Aspects of the repartition of the saproxylic beetles in forests (French Alps)

Abstract

This study of the saproxylic beetles and the dead wood in 4 alpine forests shows that the saproxylic communities are individualized according to the geographical area. The type of dead wood is a key parameter of this distribution. Softwood gathers mostly xylophagous species while hardwood is occupied by mycophagous and zoophagous taxa. Our data underline the theoretical relationship between quantity of habitat and biological diversity because the number of woody fragments is explaining the taxonomical diversity better than the total volume does.