Impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity: A meta-analysis

Simon Thorn, Claus Bässler, Roland Brandl, Philip J. Burton, Rebecca Cahall, John L. Campbell, Jorge Castro, Chang Yong Choi, Tyler Cobb, Daniel C. Donato, Ewa Durska, Joseph B. Fontaine, Sylvie Gauthier, Christian Hebert, Torsten Hothorn, Richard L. Hutto, Eun Jae Lee, Alexandro B. Leverkus, David B. Lindenmayer, Martin K. ObristJosep Rost, Sebastian Seibold, Rupert Seidl, Dominik Thom, Kaysandra Waldron, Beat Wermelinger, Maria Barbara Winter, Michal Zmihorski, Jörg Müller

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

279 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-289
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Applied Ecology
Volume55
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • bark beetle
  • climate change
  • dead wood
  • disturbed forest
  • fire
  • natural disturbance
  • post-disturbance logging
  • salvage logging
  • saproxylic taxa
  • windstorm

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