Updating OakEcol: A database of Oak-associated biodiversity within the UK, with data on Sita spruce associated biodiversity within the UK (Sitka spruce Ecol)

Abstract

This paper presents an update to a previously published dataset known as “OakEcol” which listed the species associated with native oak trees ( Quercus petraea/robur ) in the UK and if these species are also hosted by 30 other tree species. This new dataset “Sitka spruce Ecol” collates information on the species (birds, bryophytes, fungi, invertebrates, lichens and mammals) that are known to use Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis in the UK. In the UK Sitka spruce is the most commonly planted commercial tree species. The Sitka spruce Ecol database provides the first collated list of species hosted by Sitka spruce across the UK and provides the information necessary to assess if diversification of Sitka spruce plantations with other tree species will provide resilience for the Sitka spruce associated biodiversity in the event of Sitka spruce declining in abundance due to climate change or a pest or pathogen. In total 564 species are listed in Sitka spruce Ecol. For each species we provide a level of association with Sitka spruce, ranging from only found on Sitka spruce (obligate) to found on a wide range of other tree species (cosmopolitan). Information on the part of the tree used, and use made of tree (feeding, roosting, breeding) was collated for each Sitka spruce associated species. We assess if the 564 species found on Sitka spruce are also hosted by any of 34 other tree species that could be planted in mixes with Sitka spruce. Many of these 34 tree species were also assessed as alternative hosts for the oak associated biodiversity in OakEcol. The methods used to collate the data in Sitka spruce Ecol were as similar as possible to those used in OakEcol making it possible to combine the datasets for additional analysis showing the biodiversity supported when other tree species are planted with Sitka spruce.