Understory Condition in an Oak Forest After 4 Decades for Oak Decline in Hungary

LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OAK DECLINE AND SHRUB GROWTH DYNAMICS IN AN HUNGARIAN OAK FOREST, 1972-2017

AGROFOR ◽

10.7251/agreng2003047m ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Tamás MISIK ◽

Imre KÁRÁSZ

Keyword(s):

Growth Dynamics ◽

Basal Area ◽

Tree Density ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Oak Decline ◽

Shrub Layer ◽

Cornus Mas ◽

Oak Trees ◽

Oak Tree

Long-term structural dynamics of shrub layer of temperate oak forest communities were not extensively reported in published studies. The serious oak decline was first reported in 1979-80 and nowadays 63.0% of canopy oak trees died in a forest stand. The data were used to obtain (1) quantitative information on shrub layer growth, including height (H) and shoot diameter (DSH) condition and basal area (BA) values; (2) structural information on foliage cover rate of the shrub layer, mean cover of some shrub species; (3) comprehensive description from the ecological processes in the shrub layer in the last 45 years and our objective was (4) to analyze the possible effects of oak decline on the shrub growth dynamics. The following measurements were carried out in the 48 × 48 m plot: shoot height, shoot diameter, basal area and foliage cover of each individuals in the high shrub layer. Correlation analysis confirmed that significant positive relations were between mean H, mean DSH of the dominant woody species (Acer campestre, Acer tataricum and Cornus mas) and oak tree density between 1972 and 2017. The decreasing oak tree density did not show detectable impact to the co-dominant shrubs growth. There was a low significant association between number of oak trees and basal area of high shrub layer. Finally, there was a statistically significant interaction between mean cover of A. campestre and C. mas and oak trees. The findings of the study indicate that forest responded to oak decline with significant structural rearrangement in the shrub layer.

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Understory Development in an Oak Forest in Northern -Hungary: the Subcanopy Layer

Acta Silvatica et Lignaria Hungarica ◽

10.2478/aslh-2014-0001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 9-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tamás Misik ◽

Imre Kárász ◽

Béla Tóthmérész

Keyword(s):

Structural Changes ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

Woody Species ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Oak Decline ◽

Canopy Density ◽

Acer Campestre ◽

Shrub Layer ◽

Cornus Mas

Abstract Structural changes in the shrub layer were analysed in a Hungarian oak forest after the oak decline pandemics. This paper focuses on the following questions: (1) which of the woody species tolerated better the forest conditions after oak decline? (2) What are the ecological factors that explain the successful response of woody species to changes in light and thermal conditions? In the monitoring plot, the structural condition of specimens only above 8.0 m was observed. After the appearance of oak decline some Acer campestre, Cornus mas and Acer tataricum specimens appeared that reached between 8.0-13.0 m in height. Significant differences were revealed between top canopy density and foliage cover of the subcanopy and between top canopy density and mean cover of field maple. The findings of the study indicate that the forest responded to oak decline with significant structural rearrangement in the shrub layer and that three woody species compensated for the remarkable foliage loss in the top canopy. These species formed a second crown layer directly below the canopy formed by oaks.

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Long-term response of understorey cover, basal area and diversity to stand density in a mixed oak forest on the Síkfőkút plot in Hungary

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/15/2013-jfs ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (No. 8) ◽

pp. 319-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

T. Misik ◽

K. Varga ◽

Zs. Veres ◽

I. Kárász ◽

B. Tóthmérész

Keyword(s):

Structural Information ◽

Basal Area ◽

Stand Density ◽

Natural Disturbance ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Oak Decline ◽

Shrub Species ◽

Shrub Layer ◽

Cornus Mas

The serious oak decline was reported for the 1979–80 period and 63.0% of adult oaks died in a mixed oak forest in the Síkfőkút site, Hungary. The data were used to obtain (1) quantitative information on diversity indices of shrub layer and shrub canopy, including foliage cover percentage of the shrub layer, mean cover of shrub species before and after the oak decline and (2) structural information on shrub basal area and shrub foliage arrangement. Since 1972 we have determined diversity indices, cover percentage and basal area of shrubby vegetation on the monitoring and plus plots. A negative relation was detected between Shannon-Wiener and Evenness indices of the shrub layer and living oak tree density. A positive relation was confirmed between basal area and mean cover of dominant woody species (Acer campestre, Acer tataricum and Cornus mas). The mean cover of shrub species except of A. campestre increased non-significantly after the oak decline on the 48 m × 48 m plot. The findings of the study indicate that diversity indices of the shrub layer and mean cover of A. campestre can be used as a principal indicator of natural disturbance in the studied mature stand and the species of the shrub layer respond differently to the decreasing stand density.  

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The distribution of bacteria Gibbsiella quercinecans and Brenneria goodwinii in oak (Quercus robur L.) stands in Latvia

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/875/1/012033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 875 (1) ◽

pp. 012033

Author(s):

O Zalkalns ◽

L Celma

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Quercus Robur ◽

Plant Disease ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Oak Decline ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Autumn Period ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Forest Survey

Abstract Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is a complex plant disease affecting species of native oaks, for example, Quercus robur, in Latvia. Typical AOD symptoms are bark cracks with dark exudate. In other European region countries, like the United Kingdom, AOD is associated with bark insects, for example, Agrilus biguttatus. From the results of the forest survey, it can be concluded that in oak forest stands located in Latvia, there is practically no damage by the bark insect A. biguttatus, which may indicate the existence of another AOD spreading vector. In 2019, from one oak, which was positive for AOD in the spring, repeated stem bleed samples were taken in the autumn period, the laboratory analysis results of the repeated samplings were negative. These findings suggest that the activity of bacteria Brenneria goodwinii and Gibbsiella quercinecans are influenced by climatic conditions.

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