Conservation of saproxylic beetles in a wooded pasture in northern Scania

The area of wooded pasture in Europe has decreased drastically over the last centuries due to abandoned management. Herrevadskloster is a newly formed nature reserve in northern Scania with an unusually long continuity of being an open, grazed woodland containing large old trees. In this study, the reserve was studied to evaluate its potential to further the conservation of the redlisted saproxylic beetles; hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita) and stag beetle (Lucanus cervus). Exhaustive surveys were carried out for both species to determine if they are still present within the reserve. Tree hollows were also surveyed within the reserve and its connectivity with other potential habitats for the two species was analyzed. In addition, a literature study was performed to analyze potential conservation efforts for the two species. Neither hermit beetles, nor stag beetles, were found during the surveys indicating that they are no longer present. Eight hollows that could potentially be used by hermit beetles were found in the reserve. The connectivity analysis showed that even though there are several areas which could potentially be used by stag beetles in the area surrounding Herrevadskloster, these are not within dispersal distance of stag beetles. For hermit beetle, the potentially usable areas were fewer, smaller and out of reach of dispersing individuals. In spite of its isolation, the reserve could likely support a local population of stag beetles if a reintroduction were to be carried out.