Dr. Beat Wermelinger

Function

Visiting scientist

Forest health and biotic interactions

Forest Entomology

Contact

beat.wermelinger(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi HL D 32

Education

1976-1980	Studies in biology at ETH, Zurich.
1981-1985	Ph.D. thesis at the Institute of Plant Production, ETH Zurich
1985-1986	Post-doc at the University of California, Berkeley
1987-1991	Research assistant with the Institute of Plant Sciences, ETH Zurich
1991-2018	Head of the 'Forest Entomology' group at the Swiss Federal Institute WSL
2018-2022	Senior Scientist WSL
2022-	retired, visiting scientist WSL

Interests

Development and succession of insect communities after windthrow and wildfire
Population dynamics of potential pests and their natural enemies
Biodiversity of saproxylic (=wood inhabiting) insects
Insect photography

My latest highlight

The book "Forest insects – diversity, functions, and importance" (2021) is the result of more than 20 years teaching in forest entomology and my even longer existing hobby of taking photos of insects. It is both a text and photo book covering the manifold significances of forest insects for forests and humans. The German version was awarded the "Prix Moulines" of the Swiss Entomological Society in 2019.

More information (in German)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

MULTIBEF: Effects of multiple-stressors on B-EF relationships at multiple scales

With the MULTIBEF project, we aim at taking a holistic view to the study of B-EF relationships, and to investigate climate-change effects on complex B-EF relationships. To this end, we will take advantage of particular freshwater ecosystems tightly linked to forests: water-filled tree holes!

AMORE II: Species Monitoring of Beetles and Fungi in Spruce and Fir-Spruce Natural Forest Reserves

In this project, a species inventory of xylobiont beetles and fungi in spruce and fir-spruce natural forest reserves is carried out in comparison to managed stands. The monitoring has the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of forest reserves.

Promotion of forest insect diversity

Recommendations to preserve and promote the biodiversity of forest insects are derived from findings of various WSL projects and international research.

Nightscapes 2019

Wir untersuchen die relativen Auswirkungen verschiedener spektraler LED-Strassenleuchten und bedarfsorientierter Beleuchtungssysteme auf acht Insekten- und Fledermaus-Artengruppen.

FORClimateS

The project aims to aggregate and synthesize existing information on different spatial and temporal scales to provide decision-makers with relevant and robust information on short- and long-term risks for forests and forest functions and on adaptation strategies under different climate futures

Insect biomass development

We investigate the development of insect abundance trends in Switzerland during the last 30 years.

Saproxylic beetles in forest reserves

Deadwood is an essential habitat for many organisms. We investigate the saproxylic (deadwood-inhabiting) beetles and fungi in beech forest reserves and comparable managed forests.

Impact of fuel wood piles on saproxylic beetles

In Switzerland, a strong increase in the demand for energy wood is expected for the next decades. This is likely to have a strong influence on saproxylic beetles (dependent on dead wood). On the one hand, fewer old trees and less deadwood will remain and decompose in the forest, which directly limits habitat availability for saproxylics. On the other hand, fuel wood exploitation might have indirect ecological consequences.

Wild fire and insects

In 2003 some 300 ha of forest on the hillside above Leuk burnt down. Along a horizontal gradient from within-forest to the center of the fire area and along an altitudinal gradient from 1200 to 1700 m a.s.l. we investigate the process of colonization by insects and the succession of the taxonomic and functional groups.

Distribution of red wood ants

We investigate the requirements and distribution of red wood ants in Switzerland. On each plot of the Swiss National Forest Inventory presence/absence and size of the nest mounds are recorded.

Dynamics of dead wood and saproxylic insects

Dead wood is a vital prerequisite for a quarter of all organisms living in a forest. The future intensification of forest management will pose a threat to many wood inhabiting (saproxylic) insect species. In forest reserves the formation and decay process of dead wood is quantified and the importance of micro-habitats for saproxylic beetles is investigated.

Windthrow fauna

After the devestating windstorms in 1990 (Vivian) and 1999 (Lothar) investigations were started to monitor the development and succession of the insect fauna on cleared and uncleared windthrow areas, relative to control treatments in the intact forest. Until now, insects have been sampled during 7 (Vivian) and 4 (Lothar) years.

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Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Ruel, J.; Wermelinger, B.; Gauthier, S.; Burton, P.J.; Waldron, K.; Shorohova, E., 2023: Selected examples of interactions between natural disturbances. In: Montoro Girona, M.; Morin, H.; Gauthier, S.; Bergeron, Y. (eds), 2023: Boreal forests in the face of climate change. Sustainable management. Cham, Springer. 123-141. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-15988-6_4

Viljur, M.; Abella, S.R.; Adámek, M.; Alencar, J.B.R.; Barber, N.A.; Beudert, B.; Burkle, L.A.; Cagnolo, L.; Campos, B.R.; Chao, A.; Moretti, M.; Obrist, M.K.; Wermelinger, B.; Thorn, S., 2022: The effect of natural disturbances on forest biodiversity: an ecological synthesis. Biological Reviews, 97, 5: 1930-1947. doi: 10.1111/brv.12876

Bose, A.K.; Rigling, A.; Gessler, A.; Hagedorn, F.; Brunner, I.; Feichtinger, L.; Bigler, C.; Egli, S.; Etzold, S.; Gossner, M.M.; Guidi, C.; Lévesque, M.; Meusburger, K.; Peter, M.; Saurer, M.; Scherrer, D.; Schleppi, P.; Schönbeck, L.; Vogel, M.E.; ... Schaub, M., 2022: Lessons learned from a long‐term irrigation experiment in a dry Scots pine forest: impacts on traits and functioning. Ecological Monographs, 92, 2: e1507 (18 pp.). doi: 10.1002/ecm.1507

Bolliger, J.; Haller, J.; Wermelinger, B.; Blum, S.; Obrist, M.K., 2022: Contrasting impacts of street light shapes and LED color temperatures on nocturnal insects and bats. Basic and Applied Ecology, 64: 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.07.002

Wermelinger, B.; Rigling, A.; Schneider Mathis, D.; Kenis, M.; Gossner, M.M., 2021: Climate change effects on trophic interactions of bark beetles in inner alpine scots pine forests. Forests, 12, 2: 1-16. doi: 10.3390/f12020136

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Further scientific publications

Wermelinger, B.; Jakoby, O., 2022: Bark beetles. In: Wohlgemuth, T.; Jentsch, A.; Seidl, R. (eds), 2022: Disturbance ecology. Cham, Springer. 271-293. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-98756-5_12

Wermelinger, B., 2021: Insekten im Wald. Vielfalt, Funktionen und Bedeutung. 368 p.

Wermelinger, B.; Gossner, M., 2021: Förderung der Insektenbiodiversität im Schweizer Wald. Eine Synthese nationaler und internationaler Forschung. 45 p.

Forest insects in Europe. Diversity, functions and importance

Forest insects play important roles ecologically and economically. They pollinate plants, decompose dead plant and animal tissue, provide food for vertebrates, regulate pest organisms and shape entire landscapes. Some are considered pests, while others provide usable products. Introduced species may become invasive, while the survival of others is threatened.

Forest Insects in Europe: Diversity, Functions and Importance has been written not only with professional entomologists in mind, but also for nature lovers generally. The descriptions of the various roles insects play in forest ecosystems are intended to be easily comprehensible, but still scientific. The book is richly illustrated with attractive photos and contains 580 fascinating colour images of more than 300 different insect and spider species. The German edition was awarded the Prix Moulines by the Swiss Entomological Society in 2019.

Link

Duelli, P.; Wermelinger, B.; Moretti, M.; Obrist, M.K., 2019: The impact of windthrow and forest fire on Neuropterida and Mecoptera. In: Weihrauch, F.; Frank, O.; Gruppe, A.; Jepson, J.E.; Kirschey, L.; Ohl, M. (eds), 2019: Proceedings of the XIII international symposium on neuropterology. XIII international symposium on neuropterology, Laufen, Germany. 163-172.

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Magazine article and brochures

Bolliger, J.; Hennet, T.; Wermelinger, B.; Bösch, R.; Pazur, R.; Blum, S.; Haller, J.; Obrist, M.K., 2022: Traffic-regulated street lights to reduce impacts of light pollution: good news for nocturnal insects and bats?. TransportEcology.info, (5 pp.).

The oak processionary moth. Background knowledge and recommended action

The oak processionary moth is a moth native to Europe that develops mainly on oak trees. It attracts particular attention because the urticating (stinging) hairs of its caterpillars can cause allergic reactions in humans and animals.

WSL: fact sheet 71

2022

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Der Eichenprozessionsspinner. Hintergrundwissen und Handlungsempfehlungen

Der Eichenprozessionsspinner ist ein in Europa heimischer Schmetterling. Seine in geselligen Verbänden lebenden Raupen können zur völligen Entlaubung der befallenen Bäume führen. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird dem Eichenprozessionsspinner zuteil, weil die Brennhaare seiner Raupen allergische Reaktionen auslösen können.

Merkblatt für die Praxis 71

2022

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La processionnaire du chêne. Connaissances de base et recommandations pratiques

La processionnaire du chêne est un papillon européen. Ses chenilles sociables vivent en groupes et peuvent causer des défoliations totales des arbres infestés. La processionnaire du chêne retient particulièrement l’attention, car les poils urticants de la chenille sont capables de provoquer des réactions allergiques.

Notice pour le praticien 71

2022

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Wermelinger, B., 2022: Ökologische Bedeutung von Borkenkäfern. Bündnerwald, 75, 3: 48-51.

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