Article

Moth community responses to woodland creation: The influence of woodland age, patch characteristics and landscape attributes

Details

Citation

Fuentes‐Montemayor E, Watts K, Sansum P, Scott W & Park KJ (2022) Moth community responses to woodland creation: The influence of woodland age, patch characteristics and landscape attributes. Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13599

Abstract
Aim Large-scale habitat creation is crucial to mitigate the current ecological crisis, but scientific evidence on its effects on biodiversity is scarce. Here, we assess how assemblages of a biodiverse group (moths) develop over time in habitat creation sites. We use temperate woodlands as a case study, and compare species assemblages in restored and mature habitat patches. We also identify local- and landscape-level attributes associated with high species richness and abundance. Location Central Scotland, United Kingdom. Methods We surveyed moths in a chronosequence of 79 temperate woodland patches encompassing woodland creation sites (20–160 years old) and mature “ancient” woodlands (250+ years old). We used structural equation models, generalized linear models and ordination techniques to quantify moth community responses to woodland creation, and degree of similarity to moth assemblages in ancient woodlands. Results Woodland creation sites harboured large numbers of moth species (212), were dominated by woodland generalists and had high species turnover. Moth abundance and diversity increased with woodland connectivity. Macromoths were more abundant and diverse in younger woodlands; micromoth specialists occurred more frequently in older woodland creation sites. Ancient woodlands had similar moth abundance/richness than woodland creation sites (except for fewer macromoth woodland specialist species), but their species composition was somewhat different. Patterns of beta diversity (low nestedness) indicated that moth species in woodland creation sites are not simply subsets of species in ancient woodlands. Main conclusions To benefit moth communities, woodland creation sites should be structurally diverse and in close proximity to other woodlands. At the landscape scale, a mosaic of woodland patches of different ages is likely to increase moth beta (and consequently gamma) diversity. Ancient woodlands and woodland creation sites each host substantial proportions of “unique” species; individual woodland patches contain distinctive moth assemblages and should be protected and valued for their contribution to regional moth diversity.

Keywords
afforestation; Lepidoptera; moths; reforestation; restoration; tree planting; woodland creation; woodland expansion; WrEN project

Notes
Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Online

Journal
Diversity and Distributions

StatusIn Press
FundersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government, Forestry Commission, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Future Woodlands Scotland, University of Stirling, Woodland Trust, Scottish Forestry Trust, National Forest, Forest Research and Larfarge Tarmac
Publication date online02/08/2022
Date accepted by journal21/06/2022
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/34540
PublisherWiley
ISSN1366-9516
eISSN1472-4642

People (2)

Dr Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor

Dr Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor

Senior Lecturer- Nature-based Solutions, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Professor Kirsty Park

Professor Kirsty Park

Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences

Research programmes