Abstract
This work assesses damage caused by Coraebus undatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and Reticulitermes grassei Clément (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in managed cork oak forests from the southern Iberian Peninsula. Lesions were diagnosed and quantified in relation to the following features: height and orientation in the trunk, diameter at breast height, solar exposure, understory presence and orography. The distribution patterns of lesions in the study area across 12 plots and in the trunk of the trees were also analyzed. The study was performed in “Sa de Hornachuelos” Natural Park (Córdoba, Spain) and the research area encompassed 12 environmentally-restored sampling plots. Data were recorded from 2007 to 2014, with yearly sampling from late June to mid-September, corresponding to the cork extraction period, since lesions caused by these insects are well distinguishable promptly after bark removal. The results reveal that C. undatus has low population levels and a non-uniform distribution pattern in the study area as well as in the trunk of the tree. It shows preference for medium height but not by any trunk orientation. R. grassei also shows low infestation levels and a preference to affect the trunk’s base. Comparatively, C. undatus showed higher infestation levels than R. grassei. The location of damage was also different, since galleries made by C. undatus predominated at intermediate trunk heights while those of R. grassei were more frequent at lower heights. Our results further showed a low co-occurrence of both species in the same tree trunks, which could be explained in terms of overlapping in the distribution areas of both species. These results provide background information that will enable natural resources managers to detect changes and trends of these species and inform future management decisions.
Highlights
The Spanish term “dehesa” refers a modified agroforestry landscape, with very low tree density and well-developed pasture, resulting from the clearing of the Mediterranean scrubland and forests
Were only affected by C. undatus, whereas 22 trees (10.23%) had exclusively damages caused by R. grassei and only 5 trees (2.34%) shared damages by both species
Of the 381 examined trees, 49.3% were not damaged by C. undatus and 50.7% had some amount of damage by this boring beetle, which was present in nine of the twelve sampling plots
Summary
The Spanish term “dehesa” refers a modified agroforestry landscape, with very low tree density and well-developed pasture, resulting from the clearing of the Mediterranean scrubland and forests. Diverse Quercus species can coexist, Quercus ilex L. The clearing of shrubs is performed to facilitate the development of herbaceous plants, which are grazed upon by cattle [1]. The dehesas are of a great economic value and are important in terms of biodiversity. For this reason, they have been included in the plan of complementary measures of the Agricultural Policy of European
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