Influence of deadwood, tree-related microhabitats, and forest structural features on saproxylic arthropod diversity - Shuvo M.J. et al. 2026 - Ecology and Evolution

This dataset and accompanying R scripts support the study “Influence of deadwood, tree-related microhabitats, and forest structural features on saproxylic arthropod diversity,” submitted to Ecology and Evolution (2025). The study examines how forest structure, deadwood availability, tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), and forest management intensity are associated with saproxylic arthropod richness in the Black Forest, Germany. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, arthropod communities were assessed across 135 forest plots differing in structural complexity and retention levels. The analytical workflow includes descriptive summaries, correlation analyses, rarefaction-based richness comparisons, and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The results show that canopy closure was the most consistent predictor of arthropod richness, while tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), lying deadwood volume, snag volume, and forest management intensity showed additional taxon-specific associations. Specific TreM types, including cavities, epiphytic bryophytes, and insect galleries, were also associated with richness patterns across several arthropod groups. The repository includes the processed data files and analysis scripts used to generate the main results, tables, and figures, supporting reproducibility and transparency.