ConFoBi

Conservation of forest biodiversity in multiple-use landscapes of central Europe

The DFG Research Training Group ConFoBi combines multi-scale ecological studies on forest biodiversity with social and economic studies on biodiversity conservation. This integrative approach ensures an intensive exchange of knowledge between research and forestry as well as nature conservation practice.

Objectives and methodology

ConFoBi focuses on the question of how the effectiveness of structure-preserving measures (protection of habitat trees, enrichment of deadwood) for biodiversity in multifunctional forests in Central Europe depends on the surrounding landscape. In addition, ConFoBi evaluates how nature conservation can be effectively integrated into other forest uses in an implementation-oriented approach in close cooperation with the forestry and nature conservation sector. The Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology is responsible for Project B3 “Plant-insect interactions”.

Project phases

1st phase: Diversity and functions of plant-insect interactions along a gradient of retention forestry

In the first phase, we investigated how the diversity of hymenoptera correlates with the quality, heterogeneity, and spatial distribution of habitat trees and deadwood in the forest. This local structural data was linked to information on forest cover at the landscape level. It is known from agricultural landscapes that the effectiveness of measures to protect biodiversity depends on the surrounding landscape, and we tested whether this also applies to the forest ecosystem under investigation.

2nd phase: Diversity, functions, and trophic interactions of arthropods

3rd phase: Analysis of inter- and intraspecific trait responses to retention forestry at the stand and landscape levels

In addition, we investigate interactions of insects and birds with plants. Birds play an important role as seed dispersers, while herbivorous insects can influence plant fitness. These relationships are shaped by habitat elements of ecosystems and the surrounding landscape. We therefore investigate the relationships between certain forest structures, such as the presence of deadwood, and gall-inducing insects, as well as berry consumption by birds.

Publications

1st phase

Knuff, A., Staab, M., Frey, J., Dorman, C.F., Asbeck, T. & Klein, A.M. (2020): Insect abundance in managed forests benefits from multi-layered vegetation. Basic and Applied Ecology 48: 124–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2020.09.002
Knuff, A., Winiger, N., Klein, A.M., Segelbacher, G. & Staab, M. (2019): Optimising sampling of flying insects using a modified window trap. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 10: 1820–1825. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13258
Knuff, A., Staab, M., Frey, J., Helbach, J. & Klein, A.M. (2019): Plant composition, not richness, drives occurrence of specialist herbivores. Ecological Entomology 44: 833–843.

2nd phase

Rappa, N.J., Staab, M., Ruppert, L.S., Frey, J., Mello, M.A.R. & Klein, A.M. (2024): Forest structure and heterogeneity increase diversity and alter composition of host-parasitoid networks. Ecological Entomology 49: 257–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13301
Burrascano, S., Chianucci, F., Trentanovi, G., Kepfer-Rojas, S., […] Rappa, N.J., […] & Ódor, P. (2023): Where are we now with European forest multi-taxon biodiversity and where can we head to? Biological Conservation 284: 110176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110176
Ruppert, L.S., Staab, M., Klingenfuß, S. Rappa, N.J., Frey, J. & Segelbacher, G. (2023): Leaf litter arthropods show little response to structural retention in a Central European forest. Biodiversity and Conservation 32: 3973–3990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02677-w
Rappa, N.J., Staab, M., Rupert, L.S., Frey, J., Bauhus, J. & Kein, A.M (2023): Structural elements enhanced by retention forestry promote forest and non-forest specialist bees and wasps. Forest Ecology and Management 529: 120709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120709
Rappa, N.J., Staab, M., Frey, J., Winiger, N. & Klein, A.M. (2022): Multiple forest structural elements are needed to promote beetle biomass, diversity and abundance. Forest Ecosystems 9: 100056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2022.100056

3rd phase

Fardiansah, R., Rehling, F., Rappa, N., Dormann, C.F. & Klein, A.M. (2025): Host identity, nest quality, and parasitism strategy: influences on body size variation in parasitoid bees and wasps. Oikos: e011052. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.11052

Contact person

Prof. Dr. Alexandra-Maria Klein

Lead project B3

alexandra.klein@nature.uni-freiburg.de
+49 (0) 761 203-67770

Project data

Spokesperson	Prof. Dr. Ilse Storch (Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg)
Project staff at the Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology	Prof. Dr. Alexandra-Maria Klein Prof. Dr. Michael Staab (1st and 2nd phase) Dr. Anna Knuff (1st phase) Dr. Nolan James Rappa (2nd phase) Riko Fardiansah (3rd phase)
Duration	1st phase: 07/2016 – 06/2019 2nd phase: 07/2019 – 06/2022 3rd phase: 07/2022 – 06/2025
Funding	German Research Foundation (DFG), GRK 2123
Project partners	FVA – Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt BW ForstBW Ministerium für Ernährung, Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz
Website	https://confobi.uni-freiburg.de

ConFoBi receives funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the DFG.