The effect of stand density on moose damage in young Pinus sylvestris stands
1992
Lyly, O. (Finnish Forest Research Inst., Vantaa (Finland). Dept. of Silviculture) | Saksa, T.
The relationship between moose damage and the stocking density of young Scots pine stands was investigated in the study. A regeneration area with an initial density of 14700 seedlings ha-1 was thinned to densities ranging from 2000 to 11000 seedlings ha-1. Part of the stand was left unthinned. The study area was a typical winter foraging habitat for moose in southern Finland, the moose density being over 2 individuals 100 ha-1. Both the number of saplings which escaped serious moose damageand the number of saplings browsed by moose increased with an increase in stand density. The most severe damage occurred when the plants were at a height of 1.5-2 m. At densities of between 2000 and 11000 plants ha-1, moose browsed the lateral shoots of every second pine sapling, without touching the main stem. The proportion of saplings with stem damage fell from 40% to 20% when the stand density increased from 2000 to 11000 plants ha-1. With a density of over 11000 plants ha-1, the proportion of saplings with stem damage increased to 60%. If the development capacity of sapling stands is to be retained in areas subjected to repeated moose browsing, then a regeneration density of at least 4000 seedlings ha-1 is required.
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