Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis

S. Thorn; C. Bässler; R. Brandl; P.J. Burton; R. Cahall; J.L. Campbell; J. Castro; C-Y Choi; T. Cobb; D.C. Donato; E. Durska; J.B. Fontaine; S. Gauthier; C. Hebert; T. Hothorn; R.L. Hutto; E-J Lee; A.B. Leverkus; D.B. Lindenmayer; M.K. Obrist; J. Rost; S. Seibold; R. Seidl; D. Thom; K. Waldron; B. Wermelinger; M-B Winter; M. Zmihorski; J. Müller; M. Struebig

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12945

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Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis

Journal article

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Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis

S. Thorn, C. Bässler, R. Brandl, P.J. Burton, R. Cahall, J.L. Campbell, J. Castro, C-Y Choi, T. Cobb, D.C. Donato, …

Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol.55(1), pp.279-289

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12945

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Abstract

Logging to "salvage" economic returns from forests affected by natural disturbances has become increasingly prevalent globally. Despite potential negative effects on biodiversity, salvage logging is often conducted, even in areas otherwise excluded from logging and reserved for nature conservation, inter alia because strategic priorities for post-disturbance management are widely lacking. A review of the existing literature revealed that most studies investigating the effects of salvage logging on biodiversity have been conducted less than 5 years following natural disturbances, and focused on non-saproxylic organisms. A meta-analysis across 24 species groups revealed that salvage logging significantly decreases numbers of species of eight taxonomic groups. Richness of dead wood dependent taxa (i.e. saproxylic organisms) decreased more strongly than richness of non-saproxylic taxa. In contrast, taxonomic groups typically associated with open habitats increased in the number of species after salvage logging. By analysing 134 original species abundance matrices, we demonstrate that salvage logging significantly alters community composition in 7 of 17 species groups, particularly affecting saproxylic assemblages. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that salvage logging is not consistent with the management objectives of protected areas. Substantial changes, such as the retention of dead wood in naturally disturbed forests, are needed to support biodiversity. Future research should investigate the amount and spatio-temporal distribution of retained dead wood needed to maintain all components of biodiversity.

Details

Title: Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis
Authors/Creators: S. Thorn (Author/Creator) - Field Station Fabrikschleichach Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III) Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg Rauhenebrach Germany
C. Bässler (Author/Creator) - Bavarian Forest National Park
R. Brandl (Author/Creator) - Philipps University of Marburg
P.J. Burton (Author/Creator) - University of Northern British Columbia
R. Cahall (Author/Creator) - Oregon State University
J.L. Campbell (Author/Creator) - Oregon State University
J. Castro (Author/Creator) - Universidad de Granada
C-Y Choi (Author/Creator) - Seoul National University
T. Cobb (Author/Creator) - Royal Alberta Museum
D.C. Donato (Author/Creator) - University of Washington
E. Durska (Author/Creator) - Museum and Institute of Zoology
J.B. Fontaine (Author/Creator)
S. Gauthier (Author/Creator) - Natural Resources Canada
C. Hebert (Author/Creator) - Natural Resources Canada
T. Hothorn (Author/Creator) - University of Zurich
R.L. Hutto (Author/Creator) - University of Montana
E-J Lee (Author/Creator) - Urban Planning Research Group Daejeon Sejong Research Institute Daejeon Korea
A.B. Leverkus (Author/Creator) - Universidad de Alcalá
D.B. Lindenmayer (Author/Creator) - Australian National University
M.K. Obrist (Author/Creator) - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
J. Rost (Author/Creator) - Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya
S. Seibold (Author/Creator) - Bavarian Forest National Park
R. Seidl (Author/Creator) - BOKU University
D. Thom (Author/Creator) - BOKU University
K. Waldron (Author/Creator) - Université Laval
B. Wermelinger (Author/Creator) - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
M-B Winter (Author/Creator) - Forest Research Institute of Baden-Württemberg FVA, Freiburg, Germany.
M. Zmihorski (Author/Creator) - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
J. Müller (Author/Creator) - Bavarian Forest National Park
M. Struebig (Author/Creator)
Publication Details: Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol.55(1), pp.279-289
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Inc.
Identifiers: 991005540600707891
Copyright: © 2017 British Ecological Society.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.40 Forestry; 3.40.55 Forest Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology