An inventory of saproxylic, epixylic and future tree micro habitats (TMH) was done in two unmanaged forests (Kobile forest reserve and old-growth forest Ravna gora, together with windthrow areas) and one managed beech forest in SE Slovenia. The research was carried out in September, October and November of 2014. Plots (500 m2) were placed systematically in all areas for sampling TMHs. We inventoried 849 trees on 54 plots and 7514 TMH. The purpose was to determine the influence of forest management, natural disturbances, and tree characteristics on TMHs. Data were analyzed in Excel and SPSS with non % parametric tests. Forest management had no significant influence on abundance of saproxylic and epixylic TMHs, but it did influence potential TMHs, which were more abundant in managed forest. There were also differences regarding to type of TMH: There were much more woodpecker cavities, insect galleries, bore holes, branch holes, dead branches and limbs, fruiting bodies of fungi, and bulges in unmanaged forest. Whereas in managed forests, there were more exposed heartwood, coarse bark, epiphytic plants, small branches with heartwood, fork stems and small cracks on bark surface. The results also indicate that disturbance and tree diameter, vitality, and species influence the density, diversity, and occurrence of TMHs. There were more TMHs/tree and a higher diversity of TMHs in the windthrow area in Kobile and less in the windthrow area in Ravna gora. The results suggest that saproxylic and epixylic TMHs are mainly dependent of larger diameter and dead trees.
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