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1.
The establishment and prevalence of the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, (Zygomycetes, Entomophthorales), introduced into two gypsy moth populations in Bulgaria, was monitored during 2000–2004. In the Karlovo Region population, where E. maimaiga was introduced in 1999, the fungus was recovered every year and the prevalence of infection varied from 6.1% to 15.9%. A microsporidian infection caused by an Endoreticulatus sp. (Protista, Microsporidia) was also recorded every year and the prevalence varied from 2.1% and 5.0%. In the Svoge Region population, where E. maimaiga was introduced in late 2000 and first found in 2002, the prevalence of infection varied from 8.8% to 13.8%. Larval parasitism caused by Cotesia melanoscela, Protapanteles liparidis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and species of tachinids (Diptera, Tachinidae) was also recorded in the larvae of both populations. We provide a rationale as to why other countries should consider introducing E. maimaiga for biological control of Lymantria dispar populations.  相似文献   

2.
We tested a new formulation of verbenone, an antiaggregation pheromone of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), for area-wide protection of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon) stands in the western United States. Helicopter applications of verbenone-releasing laminated flakes were made at the rate of 370 g of active ingredient/ha to two sites, one in California and one in Idaho, during summer 2005. Each site consisted of five 20.23-ha treated plots and five matching 20.23-ha untreated plots. We assessed D. ponderosae flight into study plots using traps baited with aggregation pheromones and we tallied D. ponderosae attack rates on P. contorta trees in treated and control plots before and after application. There were no significant differences between numbers of D. ponderosae trapped on treated and control plots. However, a significantly smaller proportion of P. contorta trees was attacked in treated plots than in control plots at both sites; the attack rate in untreated stands was roughly three times that of treated stands in both California and Idaho, even at this low application rate. Furthermore, attack rate in 2004 was a significant explanatory variable for the response in 2005 regardless of treatment in both California and Idaho. There was no significant treatment effect at either site on attraction of Temnochila chlorodia (Coleoptera: Trogositidae) Mannerheim, a key predator of D. ponderosae, to the prey aggregation pheromone.  相似文献   

3.
We tested methylcyclohexenone (MCH), an anti-aggregation pheromone for the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae), for protection of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands by applying MCH-releasing polymer flakes by helicopter twice during summer 2006 to five 4.05-ha plots in the State of Washington, USA. Five similar plots served as untreated controls. We assessed D. pseudotsugae flight into study plots using baited pheromone traps, and tallied D. pseudotsugae attack rates on all P. menziesii trees in 2005 and 2006. We also measured stand basal area and incorporated that as an explanatory variable in the analysis. Significantly fewer D. pseudotsugae were trapped in treated plots than in control plots, and significantly fewer P. menziesii trees were attacked in treated plots than in control plots. The attack rate in untreated stands was nearly 10 times that of treated plots, and stands with higher basal area were significantly more likely to be attacked by D. pseudotsugae than were stands of lower basal area. Attack rates in 2006 and 2005 were significantly correlated, regardless of treatment.  相似文献   

4.
A new species richness estimator applicable to probability sampling with fixed-area (a) plots in a finite-area (A) population is presented and tested in simulated sampling from three stem-mapped forest compartments, and from six large collections of forest inventory data. The estimator of richness is the average number of species per plot times the sum—over the N = A/n plots in a population—of the probability (p m ) of observing a new species in the mth plot (m = 1,…, N). A Cauchy distribution function is used to capture trends in p m . The parameters of the Cauchy distribution were estimated by optimizing a weighted maximum likelihood function. In comparison to five presumed best alternative estimators, the new estimator was ‘average’ with respect to bias, but best in terms of average root mean squared error. Taking the average of the estimates of richness produced by the five alternate and the new estimator would, generally, keep bias below 15 %. With relatively large sample sizes, the bias is moderately small (<10 %).  相似文献   

5.
In Boswellia papyrifera （Del.） Hochst natural stands, we stud- ied the association of parasitic plants with B. papyrifera trees from which frankincense was tapped and marketed for domestic and export markets. Data on the rate of infection of parasitic plants on B. papyrifera was collected in three transects located at separate locations around Baha kar, northern Ethiopia. Each transect had ten circular sample plots of 400 m2 and separated by 100 m. Species composition, DBH, height, crown di- ameter, number of main, secondary and tertiary branches and number of parasitic plants on individual trees were recorded. Sixteen tree species were recorded in the combined sample plots. The parasitic plant associ- ated with B. papyrifera was identified as Tapinanthus globiferus. This parasite infected 38% of Boswellia trees in sample plots. The infection rate of the parasitic plant varied from 1 to 33 per Boswellia tree. The infection of T. globiferus on B. papyrifera was predominantly limited to tertiary small branchlets arising from secondary branches; parasitic plants were absent on thick main and secondary branches. In all plots, infectionof T. globiferus was exclusively limited to Boswellia trees. The influence of T. globiferus parasitism on growth of Boswellia trees and its influence on yield of incense production needs further investigation. Management of natural stands for frankincense production should include measures to reduce infection by T. globiferus.  相似文献   

6.
Nitrogen was the main limiting nutrient of net primary production in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands, Northeast China. Species richness declined and biomass increased after five consecutive years of nitrogen fertilization of these sandy grasslands （2004-2008）. After fertilization had been stopped for three years （2009-2011）, we surveyed vegetation on previously fertilized plots to quantify changes in commu- nity composition. Respect species richness showed an increasing trend over time since the cessation of fertilization. Respect vegetation height and coverage showed decreasing trends over time since the cessation of fertilization. Species composition changed after fertilization ceased, the dominant species shifting from Cannabis sativa, Phragmites communis and Chenopodium acuminaturn in 2008 to Cannabis sativa, Phragmites communis and Artemisia scoparia in 2011. Dominance of dominant species declined from 66.2% in 2008 to 57.5% in 2011. The importance value of annual plants in the earlier nitrogen addition plots was higher than in control plots, but the differences were not significant in 2011. The importance value of perennial plants differed significantly between treatments from 2009 to 2011. The reversion rate not only differed be- tween community characteristics, but also between functional groups in the same community characteristic. Although the residual effect of nitrogen addition on vegetation was still observed three years after fertilization ceased, the vegetation showed signs of recovery.  相似文献   

7.
The carryover effects of N fertilization on five coastal Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) plantations were studied. “Carryover” is defined as the long-term impact of N fertilizer added to a previous stand on the growth of a subsequent stand. Average height and diameter at 1.3 m above-ground (DBH) of 7–9-year-old Douglas-fir trees and biomass and N-content of understory vegetation were assessed on paired control (untreated) and urea-N-fertilized plots that had received cumulative additions of 810–1120 kg N ha−1 to a previous stand. Overall productivity was significantly greater in the fertilized stands compared to the controls. In 2006, the last growth measurement year, mean seedling height was 15% greater (p = 0.06) and mean DBH was 29% greater (p = 0.04) on previously fertilized plots compared to control plots. Understory vegetation biomass of fertilized plots was 73% greater (p = 0.005), and N-content was 97% greater (p = 0.004) compared to control plots. These results show that past N fertilization markedly increased seedling growth in these plantations as well as biomass and N-content of understory vegetation in a subsequent rotation. These findings suggest that N fertilization could potentially increase site productivity of young Douglas-fir stands found on low quality sites in the Pacific Northwest 15–22 years after application by a carryover effect. These plantations have not yet reached the age where marketable materials can be harvested from them, and the growth of trees should be monitored over a longer time period before potential impacts on older stands, if any, can be determined.  相似文献   

8.
We investigated the spatial distribution, advanced regeneration and stand structure of five Shorea robusta-dominated forests in 25 1-ha plots subject to disturbances of different intensities. We aim to elucidate the relationships of advanced regeneration and spatial patterns of the tree species with degree of disturbance magnitude. Sixty-seven tree species were recorded in the forest plots; 41 species were found in the least disturbed forests, while only 10 species were found in the heavily disturbed forests. We found 5320 trees with >1.5 cm diameter at breast height, in total, and found that moderately disturbed forests contained the highest advanced regeneration (sapling)/pole densities. No significant differences were observed in stem basal area among forests. The overall stand density changed quadratically across the disturbance gradient. A strong inverse relationship was found between the overall stand density and diameter class in the least disturbed and moderately disturbed forests. Ten species showed variation in their dispersion patterns across the disturbance gradient. Most of the socio-economically important tree species analyzed showed little or no regeneration in the least and most heavily disturbed forests. Individual species showed different responses to disturbance ranging from ‘tolerant’ (Shorea robusta, Lagerstroemia parviflora and Symplocos spp.) to ‘sensitive’ (Trewia nudiflora, Adina cardifolia and Terminalia alata). We concluded that moderate disturbance intensity not only ensures high stand density, but also enhances the advanced regeneration of socio-economically important tree species and affects their dispersion patterns. Future management strategy must balance the consumptive needs of the local community with those of species conservation by allowing regulated access to the forests.  相似文献   

9.
Non-native plant species pose a serious ecological and economic threat to managed and natural ecosystems; therefore, there is a great need to identify sources for the introduction of non-native species and develop management plans to reduce or eliminate their introduction. Horses have been suggested to be an important source for the introduction of non-native plant species along trails, but the conclusions were based on anecdotal evidence. In this study, horse hay, manure, and hoof debris samples were collected from 12 to 24 horses at five endurance ride events in North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. One sub-sample of each material from each horse was sown in pots and grown under ideal conditions to determine if horse hay, manure, and hoof debris samples contained seeds from non-native species. A second sub-sample of each material from each horse was placed back on their respective trail to determine what plants would germinate and establish on the trail. Vegetation surveys were also conducted along 50 m transects perpendicular to horse and hiking (horses not permitted) trails at three of the five sites to compare species composition of native and non-native plant species. On average, non-native plant species germinated in 5.2% of the hay samples in the pots, but non-native species did not germinate from the manure or hoof debris samples. Only 3 of the 288 (≈1% of total samples) hay, manure, and hoof debris plots established on horse trails at the five sites contained plants, all of which were native plants, at the end of the first growing season and no plants were observed at the end of the second growing season. Non-native species composition and percent of total plants species did not differ significantly (p = 0.56) between horse and non-horse trails, and non-native plant species were only found within 2 m of the trail. The results of this and another study [Campbell, J.E., Gibson, D.J., 2001. The effect of seeds of exotic species transported vie horse dung on vegetation along trail corridors. Plant Ecology 157, 23–35] demonstrate that horse hay and manure does contain seeds of non-native plant species, but native and non-native plant species rarely become established on horse trails because of the harsh environmental conditions. Management and policy implication of this study are discussed.  相似文献   

10.
In the year 2000, large areas of forest in Sweden, mainly 30-50 year old Pinus sylvestris (L.) stands, were attacked by the fungus Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerb.) Morelet. The aims of this study were to investigate: (i) the relationship between G. abietina-induced tree crown transparency (CT) and P. sylvestris (L.) tree mortality; (ii) the influence of CT levels on stem growth; (iii) the recovery of the crown; and (iv) the association of CT and colonization by Tomicus piniperda (L.). Thirty-five permanent sample plots were established in five P. sylvestris stands (38-46 years old), infested by G. abietina, and 23 plots in four reference stands, not obviously infested.During the 5 years following the attack, the total mortality amounted to 454 trees ha−1 and 7.8 m2 ha−1, on average, in the five infested stands, corresponding to 42% of the trees and 34% of the basal area at the time of the attack. Most of the mortality occurred within 2 years of the attack. The mortality of individual trees (2002-2005) was found to be related to the crown transparency (CT), the position of needle loss within the crown and the tree diameter at breast height. Based on our modeling, the probability of mortality was substantially increased if the initial CT-value was higher than 85%.Growth reductions were detected for individual trees with an initial CT of >c. 40%. In contrast, trees with a low initial CT (<c. 40%) were not affected and even exhibited increased growth. In the five infested stands, the reductions in basal area and volume increment were estimated to be 26-58%, and, 42-73%, respectively, during the five growing seasons after the attacks.The trees in the infested stands that were still alive in spring 2005 had started to recover in terms of CT. Breeding of T. piniperda on the P. sylvestris (L.) stems occurred almost exclusively on stems with a CT > 90%.The data from this study suggest that when a P. sylvestris (L.) stand has been attacked by G. abietina, trees with a CT above 80% should be felled; the remaining trees will have a high probability of survival and resistance to successful breeding by the T. piniperda.  相似文献   

11.
In this article, we report on the increments in basal area and tree diameter as well as the structural development observed in variously thinned plots that underwent either uneven- or even-sized treatment. The experimental forest was originally an uneven-sized mixed stand dominated by Picea abies. Twenty-eight randomized sample plots underwent each treatment, and the trees were monitored for 15 growing seasons after thinning. The uneven-sized plots retained a reverse J-shaped diameter distribution, but this was changed into a bell shape by low thinning in the even-sized plots. Absolute basal area increment was positively correlated with basal area in the even-sized treatment but not in the uneven-sized treatment. In the latter, all of the plots grew almost equally well, and only the basal area of broadleaves explained slightly positively the increment variation. Relative basal area increment was negatively correlated with basal area in both treatments. Additionally, the basal area of Scots pine was a positive explanatory variable in the relative increment variation in the even-sized treatment. For the dominant Norway spruce trees, diameter increment was negatively correlated with basal area in both treatments and, conversely, heavy removal increased the diameter increment. Relative basal area increment averaged 5% annually in uneven-sized plots representing the “target selection.” This was more than double the increment observed for the even-sized plots that represented the “prevailing practice.” Likewise, the diameter increment of Norway spruce trees was 48% greater in the uneven-sized compared to the even-sized plots.  相似文献   

12.
We investigated the effect of fire disturbance on short-term soil respiration in birch （Betula platyphylla Suk.） and larch （Larix gmelinii Rupr.） forests in Greater Xing’an range, northeastern China for further understanding of its effect on the carbon cycle in ecosystems. Our study show that post-fire soil respiration rates in B. platyphylla and L. gmelinii forests were reduced by 14%and 10%, respectively. In contrast, the soil heterotrophic respiration rates in the two types of forest were similar in post-fire and control plots. After fire, the contribution of root respiration to total soil respiration was dramatically reduced. Variation in soil respiration rates was explained by soil moisture （W） and soil tem-perature （T） at a depth of 5 cm. Exponential regression fitted T and W models explained Rs rates in B. platyphylla control and post-fire plots （83.1% and 86.2%） and L. gmelinii control and post-fire plots （83.7%and 88.7%）. In addition, the short-term temperature coefficients in B.  相似文献   

13.
Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.)-dominated ecosystems in north-central Colorado are undergoing rapid and drastic changes associated with overstory tree mortality from a current mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) outbreak. To characterize stand characteristics and downed woody debris loads during the first 7 years of the outbreak, 221 plots (0.02 ha) were randomly established in infested and uninfested stands distributed across the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado. Mountain pine beetle initially attacked stands with higher lodgepole pine basal area, and lower density and basal area of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii [Parry]), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. var. lasiocarpa) compared to uninfested plots. Mountain pine beetle-affected stands had reduced total and lodgepole pine stocking and quadratic mean diameter. The density and basal area of live overstory lodgepole declined by 62% and 71% in infested plots, respectively. The mean diameter of live lodgepole pine was 53% lower than pre-outbreak in infested plots. Downed woody debris loads did not differ between uninfested plots and plots currently infested at the time of sampling to 3 or 4–7 years after initial infestation, but the projected downed coarse wood accumulations when 80% of the mountain pine beetle-killed trees fall indicated a fourfold increase. Depth of the litter layer and maximum height of grass and herbaceous vegetation were greater 4–7 years after initial infestation compared to uninfested plots, though understory plant percent cover was not different. Seedling and sapling density of all species combined was higher in uninfested plots but there was no difference between infested and uninfested plots for lodgepole pine alone. For trees ≥2.5 cm in diameter at breast height, the density of live lodgepole pine trees in mountain pine beetle-affected stands was higher than Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and aspen, (Populus tremuloides Michx.), in diameter classes comprised of trees from 2.5 cm to 30 cm in diameter, suggesting that lodgepole pine will remain as a dominant overstory tree after the bark beetle outbreak.  相似文献   

14.
Plantations of Eucalyptus growing on reclaimed tin-minning spoil were compared with similar stands established on undisturbed farmland soils in the north of the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Soils were collected from sample plots in both situations to determine their physical and chemical properties, while destructive harvests of representative stems were used to calculate tree yields.A principal components analysis of the soils data revealed wide variations in texture and base status, and was supported by a cluster analysis from which five major soil groups were defined. One such group, which contained a majority of mining site plots, was characterised by shortages of organic matter and low levels of available phosphorus. Farmland plantation sites had a wider range of texture and fertility, but on the whole gave similar yields to those of mining sites.The relationship between forest yield and selected soil variables was investigated using multiple regression analysis. This showed that the best yields occurred on fine-textured soils with good reserves of organic matter, while moderately base-saturated soils and high available-iron concentrations were associated with poor growth. There were indications that soil chemistry was modified by tree growth, with high-yielding stands increasing cation exchange capacity but significantly lowering soil pH.The implications for future tree growth are discussed, and suggestions given for the improvement of currently derelict mining sites.  相似文献   

15.
Several management practices that are employed in Montados are known to affect the establishment and maintenance of Basidiomycota communities immediately after disturbances have occurred, contributing to their development or, conversely, decreasing their diversity. In this study we aim to evaluate the effects of the most common understory and soil-management practices on the diversity of the epigeous Basidiomycota a long time after disturbances have taken place. The study was conducted in a Montado (cork and holm-oak ecosystem) area in Southern Portugal (Alentejo). In 1998, four experimental treatments—control (C), mulching (Mu), mowing (Mo) and ploughing (P)—with three replicates each were carried out: C—untreated/untouched; Mu—cutting of shrubs followed by deposition of plant residues on soil surfaces; Mo—cutting of shrubs followed by biomass removal and soil tilling; P—cutting of shrubs followed by the incorporation of plant biomass into the soil through tillage. Macrofungal surveys were conducted fortnightly in the experimental plots between Autumn 2007 and Spring 2012. Significant differences in total and mycorrhizal richness were found between plots, with higher values being found for non-tilled plots and lower values for tilled plots. No significant differences were found in saprotrophic richness between treatments. Regarding the composition of taxa, Boletus and Russula were the main taxonomic groups affected by experimental treatments. Our results showed that soil tillage can result in a decrease in mycorrhizal taxa even a long time after disturbances have taken place.  相似文献   

16.
In the western United States, mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are common forest management practices aimed at reducing potential wildfire severity and restoring historic forest structure, yet their effects on forest microclimate conditions are not well understood. We collected microclimate data between 1998 and 2003 in a mixed-conifer forest in California's Sierra Nevada. Air and soil temperatures, relative humidity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), wind speed, soil heat flux, and soil volumetric moisture were measured at the center of 18 four-ha plots. Each plot was assigned one of six combinations of thinning and burning treatments, and each treatment was thus given three replications. We found that spatial variability in microclimate, quantified as standard deviations among monthly values of each microclimatic variable across different locations (n ≤ 18), was significantly high and was influenced primarily by elevation and canopy cover. The combination of thinning and burning treatments increased air temperature from 58.1% to 123.6%. Soil temperatures increased in all thinned plots. Air moisture variables indicated that treatments made air drier, but soil moisture increased in the range 7.9–39.8%, regardless of treatment type. PAR increased in the range 50.4–254.8%, depending on treatment type. Treatments combining thinning and burning increased wind speed by 15.3–194.3%. Although soil heat flux increased dramatically in magnitude in some plots, overall treatment effects on G were not statistically significant. We discussed the significance and implications of the spatial variability of microclimate and the treatment effects to various ecological processes and to forest management.  相似文献   

17.
Although Cryphonectria hypoviruses have been relatively successful as biological control agents of chestnut blight in Europe, their success in North America has been limited. Experimental releases of hypoviruses were made in 1978–82 at two sites in West Virginia forests with high densities of regenerating chestnut trees. Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV‐1) from Europe, as well as American isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica containing CHV‐3, were used for these releases. Although most trees died during the 5‐year release period, it was not known if the hypoviruses persisted in the C. parasitica population at the two sites. When the experimental plots were revisited in 1994, few chestnut trees were found. The exception was one plot containing coppice sprouts that had grown from the root collars of the original trees. The authors intensively sampled C. parasitica from experimental plots and screened recovered isolates for double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA). None of the isolates contained CHV‐1; only six isolates contained CHV‐3, all from the plots with the coppice sprouts. CHV‐4, which occurs naturally in West Virginia forests and in two released isolates, hybridized to dsRNA from the isolates containing CHV‐3, indicating mixed infections. CHV‐4 also hybridized to dsRNA from other isolates sampled inside and outside the treated plots. In contrast to CHV‐1 and CHV‐3, however, CHV‐4 has little effect on the growth or phenotype of C. parasitica. The limited persistence of CHV‐1 and CHV‐3 may have resulted when the C. parasitica population was reduced in size due to the failure of chestnut trees to resprout because of competition from other hardwood species.  相似文献   

18.
Quantitative trait locus （QTL） detection was carried out for growth traits in 122 F1 progenies of Pinus elliottiivar. elliottii （PEE） x tR caribaea var. hondurensis （PCH） hybrid. The PCH male parent linkage map contained 108 mark- ers in 16 linkage groups, while the PEE female parent contained 93 markers in 19 linkage groups. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism （SRAP）, microsatellite （SSR）, expressed sequence tag polymorphism （ESTP） and inter-simple sequence repeat （ISSR） were selected from an existing linkage map. Growth traits investigated were height at age five （HT05） and six years （HT06）, diameter at breast height at age five （DBH05） and six years （DBH06） and annual growth from age five to six years of height （AGHT） and diameter at breast height （AGDBH）. KruskaI-Wallis and interval mapping approaches were used to estimate levels of significance, the number of QTLs, the percentage of the phenotypic varia- tion explained by each of QTLs and their positions on the genetic linkage maps. Twenty six QTLs with significance levels p 〈 0.05 were detected on the parental maps for the six growth traits, which explained more than 15% of the phenotypic variation, suggesting an existence of major-effect genes. Several QTLs had the pleiotropy controlling more than one sin- gle growth trait. Overall, the proportion of phenotypic variation explained by QTLs ranged from 5.9% to 40.6% for HT05 and HT06, from 6.6% to 42.0% for DBH05 and DBH06 and from 5.8% to 22.3% for AGHT and AGDBH. The results from this study provide a basis for marker-aided selection （MAS） in PEE x PCH hybrids.  相似文献   

19.
The effect of nitrogen addition and weed management on fibre properties of wood from 6.5-year-old Eucalyptus grandis and E. tereticornis from intensively managed short-rotation plantations were investigated. Trees for analyses were sampled from plots with zero nitrogen input (n = 4), plots with high level (187 kg N ha?1) nitrogen input (n = 4), plots from which weed growth was not removed throughout the rotation (n = 4) and plots from which weeds were removed periodically (n = 4). Fibre characteristics were evaluated on wood samples collected from base, breast height, 50, 75 and 100 % of merchantable bole height of trees. Though N input and weed management improved tree growth significantly irrespective of species, the treatment effects did not cause any significant change in fibre characteristics such as fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width and wall thickness. Longest and widest fibres were observed at the outer most radial portion of wood in all cases. In general, within tree fibre length varied significantly along the radial direction of wood. Fibre diameter, lumen width and wall thickness lacked any specific pattern between species and treatments. Runkel ratio and felting and flexibility coefficients values showed high pulping quality of wood irrespective of species and treatments. The study concluded that the fibre properties that influence pulpwood quality of Eucalyptus have not been affected by silvicultural practices, like fertilizer input and weed management, aimed at improving productivity of short-rotation eucalypt plantations.  相似文献   

20.
Green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum) feeds primarily on the 1-year-old and older needle leaves of spruce (Picea spp.) and is a major defoliator of commercial Sitka spruce plantations in the UK and other maritime regions of north-west Europe. The impact of E. abietinum on mid-rotation (23-28-year-old) Sitka spruce in Radnor Forest, in mid-Wales, was determined by comparing aphid population densities, defoliation and growth between plots of trees that were either treated with insecticide or were left untreated. The experimental treatments were maintained for 5 years and over this period (2002-2006) peak E. abietinum densities in the untreated plots varied from 5 to 36 aphids per 100 needles. These densities, which were representative of low to moderate rates of infestation, were associated with low rates of defoliation (0-8%), but they had a significant (P ? 0.01) impact on mean radial increment (RI) and mean volume increment (VI). In 2005, the year with the highest aphid populations, peak densities in the untreated plots averaged 14 aphids per 100 needles and this rate of infestation reduced RI by 17%, VI by 10% and the dry weight of current-year needles by 10%. On average, across all years, infestation by E. abietinum reduced mean annual VI by 6%. Comparisons with previous studies on the impact of the aphid on 4-year-old, 7-year-old and 9-year-old Sitka spruce (Straw et al., 2005) indicate that defoliation by E. abietinum, on a per capita basis, decreases as trees grow older, but that the impact on VI increases. The different growth response of young and mid-rotation Sitka spruce to infestation is related to differences in canopy structure, particularly in the ratio of current-year needles to older needles, and the greater demands on photosynthetic production in older trees that arise from the need to support an increasing quantity of non-photosynthetic structural tissues in branches, stem and roots.  相似文献   

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