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Pine growth response to processionary moth defoliation across a 40-year chronosequence
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 04:53 authored by Jacquet, JS, Bosc, A, Anthony O'Grady, Jactel, HEstimating the impact of pest insects on forest productivity requires a better understanding of host tree responses. While many studies have focused on juvenile trees, studying the impacts of defoliation on trees of increasing age helps to better characterize underlying mechanisms regulating growth responses to defoliation. During winter 2009–2010 a large outbreak of pine processionary moth occurred in Southwestern France. We established a field experiment to examine the effects of pine processionary moth defoliation varying from 25% to 100% on the growth of Pinus pinaster in stands ranging from 3 to 40 years old. Our results showed that pine processionary moth defoliation resulted in significant loss of radial growth for at least two years following defoliation. Stem growth loss in the first and second years was proportional to defoliation intensity and ranged from 32% to 93% in year 1, and from 17% to 68% in year 2. Stem growth was most reduced in older trees. Carbohydrates and nitrogen contents in needles and stem sapwood were also affected by defoliation. Our results suggest that defoliation affects stem growth through nitrogen and carbon resource limitation and that stem growth would be a lower priority sink for resources than other physiological processes in pine trees.
History
Publication title
Forest Ecology and ManagementVolume
293Pagination
29-38ISSN
0378-1127Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Elsevier Science BvPlace of publication
Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 AeRights statement
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V.Repository Status
- Restricted