A multidimensional analysis on the joint-effect of retention forestry and landscape structure on large mammals communities

Project Information

ConFoBiNM

Grant agreement ID: 894290

DOI

10.3030/894290

Project closed

EC signature date 20 February 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 31 December 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 162 806,40

EU contribution

€ 162 806,40

Coordinated by

ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ConFoBiNM (A multidimensional analysis on the joint-effect of retention forestry and landscape structure on large mammals communities)

Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2022-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The integration of conservation into production forest management is crucial to achieve desired biodiversity goals at the EU level. Retention forestry – the retaining of deadwood and a portion of the original stand at the moment of harvesting - was introduced as a conservation tool to mitigate the negative impact of transformation and homogenization of forests. As it is now common practice in Central European forests, the design of efficient retention strategies hinges on ecological knowledge, yet research-based evidence for its effectiveness is lacking especially for the terrestrial mammals in temperate forests. Here, I addressed this knowledge gap by using a combination of advanced techniques and statistical methods to investigate how the large mammal community occupancy (a measure of abundance) changed in response to varying levels of retention forestry in the Black Forest in Southwestern Germany, my model system for multiple-use forests in Central Europe. I expected retention forestry to enhance mammals species richness and occupancy. I carried out camera-trapping in 135 plots embedded in patches of mixed-montane forests which differed along 2 gradients of retention and landscape fragmentation. I used multispecies hierarchical modelling in a Bayesian framework to quantify the effects of retention forestry on mammal species at different spatial grains.
A total of 17 species was recorded, and while species richness did not differ with different amount of standing deadwood (a proxy for retention amount), species composition changed with both standing deadwood and forest cover surrounding the plots. Specifically, the majority of the species benefited from a higher amount of standing dead trees, possibly because of more abundant hiding cover, and forage availability. In contrast, several species such as the marten and the squirrel were more abundant in areas with lower retention. Moreover, while most species responded positively to the amount of forest in the landscape, the proportion of broadleaf forest in the landscape had mixed effect on the occupancy of mammal species, with half of the species negatively affected and the other half positively affected. In sum, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to manage forest to enhance mammal species. A thorough understanding of how individual mammal species respond to retention forestry and landscape configuration is therefore important to develop accurate guidelines for sustainable forest management that will often require a trade-off between favouring the majority of the species, or some species in particular. Such Knowledge is also relevant as the Black Forest is located in the middle of other large forest massifs in Central Europe and therefore acts as a stepping stone for forest species of conservation concern such as the Eurasian lynx that require large tracts of forest.
This study was part of a larger interdisciplinary research project that combines multi-scale, ecological studies of forest biodiversity combined with social and economic studies of biodiversity conservation. This integrated approach is designed to establish a lively exchange of knowledge and expertise between scientific disciplines as well as forestry and conservation practitioners. Such research is especially important to bridge the gap between science and policy, and improve the management of natural resources.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Management and Training
Over the two years of the fellowship, I gave several lectures and seminars to Master students at the University of Freiburg. I also gained training by taking professional courses and attending workshops (i.e. ‘Mapping and Spatial Analysis (GIS) in R’, and ‘Bayesian capture-recapture inference with hidden Markov models’). I improved my soft skills by attending several short courses offered by the postdoc qualification program of the University of Freiburg, including ‘Decision making’ and ‘Conflict management’.

Data collection and analysis
I surveyed 135 plots with camera traps, and the final data set included ~20,000 independent animal capture events of 16 terrestrial mammal species, from a sampling effort of ~55,000 trap nights. Photos were uploaded on Wildlife Insights (wildlifeinsights.org). Following the data analysis, at least 3 papers papers will stem from this MSCA research project: (1) A manuscript presenting the results of the multispecies occupancy analysis using a Bayesian approach. (2) A collaborative paper looking at the effects of retention forestry on biodiversity (integrating many different taxa including large mammals). (3) A collaborative paper with Snapshot Europe (an initiative supported by Euromammals and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, in partnership with Snapshot USA).

Dissemination & Communication
We hosted a half-day workshop on camera trapping and wildlife to kids from the university employees, and aged 8-12, on the occasion of the so-called “MiKi-Tag” (Bring your child to work-day) at the University of Freiburg in July 2022. https://www.familienservice.uni-freiburg.de/mikitag-ordner/mikitag-2022
I gave a camera trapping workshop to an indigenous community (Emberá) in Panama in October 2022. This Emberá community conserve large swaths of tropical forest on their land, and therefore play a key role against illegal deforestation and for the preservation of wildlife. I also gave a number of additional seminars to grad students and practitionners locally and abroad (University of Toronto, University of Panama, FVA).
I gave two talks as a Marie Curie Ambassador at the University of Freiburg in 2021 and 2022.
I presented results at 3 international conferences in 2022 (ECCB, Eurolynx meeting, and SFE-GTO joint conference).
A movie made by Laurie Hedges, showcases the ConFoBi project and highlights my research (available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S_EITJpLZE )

Exploitation of the results
Results on all taxa, including large mammals, are currently being integrated in a regional policy brief, and an EU policy brief. The documents are being prepared by the Confobi team at the University of Freiburg.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This study was part of a larger research project that gathers scientists and forest practionners with the aim to evaluate how retention forestry (a particular type of forest management) can enhance biodiversity in Central European temperate forest. Besides finding that retention forestry benefits some mammals, this project is especially relevant because it also integrates socio-economic aspects, especially the attitude of the society (including medias), the researchers and the foresters towards forest management and conservation, and the value of biodiversity in a forestry context. Finding effective and realistically feasible solutions to tackle the biodiversity crisis is one of the most pressing challenge, making this study timely.

Camera trapping workshop for Indigenous in Panama

A camera trap in the field

The MSCA fellow researcher captured by the camera trap as she comes to revise it.

The MSCA fellow presenting the results at the European Conservation Biology Conference (Aug 2022)

The Black Forest (study site)

A critter (here a roe deer Capreolus capreolus) photo captured by the camera trap in the Black Fores