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microhabitats in trees

These are the characteristics that allow the occurrence of a large number of organisms in the trees.

They include cavities in the trunk, dead branches or roots, loss of bark, signs of animal activity, nests, fungi, deformations, among others.

With age, there is also an increase in areas with high complexity that thus provide habitat and food for many living beings.

 

High trees, both in height and in diameter, are also usually older than others of smaller dimensions and therefore also have a greater number of microhabitats.

Cavities and
HOLES
Important for allowing
the existence of areas with
temperature and humidity
stable, protected from
atmosphere conditions.
Perfect for nesting
birds and other vertebrates,
besides allowing the development
of invertebrates that need several years to develop.
dry branches
They offer living conditions to living beings who are used to
to environmental conditions
more extreme.
Because they are normally
in the most exposed areas
of trees, also suffer greater variations in temperature and humidity.
WOUNDS OR
LOOSE SHELL
Any deformation in the part
outside of the tree can serve
as a temporary shelter for
so many animals.
 
It is often here that the resin or sap drips from the trees, providing food for living beings.
Trunk deformations
They are usually created in response to increases in light or as a defense against microorganisms or parasites.
It is thus a form of defense of the tree.
These zones allow an increase in zones for the protection of many living beings.
NESTS
Important for many vertebrates and invertebrates.
 
They allow the development of offspring in addition to being food and breeding areas for other secondary species.
MUSHROOMS
They are the visible part of fungi that break down wood.
They are food or habitat for many species of living things.
Important in the final stage of life of the trees, having the function of returning the nutrients that are in the trunk back to the soil.
The microhabitats identified above are just examples of what can lead to the characterization of a tree of high ecological interest.
Find out more about the microhabitats found and the species that may be dependent on them.
Download the mobile application or the microhabitats catalog (both available in Portuguese).

IMAGES ADAPTED FROM:

Kraus, D., Bütler, R., Krumm, F., Lachat, T., Larrieu, L., Mergner, U., Paillet, Y., Rydkvist, T., Schuck, A., and Winter, S. , 2016. Catalog of tree microhabitats - Reference field list. Integrate + Technical Paper. 16p.

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