Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia
<i>Research Highlights:</i> Tree size and wood characteristics influenced the susceptibility of five Amazonian timber tree species to heartwood decay and colonization by termites. Termites occurred in the heartwoods of 43% of the trees, with <i>Coptotermes testaceus</i> the m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/10/1087 |
| _version_ | 1797551234168651776 |
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| author | Ana Alice Eleuterio Maria Aparecida de Jesus Francis E. Putz |
| author_facet | Ana Alice Eleuterio Maria Aparecida de Jesus Francis E. Putz |
| author_sort | Ana Alice Eleuterio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Research Highlights:</i> Tree size and wood characteristics influenced the susceptibility of five Amazonian timber tree species to heartwood decay and colonization by termites. Termites occurred in the heartwoods of 43% of the trees, with <i>Coptotermes testaceus</i> the most abundant species. <i>Background and Objectives:</i> Hollows and rotten cores in the stems of living trees have ecological and economic impacts in forests managed for timber. The decision on whether to cut or maintain hollow trees in such forests must account for the susceptibility of different tree species to decay. We investigated tree and wood characteristics of living trees of five commercial timber species in the eastern Amazon that influenced the likelihood of heartwood decay and the occurrence of termite nests inside the rotten cores. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> We used Pearson’s correlations and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to explore relationships among tree basal area and hollow area. We used principal components analysis (PCA) to analyze the variation of wood anatomical traits, followed by a linear regression to explore the relationships between PCA scores, and heartwood hollow area. We used a logistic model to investigate if the probability the occurrence of colonies of <i>C. testaceus</i> inside tree cores varied with tree and species characteristics. <i>Results:</i> Heartwood hollow areas increased with stem basal area. Larger hollows were more likely to occur in species with higher vessel and ray densities, and smaller diameter vessels. Termites occurred in the hollows of 43% of the trees sampled, with <i>C. testaceus</i> the most common (76%). The probability of encountering termite nests of <i>C. testaceus</i> varied among tree species and was positively related to wood density. <i>Conclusions:</i> This study shows that given the increased likelihood of stem hollows and rotten cores in large trees, tree selection criteria in managed tropical forests should include maximum cutting sizes that vary with the susceptibility of different tree species to stem decay. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:41:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a74f27ead8de477c9ad351e0e60ecf20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:41:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-a74f27ead8de477c9ad351e0e60ecf202023-11-20T16:50:00ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-10-011110108710.3390/f11101087Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern AmazoniaAna Alice Eleuterio0Maria Aparecida de Jesus1Francis E. Putz2Instituto Latino-Americano de Economia, Sociedade e Política, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Av. Tancredo Neves, 6731, Foz do Iguaçu 85867-900, BrazilInstituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Manaus 69011-970, BrazilDepartment of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118526, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA<i>Research Highlights:</i> Tree size and wood characteristics influenced the susceptibility of five Amazonian timber tree species to heartwood decay and colonization by termites. Termites occurred in the heartwoods of 43% of the trees, with <i>Coptotermes testaceus</i> the most abundant species. <i>Background and Objectives:</i> Hollows and rotten cores in the stems of living trees have ecological and economic impacts in forests managed for timber. The decision on whether to cut or maintain hollow trees in such forests must account for the susceptibility of different tree species to decay. We investigated tree and wood characteristics of living trees of five commercial timber species in the eastern Amazon that influenced the likelihood of heartwood decay and the occurrence of termite nests inside the rotten cores. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> We used Pearson’s correlations and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to explore relationships among tree basal area and hollow area. We used principal components analysis (PCA) to analyze the variation of wood anatomical traits, followed by a linear regression to explore the relationships between PCA scores, and heartwood hollow area. We used a logistic model to investigate if the probability the occurrence of colonies of <i>C. testaceus</i> inside tree cores varied with tree and species characteristics. <i>Results:</i> Heartwood hollow areas increased with stem basal area. Larger hollows were more likely to occur in species with higher vessel and ray densities, and smaller diameter vessels. Termites occurred in the hollows of 43% of the trees sampled, with <i>C. testaceus</i> the most common (76%). The probability of encountering termite nests of <i>C. testaceus</i> varied among tree species and was positively related to wood density. <i>Conclusions:</i> This study shows that given the increased likelihood of stem hollows and rotten cores in large trees, tree selection criteria in managed tropical forests should include maximum cutting sizes that vary with the susceptibility of different tree species to stem decay.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/10/1087heartrothollow treesreduced-impact loggingtropical timberwood anatomy<i>Coptotermes</i> |
| spellingShingle | Ana Alice Eleuterio Maria Aparecida de Jesus Francis E. Putz Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia Forests heartrot hollow trees reduced-impact logging tropical timber wood anatomy <i>Coptotermes</i> |
| title | Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia |
| title_full | Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia |
| title_fullStr | Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia |
| title_short | Stem Decay in Live Trees: Heartwood Hollows and Termites in Five Timber Species in Eastern Amazonia |
| title_sort | stem decay in live trees heartwood hollows and termites in five timber species in eastern amazonia |
| topic | heartrot hollow trees reduced-impact logging tropical timber wood anatomy <i>Coptotermes</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/10/1087 |
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