Distribution of biodiversity in managed landscapes – can remotely sensed data be used to find biodiversity hot-spots?

Management of boreal forests for timber production has caused changes in forest structures and disturbance regimes, which have influenced distribution patterns and abundance for a wide range of organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate how bird and beetle species composition is influenced by stand age and management history in a heavily managed boreal forest landscape and whether it is possible to find biodiversity hot spots in these landscapes using remotely sensed data. Taxa included was flying and epigaeic beetles, and birds. We first compared the assemblages among stands of three ages: 1) young (8-25 years) and 2) middle-aged (40-58 years) stands regrown after clear-cutting, and …