Bark gnawing of forest trees by voles during the growing season

Suchomel, Josef; Heroldová, Marta; Šipoš, Ján; Čepelka, Ladislav; Dokulilová, Martina; Purchart, Luboš

doi:10.1007/s10342-021-01410-y

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The greatest damage by bark gnawing in the growing season w ciated with the below-average precipitation in the winter of 2018/201 moisture, plant biomass contained more fiber and less nitrogen; th less concentrated nutrients. For this reason, a higher number of the vo tree bark, phloem or sap as an emergency food source [12]. During th in forests (2018-2020), the average annual temperatures were about long-term average of the locality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It affected population dynamics of vole species [21] and their interactions in ecosystems. Based on an observation of bark gnawing in the summers of 2019 in forests [12], this team focused on the hitherto unstudied phenomenon of bark gnawing during growing season in orchards. According to Suchomel et al [12], bark gnawing during growing season in forests was caused by the joint influence of high rodent population density and the low quality of plant biomass as their food supply.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the lack of moisture, plant biomass contained more fiber and less nitrogen; therefore, it contained less concentrated nutrients. For this reason, a higher number of the vole species had to use tree bark, phloem or sap as an emergency food source [12]. During the monitored period in forests (2018-2020), the average annual temperatures were about 2 • C higher than the long-term average of the locality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rubus sp., Senecio sp., Urtica dioica and bracken being the most common). The abundance of voles and the vole species identification was assessed using snap-trapping during years of this study in each of the 10 plots [12]. A detailed description of damage on the trees was recorded, as three vole species participated.…”

Section: Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The more severe the damage to the tree bark, the greater the negative effect on fertility and life expectancy of the tree. When a large amount of bark is removed and/or the conducting tissue is interrupted completely around the tree trunk (girdling), almost every tree dies [9,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bark Gnawing by Rodents in Orchards during the Growing Season—Can We Detect Relation with Forest Damages?

et al. 2022

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Rodent bark gnawing is common during winter in times of low or unavailable food supply. During the growing season, it is a rare phenomenon, but can occur due to low food supply and/or poor food quality resulting from climatic influence. We evaluated this unusual damage of apple tree (Malus domestica) orchards by rodents in two localities in the Czech Republic. In 2019, 24% of trees in the orchard in Brno were gnawed by the common vole (Microtus arvalis) population. Damage in the Holovousy orchard by water vole (Arvicola amphibius) was inspected in 2020 and showed that 15% of trees were damaged with massive root gnawing. These findings were compared with gnawing in forest beech plantations in 2019, with up to 13% of trees damaged. Three rodent species (Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis and Clethrionomys glareolus) participated in the damage. Detailed description of the various vole species’ damage in vegetation period, which somehow differs from winter time damage, may help in the future in early recognition and early application of plant protection in times when this phenomenon may reappear.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bark Gnawing by Rodents in Orchards during the Growing Season—Can We Detect Relation with Forest Damages?

et al. 2022

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Is mowing effective in reducing rodent damage to forest plantations?

Borowski,

Bartoń,

Staniszewski

2024

Pest Management Science

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BackgroundForest trees, particularly at a young age in afforestation, are susceptible to bark gnawing by herbivorous rodents such as voles. Few preventive measures for vole damage exist, although mowing to control herbaceous vegetation is often suggested.However, no empirical evidence supports the claim that mowing prevents or inhibits rodent damage to seedlings in a forest ecosystem. We examined the effects of single mowing applications on rodent population dynamics and the amount of damage they cause. The study was conducted at 34 randomly selected European beech forest plantations in Poland, with half manually mowed in late summer. For each plantation, we monitored the population dynamics of small rodents every two months from December 2019 to April 2021, and/or measured the level of damage to tree saplings monthly.ResultsThe amount of damage followed a clear seasonal pattern with peaks in late autumn ranging from 0 to 40% of saplings per plantation. Mowing did not alter the pattern of population dynamics of small rodents (including voles and mice) on the plantations, nor did it reduce sapling damage caused by rodents. Additionally, herbaceous vegetation cover had no significant effect on the damage intensity.ConclusionsOur results indicate that mowing is ineffective in preventing tree damage by small rodents in forest plantations; therefore, we do not recommend it as a forestry practice.

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Evaluation of trap type and attractant composition for potential mass trapping of Hylobius abietis

Heber,

Helbig,

Osmers

et al. 2023

Agri and Forest Entomology

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Different trap types and attractant compositions were tested with the goal of attracting as many individuals of Hylobius abietis as possible while assuring a minimal bycatch of nontarget species with regard to the family Carabidae on three study sites in the east of Germany. The results revealed a modified pitfall trap based on a model by Nordlander (1987, Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 2, 199–213.) as the most effective trap type with a high degree of selectivity and minimal ecological side effects. The modified Nordlander trap is suitable for potential H. abietis mass trapping as an instrument of integrated pest management. Two field trials testing different attractant compositions showed that a simple attractant combination of (−)‐α‐pinene and ethanol is as effective as other more complex combinations and thus preferable for mass trapping efforts. The addition of the monoterpenes camphene, Δ‐3‐carene, ocimene and terpinolene to the combination of (−)‐α‐pinene and ethanol did not increase trapping numbers significantly. Trapping numbers of H. abietis indicate that a reduction of the local H. abietis population by trapping is possible, though further research about the influence of mass trapping on regeneration damage is recommended.

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Bark gnawing of forest trees by voles during the growing season

Cited by 4 publications

References 46 publications

Bark Gnawing by Rodents in Orchards during the Growing Season—Can We Detect Relation with Forest Damages?

Bark Gnawing by Rodents in Orchards during the Growing Season—Can We Detect Relation with Forest Damages?

Is mowing effective in reducing rodent damage to forest plantations?

Evaluation of trap type and attractant composition for potential mass trapping of Hylobius abietis

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