements of the violet click beetle (Limoniscus violaceus), an endangered umbrella species of basal hollow trees. Gouix, Šebek et al. 2015, Insect Conservation and Diversity.

Vertical stratification and microhabitat selection by the Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in open-grown, veteran oaks. Albert, Plátek and Čížek 2012, European Journal of Entomology.

Importance of marginal habitats for grassland diversity: fallows and overgrown tall-grass steppe as key habitats of endangered ground-beetle Carabus hungaricus. Pokluda, Hauck and Čížek 2012, Insect Conservation and Diversity.

Range expansion of an endangered beetle: Alpine Longhorn Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) spreads to the lowlands of Central Europe. Čížek et al. 2009, Entomologica Fennica.