The conditions of forests in Italy. Results from the extensive surveys of Level I (1997-2010)

Bussotti, Filippo; Cenni, E.; Bettini, Davide; Sarti, Cinzia; Stergulc, Fabio; Feducci, Matteo; Capretti, P.

doi:10.3832/efor1005-011

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Indeed, this region is at risk of desertification due to climatic and socio-economic driving forces, including rainfall variability, droughts, changes in land-use patterns, overgrazing, and demographic saturation of rural areas [35]. Oak formations have crucial roles here for the prevention of land degradation and for climate mitigation, carbon storage, and the safeguarding of the environment; they also generate economic, esthetic and landscaping benefits [25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Status of Charcoal Canker on Oak Trees at a Site of Community Importance: Case Study of the Relict Castelfidardo Forest (SIC Area IT520008, Castelfidardo, AN, Italy)

Murolo

Concas

Salerno

et al. 2021

Forests

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Oaks are dominant and key tree species in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. However, in recent decades, oak forests have been heavily impacted by oak decline, a worldwide phenomenon exacerbated by climate change. The charcoal disease agent Biscogniauxia mediterranea is involved in the decline of Mediterranean oak formations in a variety of contexts. Here, we investigated the impact and role of B. mediterranea in the decline of oaks in Castelfidardo Forest, a relict wood of the late Holocene and a Site of Community Importance. We established five plots within which we recorded tree positions, any symptoms and signs of decline, association of B. mediterranea to declining trees, and deadwood and associated mycota. Of 471 oaks inspected, 7.0% showed brownish exudates on the stems, 46.9% showed epicormic shoots along the main trunk, and 24.4% showed black carbonaceous stromata on diseased branches and trunks. The decline was most severe for Quercus cerris, which comprised plots #4 and #5, at 50.0% (81/162 trees) and 29.0% (33/114), respectively; then for Quercus robur for plot #3, at 40.0% (38/95); and finally for Quercus pubescens for plots #1 and #2, at 13.7% (7/51) and 12.3% (6/49), respectively. Bark tissues were collected from trees with charcoal cankers and taken to the laboratory for microscopic examination and identification by mycological and molecular methods. This investigation revealed a close association between oaks with pronounced reduction of vitality and incidence of B. mediterranea. Deadwood was equally distributed among the five plots, and was heavily colonized by Basidiomycota. The high incidence of the charcoal canker pathogen B. mediterranea appeared to be related to environmental stresses. However, the absence of silvicultural management, high competition among physiologically mature trees, and the geographic isolation of this residual forest may have predisposed oaks to decline.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Members of the genus Quercus are widespread on the Italian peninsula, and thus they characterize its national and local landscape [24,25]. Castelfidardo Forest (Selva di Castelfidardo) is an example of a forest with high landscaping and ecological value in which Quercus spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%