Sun exposure as a key factor influencing saproxylic beetle communities

The ability to locate and colonize ephemeral deadwood resources is crucial to saproxylic beetle assemblages. Saproxylic beetles locate suitable substrates mainly through visual cues and via olfactory cues emitted by deadwood, other insects and, wood-decaying fungi. For the conservation of saproxylic beetles, it is essential to understand which abiotic factors and biotic interactions most significantly influence their habitat requirements when locating suitable substrates. In a field experiment, in sunny and shaded plots, we exposed 400 bundles of freshly cut deadwood, each consisting of three logs with a combination of different tree species and treatments (i.e., fungi inoculation), mimicking biotic interactions. We sampled arriving saproxylic beetles via sticky traps directly applied on the deadwood substrate to evaluate the effect of sun exposure and the biotic interactions on colonizing saproxylic beetles. We found higher species numbers and an abundance of saproxylic beetles under s..., , , # **Sun exposure as a key factor influencing saproxylic beetle communities**

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zcrjdfnpj](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zcrjdfnpj)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset provides the data and codes to explore the attraction of saproxylic beetles to freshly cut logs exposed to abiotic conditions (sun exposure levels) and biotic conditions (fungi inoculations of the logs). Ten sites in Central Europe were selected, spread across different forest structures and altitudes from 300 to 1000 m.a.s.l.

In each site, we establish a plot in the forest, looking for as many shading conditions as possible, and one plot at the margins of the forest, exposed to sunlight. This setup allowed us to test for the effect of sun exposure on the diversity and composition of saproxylic beetle assemblages. In each plot, 20 bundles (3 logs) were hung on a pole with a different combination of tree species (Oak, Beech, Spruce, Pine) and treatments (Brown-rot inoc...