scholarly journals Landscape Diversity for Reduced Risk of Insect Damage: A Case Study of Spruce Bud Scale in Latvia

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Endijs Bāders ◽  
Āris Jansons ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Didzis Elferts ◽  
Iveta Desaine

Spruce bud scale (Physokermes piceae (Schrnk.)) has gained attention due to recent outbreaks in the eastern Baltic Sea region—Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. In the spring of 2010, it spread rapidly across Latvia, affecting large areas of Norway spruce stands. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the effects of landscape heterogeneity on the damage caused by spruce bud scale in Norway spruce stands. In this study, we evaluated landscape metrics for middle-aged (40 to 70 years old) Norway spruce-dominated stands (>70% of stand’s basal area) in four of the most affected forest massifs and two unaffected forest massifs. We used a binary logistic generalized linear mixed effects model (GLMMs) to assess the effect of environmental factors on the abundance of the spruce bud scale. Our results show that increased local diversity within 100 m of a forest patch apparently reduced the probability of spruce bud scale presence. We also found that the diversity within 1000 m of a patch was associated with an increased probability of spruce bud scale damage. A quantitative analysis of landscape metrics in our study indicated that greater landscape-scale diversity of stands may reduce insect damages.

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-102
Author(s):  
Eva Dařenová ◽  
Tomáš Fabiánek ◽  
Marian Pavelka

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Ķēniņa ◽  
Didzis Elferts ◽  
Endijs Bāders ◽  
Āris Jansons

Old unmanaged forests are commonly assumed to be carbon neutral; however, there is still a lack of reference studies available to increase the recognition of carbon stock changes in these forests. Studies of old forest carbon storage from hemiboreal regions are very rare compared to temperate and boreal forests in Europe; therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the carbon stock in hemiboreal over-mature (167–213 years) Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands. To explore the total ecosystem carbon pool, the carbon stock of tree biomass, deadwood, and soil in unmanaged (for at least the last 40 years) spruce stands was calculated and compared between different forest site types on dry, wet, and drained mineral soils. Total carbon stock of hemiboreal over-mature spruce stands ranged from 164.8 Mg C ha−1 to 386.7 Mg C ha−1, and 238.5 Mg C ha−1 on average, with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the forest site types. The carbon stock of tree biomass was significantly affected by the basal area of the upper tree layer (p < 0.0001) and the interaction between the forest site type and proportion of spruce in the stand composition (p = 0.002). Tree biomass was the dominant carbon pool, followed by soil and deadwood in over-mature spruce stands.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 1767-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuula Jaakkola ◽  
Harri Mäkinen ◽  
Pekka Saranpää

The effect of thinning intensity on growth and wood density in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was investigated in two long-term thinning experiments in southeastern Finland. The stands were approaching maturity, and their development had already been studied for 30 years. The intensities of thinning were low, normal, and high (i.e., the stand basal area after the thinning was, on average, 40, 27, and 24 m2·ha–1, respectively, in Heinola, and 30, 28, and 17 m2·ha–1 in Punkaharju, respectively). Compared with the low thinning intensity, the normal and high thinning intensities increased the basal-area increment of individual trees by 52% and 68%, respectively. Normal and high thinning intensities resulted in a relatively small reduction (1%–4%) of mean ring density compared with low thinning intensity. The random variation in wood density between and within trees was large. About 27% of the total variation in wood density was related to variation between rings. Our results indicate that the prevailing thinning intensities in Norway spruce stands in Fennoscandia cause no marked changes in wood density. At least, the possible reduction in wood density is low compared with the increase in individual tree growth.


1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Jokela ◽  
Russell D. Briggs ◽  
Edwin H. White

Abstract Total and merchantable stem volume prediction equations (English and metric) were developed using data from 228 trees sampled in 38 unthinned Norway spruce stands varying in age from 45 to 55 years on the Allegheny Plateau in central New York. The equations were used to estimate stand volumes for the 38 sample plantations. The results demonstrate the potential of Norway spruce as a fiber source, having growth rates equal to or exceeding those of native northern conifer species. Average total height of dominant and codominant stems, basal area, quadratic mean diameters, and total and merchantable standing volume for the sample stands ranged from 58-93 ft, 150-239 ft2/ac, 6.5-10.6 in, 5431-8833 ft3/ac, and 4431-8218 ft3;/ac, respectively. The most productive stands were generally found on well-drained to moderately well-drained soils, although Norway spruce grew well over a broad range of soil drainage conditions. North. J. Appl. For. 3:7-10, Mar. 1986.


Beskydy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-108
Author(s):  
M. Bátor ◽  
L. Danková

The water-supply storages are important resources of drinking water in some regions of Slovakia, especially in surrounding of Banská Bystrica. Málinec is one of the three storages in this region. In protected zone of this storage are planted Norway spruce (hereinafter „spruce“) stands monocultures because of ensuring required water quality in storage. There are 24 years old spruce stands without admixture of deciduous trees in the upper layer. Understory is formed by blackthorn (PRP 1). On this locality was carried out geometric (schematic) thinning what is not recommended in protected zones because of worse influencing of soil permeability, humus decomposition and open forest edge creating. There was identified one older permanent research plot (PRP) and established one new PRP where was performed own measurements. Into the PRPs there are transekts and remaining area. Acreage of PRP is 0,234 and 0,315 ha. On the whole area were measured tree diameter and assessed tree classes (5 degrees–Polanský 1955). Moreover, on transekts were measured tree and also crown height. Based of measured variables were calculated stand characteristics like slenderness ratio, crown ratio, growing stock and basal area. If it is possible, these were compared with older results. The aim of this work is evaluation of spruce stands structure and their stability after schematic thinning. This kind of silvicultural treatment is absolutely unfit in stands with specific (water-protested) function (Slodičák et al. 2010). These stands are from the perspective of static stability too unfit–basal area and abundance of trees is nearly as in yield tables (Kolektív 1992) but growing stock is much higher and a lot of trees is too slim. The slenderness ratio is from 75 to 90 %. But the crown lenght is quite good with crown ratio 52–64 %. In these ages of stands are crowns reduced too much. Suitable individual thinning has been in these stands neglected (growing stock is higher than normal). There is assumed reduced stand lifetime after schematic thinning. Current stand structure is due to the young age inappropriate.


2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Novák ◽  
M. Slodičák

The effect of thinning on the structure and accumulation of litterfall and holorganic horizons (L, F, H) in young Norway spruce stands was investigated. The research was conducted on a Norway spruce thinning experiment Polom (established in 1980) in the Orlick&eacute; hory Mts. (north-eastern part of the Czech Republic). In 1992, the monitoring of litterfall started on an unthinned control stand (plot 1) and on a comparative stand with very heavy thinning from below (plot 3). During the period of observation (age of the stand 27&ndash;37 years), the total weight of litterfall ranged between 1,800 and 4,800 kg/ha. The amount of litterfall was partly influenced by climatic factors (precipitation and temperature), growth processes (basal area increment) and thinning regimes in individual years. The results of the investigations showed that dry biomass accumulated under a 36 years old Norway spruce stand ranged from 9,200 to 11,300 kg/ha in horizon L, from 37,000 to 38,200 kg/ha in horizon F and from 138,300 to 146,400 kg/ha in horizon H. The quality (content of basic nutrients) of litterfall and material from holorganic horizons are discussed.


Beskydy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jaloviar ◽  
M. Saniga ◽  
S. Kucbel

The study analyses the relationships between the components of relative irradiance and density of parent Norway spruce stand as well as the impact of light on height growth and crown architecture of beech and fir underplantings and natural regeneration of spruce. We observed three variants of regeneration: fir underplanting, beech underplanting and spruce natural regeneration. For each variant three circular research plots with the size 500 m2 were established. To determine the intensity of relative irradiance 15 hemispherical photographs in the height of 1.5 m were taken for each variant. The analysis confirmed a significant relationship only between indirect site factor (ISF) and basal area and partly stem number of parent stand. There is almost no influence of spruce overstorey density (within the observed range of basal area and stem number) on the values of total site factor (TSF) and its main component direct site factor (DSF). The relevant predictor for the height increments of underplanted saplings is ISF. Relationship between TSF and height increment is weak. Apical dominance ratio (ADR) that was used to characterize crown architecture is significantly correlated with ISF only for beech and fir. In the case of spruce, increase of light intensity in the observed range does not lead to a significant change of saplings crown architecture.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Annija Kārkliņa ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Anna Pastare ◽  
Andis Adamovičs ◽  
...  

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.


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