Duflot, R. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2026

Energy and heterogeneity shape bird taxonomic and functional gamma-diversity patterns across landscapes in Finland

AimOur aim was to study the effects of energy availability and landscape habitat heterogeneity on bird taxonomic and functional gamma-diversity and propose conservation guidelines based on the results. LocationSouthern and Central Finland Time Period2009-2020 Major Taxa StudiedBirds MethodsWe derived biodiversity variables from bird monitoring line transects to assess the effects of latitude, longitude, and landscape composition, configuration, and heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales: 100, 500, 2,000, and 5,000 m. We tested the effects of these landscape metrics on the total community, bird ecological guilds (species richness and abundance), functional diversity, and overall species specialization index. ResultsWe found clear evidence supporting a positive effect of energy (latitude and soil fertility) and habitat amount on bird abundances. Our results also revealed a northward increasing trend in functional diversity and species specialization. Habitat heterogeneity positively affected both bird abundance and species richness. Heterogeneity of land cover types was shown to promote abundances, while functional measure of landscape heterogeneity was positively connected to species richness. Land use with high anthropogenic activities, such as urban areas and cropland, negatively affected forest specialists and species sensitive to human activities. Main ConclusionsEnergy and habitat heterogeneity and amount are major mutually nonexclusive factors shaping bird communities in Finnish landscapes. Nonetheless, certain land use types favour some guilds while excluding others (for example, urbanized areas or cropland favouring open area species while excluding old-growth forest specialists), showing that biodiversity conservation is a matter of specialized landscapes. Furthermore, different measures of landscape heterogeneity demonstrated positive relationships with the studied bird guilds, highlighting the consistency of the species-heterogeneity relationship.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Ecologically and economically sustainable level of timber harvesting in boreal forests - defining the safe operating space for forest use

Planetary-level analyses indicate that we are exceeding the ecological limits. However, we need approaches to implement global sustainability frameworks regionally, using natural resources at levels that allow for their regeneration. We present a framework to define limits beyond which ecosystems are threatened to collapse, to answer how much we can extract from ecosystems, and to manage natural resources for both human and ecosystem wellbeing. We exemplify this approach with the heath forest habitat types in Finland, which provide most of the national timber production. We use the IUCN Red List of Habitats to set favourable reference values for volume of deadwood, proportion of old-growth forest cover and proportion of deciduous trees. Through forest growth simulations and management optimization, we found that the proportion of old-growth forest is the most challenging criteria to be reached only by 2100. This would require not only a larger use of extensive forest management practices than hitherto but also to drastically reduce the maximum economic sustainable harvest level from the current 96% to 60%. By combining threat assessments with ecosystem modelling and management planning, this approach can support regional decision makers to make informed decisions to stay within safe limits of use of natural resources.

ecology↗