Insect biodiversity and dead wood: proceedings of a symposium for the 22<sup>nd</sup> International Congress of Entomology

This paper outlines the usefulness of using fossil insects, particularly Coleoptera (beetles), preserved in waterlogged palaeoenvironmental and archaeological deposits in understanding the changing nature of forest ecosystems and
\ntheir associated insect population dynamics over the last 10,000 years. Research in Europe has highlighted the complex
\nnature of early forest ecosystems, in particular the role of dead wood and grazing animals. This research suggests that the
\nnorth European primary forest has similarities to pasture woodlands, rather than the forest manager’s perception of closed
\ncanopy systems. Human activity has had a major impact on forest ecosystems, resulting in an expansion of plants and
\nanimals associated with cleared landscapes and pasture and also the local extirpation of a sizeable proportion of taxa from
\nthe forests of northern Europe. The decline in these species has been seen as resulting from habitat loss due to human
\nimpact on the forest, which intensified from about 2500 years ago onwards, coupled with subtle climate change effects. These
\nextirpations will be discussed, with particular reference to the management of forest ecosystems for the benefit of their
\ninvertebrates (particularly those associated with dead wood), and emphasising how the record from archaeological and
\npalaeoecological sites has significant relevance to modern woodland management and conservation. Moreover, the role of
\ndisturbances in maintaining the structure and biodiversity of the “wildwood” will be emphasied.