CASE STUDY
#1 Northern Taiga Forest
The first case study explores the relation between landscape structure and forest
species biodiversity in six example areas on a macro-geographical gradient; from the
scarcely forested landscapes of Eastern Holland and Poland, through landscapes with
high forest cover, but considerable human influence to the most natural forested
landscapes of Irkutsk, Middle Siberia (fig. X).
It is important to notice that this case study puts special value on biodiversity of
forest species, with a particular emphasis on forest specialist species, which have
stricter demands on forest integrity than forest generalist species.
This is not to deny that we might well find high value biodiversity within the other
landscape elements, nor that total landscape biodiversity might be de-coupled from
forest habitat quality rating in any of the example landscapes (fig. 1).
The focus on forest specialist species is justified by geography; in Northern Europe
with still extensive boreal forests (taiga, coniferous forest), a special European level
obligation is to preserve forest biodiversity. Moving southwards, in subsequent case
studies, other major biomes will be given similar special treatment.
Habitat loss will affect sensitive forest species in four major ways Hanski (2005):
-
loss of habitat quality
loss of habitat area (quantity)
loss of connectivity
loss of temporal continuity
As can be seen from the satellite maps (fig 1) forest cover in the temperate example
areas is quite low due to a large share of agricultural fields. In the boreal areas
forest cover is 62% (EU) and 49-78 % (RF). However average habitat quality is
considerably better in the Russian areas; more dead wood, more standing snags etc.
These quality characteristics cannot generally be seen by remote sensing. Thus if
policy making relies on rough maps, CORINE classification etc, only quantity aspects
are properly considered. Under a more or less constant total forest area a serious
decline in biodiversity has taken place in Scandinavia and Finland during the last 50-60
years of intensive forestry.
Of course satellite maps can show the dynamics of forestry, clear cut areas, forest
roads, proportion of young stands, fragmentation and loss of physical connectivity. But
again, the crucially important biologically/ecologically defined connectivity and
extrapolations into the
future need other methods, in this case study exemplified by the metapopulation
model.
[one more page]
- discussion on landscape structure results
- closer presentation of polyphore data, comparing landscape/biodiversity of
forest specialist group
- presentation of metapopulation model results, comparison of observed
biodiversity/ extrapolations by model
- flash on metapopulation model? what it does /cannot do. Sensitivity etc
A
B
Fig. 11. Landscape classification a) with all land use classes and b) with forest and non-forest land use
classes, the Netherlands.
A
B
Fig. 12. Landscape classification a) with all land use classes and b) with forest and non-forest
land use classes, Sweden.
A
B
Fig. 13. Landscape classification a) with all land use classes and b) with forest and non-forest land
use classes, Poland.
A
B
Fig. 14. Landscape classification a) with all land use classes and b) with forest and non-forest land
use classes, Lake Ladoga.
A
B
Fig. 15. Landscape classification a) with all land use classes and b) with forest and non-forest land
use classes, Perm.
A
B
Fig. 16. Landscape classification a) with all land use classes and b) with forest and non-forest land
use classes, Irkutsk.
Volume of dead standing trees
Volume of living trees
300
16
250
14
12
m3/ha
m3/ha
200
150
100
10
8
6
4
50
2
0
0
Holland Sweden
Poland
Ladoga
Perm
Baikal
Holland
Biodiversity assessment
Netherlands
Sweden
Poland
Ladoga
Perm
Baikal
Total
Perennial
4
17
16
16
25
27
41
All species
12
39
33
42
62
49
109
Poland
Ladoga
Perm
Signs of fires
60
40
20
0
Holland Sweden Poland Ladoga
Perm
Figure 6. Some forest and biodiversity characteristics of the study areas.
In the full Case study, available through the link below, the rationale and the scientific know how
necessary are presented and discussed …
Laura Niskanen, Jenni Hottola Tarmo Virtanen,
Tuomo Wallenius, Mikael Pihlström
● Case study: ’Forest fragmentation, forest specialist
species and predictive Metapopulation models’
Baikal
80
% of plots
The number of observed polypore species
(preliminary results):
100
Sweden
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Baikal