Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2023.2028
Forest Residue Management Impact on Rodent (Rodentia: Murinae, Arvicolinae) Damage in Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Forests in Croatia
Marko Vucelja
orcid.org/0000-0001-9532-1111
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Svetošimunska 23 10 000 Zagreb CROATIA
Linda Bjedov
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Svetošimunska 23 10 000 Zagreb CROATIA
Kristijan Tomljanović
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Svetošimunska 23 10 000 Zagreb CROATIA
Jelena Kranjec Orlović
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Svetošimunska 23 10 000 Zagreb CROATIA
Marko Boljfetić
; Oikon Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology Trg senjskih uskoka 1–2 10 020 Zagreb CROATIA
Mislav Matijević
; Hrvatske šume – limited liability company Ulica kneza Branimira 1 10 000 Zagreb CROATIA
Josip Margaletić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management Svetošimunska 23 10 000 Zagreb CROATIA
Abstract
Small rodents (Rodentia, subfam. Murinae: real mice, Arvicoline voles) greatly affect natural
regeneration, stability and dynamics of forest communities worldwide. Every 3–4 years rodent
damage in Croatian state forests is the most severe in forest regeneration stands, especially in
pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.)
forests, where rodents can seriously impede natural regeneration by damaging seeds, stems
and roots of saplings. These negative interactions are an even bigger challenge nowdays as
pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash have become more vunerable in the last decades and
are known as the most sensitive species of lowland forests in Croatia due to microclimatic and
macroclimatic changes and the unfavourable interaction of a whole series of anthropogenic,
abiotic and biotic factors. In the last 40 years, in Croatian state forests, rodent management
consisted of monitoring and mainly rodenticide use. Trying to implement IPM (Integrated
Pest Management) postulates into practice over the years, different prevention methods against
small rodents were tested, but not many came to use. The aim of this research was to look into
different logging residue management approaches and their effect on the rodent damage in two
pedunculate oak forest regeneration stands in central Posavina in Croatia. Rodent damage on
stem and root of tree saplings was recorded by visual inspection on three plots (5x5 m) with
scattered logging residue, and one plot (5x5 m) with no residue at one micro-depression site
(95 m a.s.l.), and on one micro-elevation (99 m a.s.l.) site. Plots with scattered logging residue
represented a type of forest residue management in which logging debris (branches) is cut to
smaller lengths and distributed evenly at the forest regeneration stand. Plot with no logging
debris represented a residue management method in which wood mass is completely removed
from the regeneration stand after felling. We counted, determined and inspected tree saplings
found at chosen plots for rodent damage (on stem and roots) and also determined the average
weight and moisture content of logging residue (branches around 5–7 cm in diameter) found
at the site. In spring 2017, 3380 tree saplings (2978; 81% pedunculate oak, 7; 0.2% narrowleaved
ash and 395; 11.7% other deciduous species) were inspected for rodent damage. At
micro-depression site, on a plot with no logging residue, only 13.4% of the saplings were
damaged, while the average share of damaged saplings on three plots with scattered residue
was more than six times higher; 87.8%. The average mass of the logging residue weighed at
site with scattered residue was 10.14 kg kg/m2 and moisture content was 19.2%. At microelevation
site, 25.4% of the saplings were damaged on a plot with no logging residue, while
the average share of damaged saplings on three plots with scattered residue was two times
higher; 51.4%. The average mass of the logging residue weighed at SRP 1–3 was 5.1 kg/m2.
We also determined moderately strong positive correlation (R=0.69133) between the mass of
logging residue and rodent damage and strong negative correlation (R=–0.89598) between
wood moisture content of the logging residue and rodent damage. In years ahead, with unpredictable
climate effects and potentially very variable small rodent dynamics, removing
the logging residue after the felling could represent a residue management that contributes to
a more effective and ecologically based rodent management. It could also become a usable
preventive method within IPM and help prevent sever rodent damage, even during the outbreaks
in pedunculate oak regeneration stands.
Keywords
small rodents, forest residue management, rodent management, damage, lowland forests
Hrčak ID:
290883
URI
Publication date:
13.1.2023.
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