Changes in Abundance Degree of Biological Key Elements in Woodland Key Habitats of Kaunas Region

Abstract

This paper focuses on one of the most important issues on environmental protection - biodiversity protection in woodland key habitats. Experimental data were collected from 184 Kaunas region woodland key habitats in the years of 2008 and 2009. 922 biological key elements (BKEs) were evaluated. High hump around tree, hollow tree, fall tree, and stubs were considered as BKEs. Experimental data were compared to the data of a project "Inventory of woodland key habitats in Lithuania". It was established that the abundance degree of BKEs was unchanged in 59 % of cases, significantly increased - in 41%, reduced - in <1 %. The "qualitative" BKEs, showing suitability of the territory, almost unchanged only "signs of beaver activity" were newly recorded in 7 woodland key habitats (WKHs).