Silva Gabreta vol. 13 (2) p. 121–148 Vimperk, 2007 Forest edges in the mixed-montane zone of the Bavarian Forest National Park – hot spots of biodiversity Jörg Müller1,*, Heinz Bußler2, Martin Goßner3, Axel Gruppe4, Andrea Jarzabek- Müller1, Manuel Preis1 & Thomas Rettelbach5 1Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Strasse 2, D-94481 Grafenau, Germany 2Bayerische Landesanstalt für Wald und Forstwirtschaft, Am Hochanger 13, D-85354 Freising, Germany 3Schussenstrasse 12, D-88273 Fronreute, Germany 4Department of Animal Ecology, Technical University Munich, Am Hochanger 13, D-85354 Freising, Germany 5Fritzenanger 9, D-83362 Surberg, Germany *
[email protected] Abstract Using 60 flight interception traps we investigated twelve different forest edges in the National Park Bava- rian Forest. Half of the forest edges studied were created by bark beetle attacks (interior edges), the others result from clearance for farming by humans. At each forest edge, five traps were installed as follows: one trap was placed in the open area 50–80 m distant from the forest edge, two traps at the edge (one at ground level, one in the canopy), and two traps in the forest interior 70–100 m away from the edge (one at ground level, one in the canopy). We caught and determined 10,966 specimens representing 421 insect species: 240 beetles, 96 true bugs, 65 Aculeata, and 20 lacewings. The highest number of species was found in the open spaces and at the edges. Bark beetle gaps are shown as hot spots of insect biodiversity. Key words: interior forest edge, exterior forest edge, biodiversity, flight interception traps, bark beetles.