Impacts of site effects on losses of oriental spruce during Dendroctonus micans (Kug.) outbreaks in Turkey

Abstract

The study showed some site and stand factors affecting host colonization, quantitative and qualitative losses in wood of oriental spruce as a source of raw material during the outbreak of Dendroctonus micans (Kug.). A total of 22.8 million m 3 standing trees were damaged. In 11.43 million m 3 standing trees infestations were observed and 6.96 million m 3 of trees were cut which occupied 120,000 ha of D. micans infestation areas. In pure spruce stands, 26.5% of the trees were infested. There was no statistically significant difference among the volume of crowns, crown base height and ages in infested and healthy trees. There was a positive correlation between stand density and number of D. micans , and number of attacks inversely correlated with altitude.