Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.141.5-6.1
Comparison between tree dieback of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash in relation to ecological constitution of species
Damir Ugarković
orcid.org/0000-0002-5192-9974
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u zagrebu
Kristina Pleša
; Zaprešić
Abstract
The pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) tree dieback phenomenon presents an economic as well as ecologic problem. Factors that cause tree dieback can be biotic, biotopic (within habitat) and structural (within stand). In managed forests, the volume of dead trees or volume
of trees cut in a sanitation harvests are most often used to show the intensity of tree dieback, and may also be used as an indicator of the stands condition (Capecki, 1981).Every species has its own ecological niche. Forest tree species have varying reactions to changes in environmental factors, to stress and ultimately to dying. The study was conducted in „Zelenika” management unit in Posavina. The aims of the study were to establish pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash tree dieback dynamics, to research the influence of biotopic and structural factors on dieback intensity and to compare dieback intensities according to the stand age class and microrelief. For analysis were climatic data for Novska meteorological station, water level data of Novska watercourse, and groundwater level data from „Zelenika” piezometric station were used. Dry years and dry periods, and wet years and wet periods, were determined using the percentile method and the Walter climate diagrams.
Growing volume of withered pedunculate oak and ash trees, as well as structural factors data(stand structure elements) were collected from the O-2 form of the Forest management plan. Dieback intensities were calculated on the basis of growing volume of the withered trees per area unit ratio. The intensity of tree death was shown in absolute numbers, as m3/ha (Siwecki et al. 1998).
Considering the average change rate, dieback intensities of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash tree are increasing. The highest dieback intensities for both forest species were found in the VI age class (Figure 2). On the basis of the conducted research, it can be concluded that climatic, hydrological and structural factors influence pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash tree dieback.
Pedunculate oak is more sensitive to climatic elements in comparison to narrow-leaved ash tree. Frequent dry years significantly affected the dying of these two species, which can both be considered hydrophytes in terms of their ecological demand for water. The results of this study showed that narrow-leaved ash was more vulnerable to drought than pedunculate oak.
Drought and rain periods also significantly influence tree dieback (table 5). The effect of dry periods on the dieback of these two species was greater in relation to the lack of wet periods in these lowland forests. The decrease of mid and minimal water levels of watercourse influenced pedunculate oak dieback, while a decrease of maximum watercourse water levels influenced narrow-leaved ash tree dieback (table 6). Groundwater level decrease in deeper layers of pedosphere had asignificant influence on tree dieback intensities (table 7). It was revealed that all structural factors influence pedunculate oak dieback, while narrow-leaved ash tree dieback was influenced only by stocking and tree number increase in a stand (table 8).The dieback of pedunculate oak was higher in older stands. No correlation was detected between the dieback of narrow-leafed ash and stand age.
Keywords
pedunculate oak; narrow-leaved ash tree; dieback; biotopic factors; structural factors
Hrčak ID:
183230
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2017.
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