AN ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF CROWN STRUCTURE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE HEALTH OF BEECH (FAGUS-SYLVATICA)

Authors
Citation
Jl. Innes, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF CROWN STRUCTURE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE HEALTH OF BEECH (FAGUS-SYLVATICA), Forestry, 71(2), 1998, pp. 113-130
Citations number
97
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Forestry
Journal title
ISSN journal
0015-752X
Volume
71
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
113 - 130
Database
ISI
SICI code
0015-752X(1998)71:2<113:AAOTUO>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Considerable difficulties exist with the standardization and interpret ation of assessments of crown defoliation, the most commonly used inde x of tree health in Europe. A variety of other measures of crown condi tion exist and one that has received considerable attention, particula rly for beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), is crown architecture. Four stages of crown development are generally recognized, termed the exploration , degeneration, stagnation and resignation phases. An analysis of the available literature suggests that there are a number of problems surr ounding the use of these classes to describe trees. Although the class es probably reflect the progressive deterioration of the crown of a tr ee, there are many factors that affect the assessment and interpretati on of the scores, as is the case for defoliation estimates. Measuremen ts of shoot elongation in the upper crown provide a more useful measur e, but involve destructive sampling and are very time-consuming. Conse quently, while crown architectural assessments should only be incorpor ated into large-scale inventories of forest health with great care, th ey may be useful for case studies involving the detailed examination o f a small number of sites.