Forest pathology
Forest pathology is the research of both biotic and abiotic maladies affecting the health of the a forest or tree, primarily fungal pathogens and their insect vectors. It is a subfield of forestry and plant pathology. Pathology is from Ancient Greek πάθος, pathos which may be translated into English as either "experience" or "suffering". and -λογία, -logia, "An account of" or "the study of".
Forest pathology is part of the broader approach of forest protection.
Abiotic factors
There a number of abiotic factors which affect the health of a forest such as moisture issues like drought, winter-drying, waterlogging or Precipitation such as hail, snow, storm.
Wind is also an important abiotic factor as Windthrow (the uprooting or breaking of trees due to high winds) causes an obvious and direct loss of stability to a forest or its trees.
Often, abiotic factors and biotic factors will affect a forest at the same time. For example, if wind speed is 80 km per hour then many trees which have root rot (caused by a pathogen) are likely to be thrown. Higher wind speeds are necessary to damage healthier trees (such as 125 km per hour).
Fire and related abiotic factors also affect the health of forest. Lightning. Nutrient imbalances: deficiencies, chemicals (toxic salts, herbicides, air pollutants). Temperature: low, high.
The effects of man often alter a forest's predisposition to damage from both abiotic and biotic effects. For example soil properties may be altered by heavy machinery.
Biotic factors
Fungi: Ascomycota. Oomycetes: Phytophthora. Bacteria. Phytoplasmas. Viruses.
Parasitic flowering plants
- Many plants can parasitize trees via root to root contact. Many of these parasitic plants originate in the tropic and subtropic climates.
Animals
Nematodes, insects especially bark beetles, mammals may browse. Browsing can be prevented with Tree shelters
Hazard trees
- The likelihood of property damage or personal injury due to tree failure. Hazard includes not only the tree's condition, but the potential target as well. Rating systems, procedures and guidelines have been developed for decision making but knowledge, judgement, and experience are an important part to the process.
Pathogens that affect trees
- Armillaria sp of which cause white rot root disease
- Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus which causes as Ash Dieback
- Heterobasidion annosum which causes Annosum or red root rot
- Chestnut blight
- Rickettsia which causes possibly this citrus greening disease
- Spiroplasma
- Dutch elm disease
- Emerald ash borer
- Olive tree pathology
- Witch's broom
- White Pine Blister Rust
Signs and symptoms
See also
- Allelopathy
- Etiology
- Disturbance (ecology)
- Forest IPM
- Outline of forestry
- Robert Hartig
- Forest Pathology (journal)
- Secondary forest
Further reading
- Tainter, Frank H., and Fred A. Baker . Principles of Forest Pathology. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.
- European Journal of Forest Pathology (Eur J Forest Pathol), Springer, ISSN 0300-1237 (printed), ISSN 1573-8469 (electronic), 1895–present, 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.054
External links
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