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Phenology and intensity of phyllophage attack on Fagus sylvatica in Wytham Woods, Oxford
Author(s) -
PHILLIPSON J.,
THOMPSON D. J.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1983.tb00512.x
Subject(s) - canopy , beech , phenology , biology , botany , fagus sylvatica , overwintering , horticulture , tree canopy
ABSTRACT.1 Overwintering beech buds began to swell in early April and bud‐break occurred in early May. Most phyllophage attacks were initiated during the 21 day period of leaf growth but additional attacks occurred up to 46 days from bud break. 2 An average beech tree, with a top height of 24 m and a d.b.h. of 110 cm, bore 420 345 leaves (17% in the upper canopy, 27% in the upper middle canopy, 27% in the middle canopy, 18% in the lower middle canopy and 11% in the lower canopy). 3 Damage by phyllophages was greatest in the lower canopy; some 75—85% of the leaves were attacked in this stratum and damage amounted to 35% of the total phyllopage damage to the trees. 4 The major agents of damage in the lower canopy were adult P. argentatus , larval R. fagi and lepidopteran macrophages. Adult R. fagi concentrated their feeding in the upper canopy. 5 Allowing for damage expansion due to leaf growth the percentages of the total leaf area actually removed, or seriously damaged, by phyllophages were calculated to be 3.43–4.00% in 1978 and 2.37–2.74% in 1979.