ABSTRACT:Abstract(#br)Abandonment o

ABSTRACT:Abstract(#br)Abandonment of forest management is considered beneficial to a wide range of taxa, but evidence is lacking for many species, particularly soil-inhabiting taxa. We investigated the effects of forest management on crane fly (Tipuloidea) community structure and composition in seven forest sites in eastern Denmark. Crane flies were collected along with edaphic and structural variables in managed and unmanaged stands using a pairwise experimental design. Species richness of crane flies was significantly higher in unmanaged stands, also when excluding saproxylic species. Moisture, nitrogen and pH of soil had strong positive effects on species richness, and the observed differences between management regimes were mainly explained by soil moisture. Similarly, abundance was significantly higher in unmanaged stands and was positively associated with moisture and pH of soil. Species composition differed significantly between managed and unmanaged stands in four of the seven sites. Management had a small but significant effect on species composition on a large geographical scale, while the geographic location of the site had larger effects. Based on our findings, we recommend that future designations of unmanaged forest sites consider edaphic conditions as well as the geographic location. Further, forest conservation management should be focused on restoring natural moisture levels.