Spatial configuration matters when removing windfelled trees to manage bark beetle disturbances in Central European forest landscapes.

ABSTRACT: Windfelled Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees play a crucial role in triggering large-scale outbreaks of the European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. Outbreak management therefore strives to remove windfelled trees to reduce the risk of outbreaks, a measure referred to as sanitation logging (SL). Although this practice has been traditionally applied, its efficiency in preventing outbreaks remains poorly understood. We used the landscape simulation model iLand to investigate the effects of different spatial configurations and intensities of SL of windfelled trees on the subsequent disturbance by bark beetles. We studied differences between SL applied evenly across the landscape, focused on the vicinity of roads (scenario of limited logging resources) and concentrated in a contiguous bloc

SUBMITTER: Dobor L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7612771 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature