Effect of forest management on insect and microbe diversity

For maintaining the biological diversity a number of new recommendations have been given and the new guidelines are allready applied in silviculture. However, these recommendations are based on public opinions rather than on the scientific evidence.

The project has been divided into five subprojects. The aim of the first study is to find out how different cuttings and habitat factors effect on the insect occurrence and microbes living on and in the needles. The second purpose is to study effects of forest management on quantity and quality of the beetle fauna by catching insects with different traps in effectively managed and poorly managed forests as well as in nature conservation areas. The effect of forest fragmentation on species occurrence and the role of old growth corridors for species spreading are investigated in the third subprojects. The possibilities to use parasitoids of small mammals as indicators of forest biodiversity is the object of the fourth study. The aim of the last subproject is to create statistical models based on the Geographical Information Systems for predicting species assemblage and abundance in different forest stands.

Researchers:

Erkki Annila, Ph.D., professor - project leader, subproject 2
Anna-Maija Hallaksela, F.D., scientist - subproject 1
Heikki Henttonen, Ph.D., senior scientist - subprojects 3, 4
Michael Müller, Ph.D., scientist - subproject 1
Pekka Niemelä, Ph.D., senior scientist - subproject 5
Juha Siitonen, scientist - subproject 2
Martti Varama, scientist - subproject 1

Collaborators:

Kari Heliövaara, F.D., professor - University of Helsinki
Lauri Kaila, scientist - University of Helsinki
Petri Martikainen, scientist - University of Helsinki

Contact address:

[Vantaa Research Centre] [Vantaan tutkimuskeskus] [Metla]