Comment. A comment on Humphrey's 'Benefits to biodiversity from developing old-growth conditions in British upland spruce plantations: a review and recommendations' with reference to red squirrel conservation.

摘要

Lurz comments on the work of Humphrey [See Benefits to biodiversity from developing old-growth conditions in British upland spruce plantations: a review and recommendations. (2005) 78, 33-54] regarding the complexity of old-growth conifer stands (dominated by Picea sitchensis) and its beneficial effects to red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Lurz states that although retained stands of old-growth conifers are important to the red squirrel population since they provide food, old-growth stands are not a necessity for red squirrel conservation. In reply to this comment, Humphrey states that mature trees would be beneficial to red squirrels, and that the strategies for the conservation of red squirrels in conifer plantations should combine the long-term retention of mature and old-growth stands with effective planning of the forest mosaic to ensure temporal and spatial continuity of seed-producing stands within the landscape..