effects of thinning and gypsy moth defoliation on wood volume growth in oaks

Stem dissection and dendroecological methods were used to examine the effects of thinning and defoliation by gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) on wood volume increment in oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). A model was developed to evaluate radial volume increment growth at three time...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trees (Berlin, West) West), 2008-04, Vol.22 (2), p.257-268
Main Authors: Fajvan, Mary Ann, Rentch, Jim, Gottschalk, Kurt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Defoliation
dendrochronology
dendroecology
earlywood
forest pests
forest trees
Forestry
insect pests
latewood
Life Sciences
Lymantria dispar
Original Paper
phytophagous insects
Plant Anatomy/Development
Plant Pathology
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Quercus
radial growth
repeated measures analysis
statistical analysis
stem form
Thinning
tree and stand measurements
tree yields
volume
Wood
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Summary:Stem dissection and dendroecological methods were used to examine the effects of thinning and defoliation by gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) on wood volume increment in oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). A model was developed to evaluate radial volume increment growth at three time periods: before defoliation, during defoliation and after defoliation, as a function of species, defoliation intensity and crown position. Volume increment during these same time periods was also compared at different stem locations. Trees were defoliated for two consecutive years and results indicated that volume loss was greater during the second year of defoliation with complete recovery taking 2-3 years after defoliation. Oaks in thinned stands had similar reductions in annual volume increment during defoliation as those in the unthinned stand. Annual volume increment demonstrated a decreasing trend from stump to base of the live crown and volume increment of the lowest log (from stump height to 1.37 m), was always higher than upper log sections, even during defoliation. Both earlywood and latewood increments were reduced during defoliation; however, latewood reductions were distributed along entire stems while earlywood reductions were greater on upper stem sections within the crown.
ISSN:0931-1890
1432-2285
DOI:10.1007/s00468-007-0183-6