Exploring feeding strategies of saproxylic beetles using diet tracing methods. Do primary consumers of deadwood exist among beetles?

Project name in Czech
Exploring feeding strategies of saproxylic beetles using diet tracing methods. Do primary consumers of deadwood exist among beetles?
Annotation in Czech
In temperate and boreal woodlands, saproxylic beetles are among the most important taxonomic and functional groups of insects taking a significant part in the wood decomposition process. Yet, the trophic ecology of saproxylic beetles has been seldom investigated and a recent research based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, commonly used trophic biomarkers, revealed that isotopic niches of different feeding guilds of saproxylic beetles largely overlapped. This suggests that saproxylic species may depend considerably on fungi or that mixed trophic strategies may be more common in the decomposition food webs than currently acknowledged. Using a combination of controlled experiments, extensive field sampling, and different diet tracing methods, we will investigate key research gaps in the trophic ecology of saproxylic beetles in order to shed light on the links between various deadwood substrates which may serve as food resources and saproxylic beetles as their consumers.

R&D category
ZV - Basic research
OECD FORD - main branch
10618 - Ecology
OECD FORD - secondary branch
10616 - Entomology
OECD FORD - another secondary branch
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CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)
EG - Zoology<br>EH - Ecology - communities

Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data delivery code
CEP26-GA0-GA-R
Data delivery date
Apr 30, 2026

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