White-backed Woodpecker and Saproxylic Beetles
The White-backed Woodpecker is a species of conservation concern and a top predator in saproxylic food webs. To better understand the species interaction, we study saproxylic beetle communities.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences
- Institute(s) Multifunctional Forest Management
- Research unit(s) Forest Ecosystem and Management
- Funding organisation Others
- Duration (planned) 01.03.2018 - 24.12.2023
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Thibault Lachat
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Project staff
Romain Angeleri
Prof. Dr. Thibault Lachat
Urs Kormann -
Partner
Vogelwarte
Vogelwarte
Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU
Inatura Erlebnisschau GmbH - Keywords Saproxylic beetles, White-backed Woodpecker, Community ecology, Conservation ecology
Situation
With a characterization of the saproxylic communities occuring within the habitat of the White-backed Woodpecker, we will be able to identify the present interactions among this food web as a guideline for birds and beetles conservation.
Course of action
The white-backed woodpecker is by far the rarest woodpecker species in Central Europe. Even if numerous forests seem to meet the ecological requirements of this species, the white-backed woodpecker is still missing in many places. Therefore, the bird species being a top predator in Saproxylic food webs, the arthropods' ecology may play an important role for the bird's occurrence and are therefore our priority accross this European study.
