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The successional change of hollow oaks affects their suitability for an inhabiting beetle, Osmoderma eremita

Author

Summary, in English

We assessed the presence/absence and population size of a threatened beetle, Osmoderma eremita, inhabiting hollow oaks (Quercus robur). Population sizes varied widely between trees (10% of the hollow trees hosted two thirds of the individuals), and increased with the volume of wood mould (= loose material of dead wood) and the height of the entrances. Population density (number of adult beetles per litre of wood mould) increased with decreasing growth rate of the trees. Trees with the largest O. eremita populations were 300–400 years old. Among hollow trees, the population sizes increased with tree age. This is at least partly due to the fact that the volume of wood mould increased with tree age. Both the size of the largest entrance hole and tree diameter were positively correlated with the estimated wood mould volume, and could thus be used as easily measured proxies for wood mould volume.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

205-216

Publication/Series

Annales Zoologici Fennici

Volume

46

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board

Topic

  • Biological Sciences
  • Zoology

Status

Published

Project

  • The PheroBio project (Pheromone monitoring of Biodiversity)

Research group

  • Pheromone Group

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0003-455X