Parastā oša Fraxinus Excelsior L. destrukcija Latvijā: audžu sukcesija un oša atjaunošanās = Dieback of common ash Fraxinus Excelsior L. in Latvia: species succession and ash regeneration

Abstract

The area of common ash forest is only 1–2% of the total forest area in Europe and 0.3% in Latvia. Prior to dieback, ash was an economically and still is ecologically highly important tree species. In Eastern Europe since the beginning of the 1990s, and a decade later throughout Central and Western Europe, rapid dieback of ash stands caused by an unknown reason was observed. In 2006 the causal agent of ash dieback – an anamorphic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (species name later refined) was determined. In Latvia, intensive dieback of ash stands has been observed since 2000. The aim of the thesis was to assess the dieback dynamics of common ash Fraxinus excelsior L. stands and determine the main factors affecting susceptibility of the trees, as well as future succession and potential regeneration of the affected common ash stands in Latvia. In Latvia, The area of young ash stands decreased by 4.4 times during 2000–2015. The ten-year-inventory (2005–2015) revealed that the overall mortality of ash was 6.9% and standing volume of ash stands decreased by 171 m3 ha–1. The obtained results indicated that regeneration of ash saplings in ash young stands as well as in mature stands was lower than in in the pre-dieback times, but regeneration was still successful. Furthermore, survival and health condition of ash saplings was relatively poor, as only ca. ⅓ of individuals were healthy, and the health condition decreased with aging. Overgrowth of ash stands with shrub species has begun, suggesting formation of broadleaved stands with a small admixture of ash in the future. We found that, susceptibility to ash dieback is significantly affected by morphometric parameters of ash trees and stands, site conditions and meteorological factors. In Latvia, ash dieback was present in ash stands of all ages and composition, yet some individual and regional differences were observed. Lower susceptibility to ash dieback was observed for older/larger dimensions trees, mixed stands on well-drained and dry mineral soils, stands thinned more intensively, and in the eastern part of Latvia. The findings of the thesis are applicable for the planning of ash stand management, assessment of the existing situation, for the designation of additional genetic resource forests, as well as provide basic information for future studies.