Study stands were located in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, Arkansas, U.S.A. Three general areas were located exhibiting high oak mortality attributed to red oak borer, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman). Five stands were chosen in each area on north, south, east, west, and ridge aspects. At each site, species and dbh was deteremined for all live and standing dead trees > 10cm dbh within a 30 X 100m plot (0.33 ha). A rapid estimation procedure was also used to determine infestation history at the tree level.
Data from this research indicated that ridge plots experience significantly higher tree mortality compared to all other plots and also have a higher incidence of long-term infestation. One explanation for this is that red oak borer outbreaks may occur on ridges first, providing a source area from which red oak borers disperse to adjacent areas. Another explanation is that there may be other stand variables associated with ridges which when coupled with other environmental stressors allow for increased fecundity or survival of red oak borers.
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