Impact of gypsy moth defoliation in stands containing white pine

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1988

Abstract

Heavy infestations of Lymantria dispar in Rhode Island forests in 1981 and 1982 caused the greatest defoliation and mortality of white pines Pinus strobus in stands where pines were mixed with oaks Quercus spp. White pine basal area losses were greatest (33.7%) in oak stands where white pine occurs as an understory (oak-pine). In stands where pines shared the canopy with oaks (pine-oak), white pine basal area losses were 12.7%, and in pure pine stands, losses were 7.3%. Losses were nearly 5, 4 and 9 times those observed in control stands for oak-pine, pine-oak, and pine stands, respectively. In oak-pine stands, cutting practices that encourage growth of understory white pines to canopy positions where trees are less vulnerable to defoliation should be a first priority of management. -Authors

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry

Volume

5

Issue

2

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