On how the abandonment of traditional forest management practices could reduce saproxylic diversity in the Mediterranean Region

Forests of the Mediterranean Basin provide a wide range provisioning and regulating services that are currently jeopardised by land-use change. Although many ecosystem mediated insects, most studies have focused on how to enhance diversity in traditionally managed forests about plants vertebrates. Quercus pyrenaica woodlands Western Iberian Peninsula constitute scenario which traditional human practices (i.e., extensive livestock grazing, pollarding, firewood, forest thinning, etc.), their progressive abandonment, generated differences landscape affect habitat microhabitat structures. We used saproxylic beetles (deadwood-dependent species) as biological indicators because they diverse taxa important related deadwood decomposition, pest control pollination. modelled response two taxonomic (species richness abundance), one ecological order 1) functional (functional redundancy) metrics environmental variables result from management or its abandonment at levels. included 16 explanatory structure, tree microhabitats abiotic factors, were grouped into eight principal components. Linear regression was best fitting model for data. The resulting models perform predictions different scenarios. found some activities Region reduced beetle diversity, may be further aggravated climate suggest minimal actions improve maintenance >20% scrub coverage, >20 m3/ha soil hollow trees/ha). However, boost biodiversity do not ensure community’s higher resilience. should also promote reduce vulnerability functions changes.