EFFECTS OF ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC FACTORS ON PEDUNCULATE OAK (QUERCUS ROBUR L.) VITALITY IN VARIOUS FOREST STANDS

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference : SGEM Vol. 20; no. 3.1; pp. 645 - 652
• Main Authors: Ruba, Jelena, Miezite, Olga, Liepa, Imants, Sisenis, Linards
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Abiotic factors; Anthropogenic factors; Arrays; Biotic factors; Climate change; Damage assessment; Drought; Floods; Forest damage; Forest ecosystems; Forests; Frost; Frost damage; Fungi; Human influences; Infestation; Insects; Nature conservation; Oak; Precipitation; Quercus robur; Rain; Risk analysis; Risk factors; River banks; Riverbanks; Rivers; Surveys; Temperature; Trees; Vegetation; Water shortages; Winter; Latvia; Norway; Central Europe; Europe
• ISSN: 1314-2704
• DOI: 10.5593/sgem2020/3.1/s14.083

The planted forest stands of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) were carefully cultivated in Latvia for wood harvesting since the end of the 19th century. Today, felling of Q. robur forest stands in Latvia is prohibited, and according to the nature conservation rules are included in the list of habitats of European interest 9160·. According to the State Forest Service [14], the share of oak stands in all forests in Latvia is 0.1% (9354.58 ha). During their lives, oak forest stands are threatened by various risk factors. The aim of the study is to assess the effect of abiotic and biotic factors and the influence of tree crown state on the vitality of pedunculate oak forest stands aged 100 to 120 years. Estimates and surveys have been carried out on 8 forest stands with of 0.3-2.8 ha (total 257 oaks). For the purpose of the work, in each forest stand the sample plot of 500 m2 (radius 12.62 m) has been established, assessed the damage of abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors and measured the width and length of all oak crowns. The health status affects the vitality of pedunculate oak forest stands: fungi damage 3-9%, insect damage 4-18%. The pedunculate oak pure stand growing on the riverbank has identified a large number of damaged trees with frost-cracks (61%), on the contrary forest stands in the middle of a forest array have comprised very little frost-damaged trees (2-4%). The health status of Q. robur trees is significantly affected by the location of the forest ecosystem in the forest array p > 0.05.