A Kyoto University team tested whether beetles of the genus Platycerus, from the stag beetle family, can serve as an indicator of canopy health in broadleaf forests. The work took place in commercially logged forests in Hida, Japan, using the species Platycerus takakuwai.
The scientists used a trap that relies on females to lure males, a recent method that avoids depending on the observer’s expertise and does not damage breeding sites. Catches were linked to trap location and to factors such as climate, altitude, forest structure and distance from the forest edge.
The results showed more catches in the forest interior than near open areas, and that the relationship with tree density varied from site to site. It was the first time this trap had been used to assess habitats in a working forest.
The first author, Minori Tokito, explains that she is interested in understanding how to use forest resources while maintaining wildlife habitats. Larger-scale studies are already under way, with the aim of creating indicators that help reconcile timber production with biodiversity conservation.
