Wound occlusion and decay in Picea abies stems

Abstract

In forest stands, Picea abies is commonly subjected to logging and bark stripping injuries. Most mechanical wounds do not exceed 300 cm 2 , but their pathological consequences are unclear. The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of wound occlusion and the probability of decay in P. abies stems in relation to initial wound size and wounding season. The study included forty-five stems with 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-and 5-cm-wide by 15-cm-long wounds (15-75 cm 2 ), and eighty-three stems with 15-cm-wide by 20-cm-long wounds (300 cm 2 ), made either in January or in August. After 19-21 years, each wound was assessed for occlusion rate and the presence of decay. All 1-to 2-cm-wide wounds were occluded, compared to 58-70% of the 3-to 4-cm-wide wounds, 25% of the 5-cm-wide wounds, and 0% of the 15-cm-wide wounds. On average, it took 3.6, 5.5, 10.4, 12.7 and 14.7 years to occlude wounds ranging in size from 1-to 5-cm-wide, respectively. After 21 years, the observed size of wounds comprising an initial area of 300 cm 2 ranged between 14 and 481 cm 2 . Wounding season and stem DBH had no impact on wound healing. Wound decay incidence correlated positively with the initial width of injury (r = 0.925; P \ 0.05). All 1-to 2-cm-wide wounds lacked any decay, while the proportions of decay among 3-, 4-, 5-and 15-cm-wide wounds were 58.3, 50.0, 83.3 and 100%, respectively. Length of decay comprised 35-225 cm. Consequently, wounds on P. abies stems greater than 5 cm width are unlikely to be occluded and more prone to decay development.

Short-Term Recovery of Residual Tree Damage during Successive Thinning Operations

“…This is key information which is also needed for better planning of future forestry interventions. Vasaitis et al [44] reported that it took 3.6, 5.5, 10.4, 12.7 and 14.7 years on average to occlude wounds ranging in size from 1 to 5 cm wide, respectively. The data from this study are consistent with the findings detailed in previous literature.…”

“…However, decayed wounds caused a significant reduction in diameter growth. Decayed wounds caused up to a 51.4% reduction in diameter growth in lime trees [44]. The amount of RDG in decayed wounds in beech trees was reported to be 15.3% [20].…”

Modeling recent bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in South Belgium coniferous stands

“…The impact of large herbivorous ungulates on forest vegetation has been clearly evidenced (Reimoser et al 1999). Over the past few decades, the increasing level of damage caused by these animal populations has become a source of concern for forest managers in Europe (Jerina et al 2008;Kiffner et al 2008;Klopcic et al 2010;Vasaitis et al 2012;Verheyden et al 2006) as well as in other parts of the world (Takatsuki 2009;Hall and Gill 2005;Dolman and Wäber 2008). The causes of this damage can be classified into two types: (1) grazing, affecting regeneration mostly in its installation or growing phases; and (2) bark stripping, plaguing already established stands (Kiffner et al 2008).…”

Visual dating of rockfall scars in Larix decidua trees

“…The ongoing cell division also leads to the disruption of wound periderm and thus results in a constantly growing layer of dead tissues, hereinafter referred to as wound bark. While large scars on old trees may never become closed (Pallardy, 2010), small wounds in rapidly growing trees may completely heal over within only a few years through the fusion of tissues developing from the wound margins (Stoffel and Perret, 2006;Vasaitis et al, 2012). After fusion, annual growth rings are again produced normally (Neely, 1979).…”