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Beech forest management does not affect the infestation rate of the beech scale C ryptococcus fagisuga across three regions in G ermany
Author(s) -
Köhler Günter,
Pašalić Esther,
Weisser Wolfgang W.,
Gossner Martin M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
agricultural and forest entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.755
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-9563
pISSN - 1461-9555
DOI - 10.1111/afe.12097
Subject(s) - beech , fagus sylvatica , infestation , biology , forest management , ecology , canopy , forest ecology , agroforestry , agronomy , ecosystem
The effects of management on insect communities have been studied in several forest ecosystems, although the consequences for single potential pests are only known for a few species. The present study investigated whether forest management affects the infestation of E uropean beech trees by the beech scale C ryptococcus fagisuga . We assessed the densities of C . fagisuga on a total of 520 trees ( F agus sylvatica ) at 104 forest sites, representing three main types of beech forest management intensity across three regions in G ermany. The infestation rates on beech trees were 16% in the S outh‐ W est, 20% in the C entre and 35% in the N orth‐ E ast of G ermany, although the rates per plot did not differ significantly among regions. No significant differences between unmanaged beech, managed even‐aged beech and managed uneven‐aged beech forests were found because of high variability in beech scale infestation observed among forest sites and within forest management types. Highest infestation rates occurred on widely dispersed mature trees within thickets with shelterwood stage and lowest infestation rates occurred on young beech trees in the thicket stage. The results of the present study suggest that the infestation rates of C . fagisuga on beech depend on tree age and canopy openness rather than on management intensity.