Abstract
AbstractAssessment and monitoring of health status in deteriorated forest stands in Gornata Koria and Chuprene Reserves in Western Balkan Range (Bulgaria) were conducted in 2017. An integrated approach (based on remote sensing technologies and terrestrial validation) was applied. A series of subsequent terrain observations were carried out in both protected areas mainly in dead or in poor health status stands. As a result, sixteen insect species were identified in Gornata Koria and nine pests in Chuprene Reserves. The predominant number of pests included bark beetles and weevils (Curculionidae), longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), etc. Attacks caused by the European bark beetle (Ips typographus) formed the main disturbance in the Norway spruce forests in both reserves. Ten parasitic and ten saprophytic fungi were identified in the stands of the Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver fir (Abies alba) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica). Among the parasitic fungi, six species were identified as destructive (Armillaria sp., Heterobasidion annosum, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes fomentarius, Ramaria flava and Pholiota squarrosa).
Highlights
In recent decades, deterioration of forest stands due to long periods of drought and abnormal climatic phenomena has occurred
Assessment and monitoring of the health status of the Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) natural stands in Gornata Koria and Chuprene Reserves were carried out in 2017
This study presents the utility of the applied approach, through using the capacity of the modern unmanned aerial platforms (Dimitrov et al, 2018) and traditional terrestrial entomological and phytopathological methods for complex assessment, as well as results obtained in applying an integrated model for field exploration of the phytosanitary status of two protected areas in West Balkan Range in Bulgaria – Gornata Koria and Chuprene Reserves
Summary
Deterioration of forest stands due to long periods of drought and abnormal climatic phenomena has occurred. The gradual change in the environmental conditions has altered the ecology of host tree species, the harmful effect of biotic agents and their vectors that cause the disturbance in forest stands. In most cases this is a consequence of a combination of adverse climatic conditions with harmful biotic factors, mainly insect pests and fungal diseases (Foley et al, 2005; Trumbore et al, 2015). Among the xylophagous pests trophically related to the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), the most aggressive is the European bark beetle (Ips typographus L.). The pest outbreaks after windstorms or droughts are likely to trigger dieback of host trees on a large scale within the following several years (Angst et al, 2012)
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