Key factors affecting composition and diversity of saproxylic beetle assemblages

Abstract

The thesis concerns the community structure of saproxylic insects with a heavy focus on beetles. It presents a review on change of insect assemblages along small-to-large scale gradients and the importance of saproxylic organisms in forest ecosystems. The fine-scale vertical stratification of saproxylic beetles assemblages and their differences between forests habitats of different latitude and altitude are investigated. Further, the importance of open-grown trees for saproxylic diversity is assessed.