In the nineties of the past century, large climax Norway spruce (Picea abies) areas of the Šumava Mountains were damaged by the bark beetle outbreak. The subsequent decay of spruce growths become the object of interest for management practice, nature protection as well as research activities. While the changes in forest growths under the bark beetle outbreak were well visible, there were no information about the impact of these processes and subsequent management practices used (clear cutting, spontaneous development of dead growths) on soil environments and existing communities of soil organisms. Within the soil zoological research in 1999-2010 near the localities Březník and Studená hora Mt., qualitative and quantitative parameters of millipede and centipede assemblages were studied in undamaged, damaged and dead forest stands, and in differently old clearings. Combination of methods of pitfall trapping and soil sampling served data about the composition and changes of communities of both invertebrate groups.
The results showed, that the climax spruce forests in the Šumava Mountains are characterised by relatively poor communities of both myriapod groups, with specific species composition Haasea germanica - H. flavescens - Mycogona germanica predominating in millipedes, and Lithobius pelidnus - L. piceus - L. punctulatus - Strigamia acuminata predominating in centipedes. Undamaged, damaged forests as well as clearings showed a high variability of values of densities and epigeic activity (data from pitfall trapping) in both groups of studied invertebrate animals. The obtained data demonstrated decrease of millipede densities as well as decrease of their epigeic activity during the time of observation. The populations of centipedes showed to be more stable. The results support the opinion, that after a longer time, spontaneous succession of dead forest growths as well as clear cutting of damaged trees is not connected with dramatic changes in millipede and centipede populations. Possible impact of climatic changes especially on millipedes is discussed. Mosaic character of dieback forests with accumulation of decaying wood, diverse clear cuts and fragments of former spruce growths serve suitable conditions for further development of these soil invertebrates.
This paper was prepared in connection with the seminar "Forester of the 21st century", which took place in Stachy on February 26th, 2015.
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