The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) is one of the most acute instances of damage wrought by these animals in a forest. Because of its location, bark stripping causes damage to the thickest and most valuable part of the tree trunk, which lowers the quality of the wood due to technical flaw...

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Main Authors: Sporek, Monika, Sporek, Kazimierz, Ziembik, Zbigniew, Stebila, Ján, Kučerka, Martin, Lee, Seng Hua
Format: Article
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103500/
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author Sporek, Monika
Sporek, Kazimierz
Ziembik, Zbigniew
Stebila, Ján
Kučerka, Martin
Lee, Seng Hua
author_facet Sporek, Monika
Sporek, Kazimierz
Ziembik, Zbigniew
Stebila, Ján
Kučerka, Martin
Lee, Seng Hua
author_sort Sporek, Monika
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) is one of the most acute instances of damage wrought by these animals in a forest. Because of its location, bark stripping causes damage to the thickest and most valuable part of the tree trunk, which lowers the quality of the wood due to technical flaws. The research was conducted in 25 sampling sites of pine stands aged 35 years in a mixed, fresh forest habitat in south-western Poland. The study was aimed at assessing the influence of bark damage by deer on biometric parameters of pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.). The assessment involved the diameter at breast height, height, basal area and volume of the tree stands. The results revealed a strong deer-specific pressure on the analysed pine stands. The share of bark stripped trees ranged from 65% to 96%. The number of bark damage instances (NBDI) on a given tree was found to significantly affect its diameter at breast height. The strip-damaged trees had breast height diameters lower by 23% on average, and their mean height was lower by 8.7% as compared with the trees without damage. The mean reduction in basal area increments (G1.3) of the trees was identified at 39%. In a similar way to the diameter at breast height and the basal area, the losses in tree stand volume growth caused by deer stripping were significant and oscillated at 41%.
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spelling upm-1035002023-05-25T03:22:52Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103500/ The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Sporek, Monika Sporek, Kazimierz Ziembik, Zbigniew Stebila, Ján Kučerka, Martin Lee, Seng Hua Bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) is one of the most acute instances of damage wrought by these animals in a forest. Because of its location, bark stripping causes damage to the thickest and most valuable part of the tree trunk, which lowers the quality of the wood due to technical flaws. The research was conducted in 25 sampling sites of pine stands aged 35 years in a mixed, fresh forest habitat in south-western Poland. The study was aimed at assessing the influence of bark damage by deer on biometric parameters of pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.). The assessment involved the diameter at breast height, height, basal area and volume of the tree stands. The results revealed a strong deer-specific pressure on the analysed pine stands. The share of bark stripped trees ranged from 65% to 96%. The number of bark damage instances (NBDI) on a given tree was found to significantly affect its diameter at breast height. The strip-damaged trees had breast height diameters lower by 23% on average, and their mean height was lower by 8.7% as compared with the trees without damage. The mean reduction in basal area increments (G1.3) of the trees was identified at 39%. In a similar way to the diameter at breast height and the basal area, the losses in tree stand volume growth caused by deer stripping were significant and oscillated at 41%. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022 Article PeerReviewed Sporek, Monika and Sporek, Kazimierz and Ziembik, Zbigniew and Stebila, Ján and Kučerka, Martin and Lee, Seng Hua (2022) The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Applied Sciences, 12 (19). art. no. 9573. pp. 1-14. ISSN 2076-3417 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/19/9573 10.3390/app12199573
spellingShingle Sporek, Monika
Sporek, Kazimierz
Ziembik, Zbigniew
Stebila, Ján
Kučerka, Martin
Lee, Seng Hua
The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
title The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
title_full The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
title_fullStr The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
title_full_unstemmed The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
title_short The effect of bark stripping by deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
title_sort effect of bark stripping by deer (cervus elaphus l.) on biometric parameters of the scots pine (pinus sylvestris l.)
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103500/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103500/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103500/