The Influence of Wild Boars on the Growth of Forest Trees and Stands: A Case Study of a Wild Boar Game Preserve

摘要

This research investigatedudmethodsudforuddeterminudingudand quantifyudingudthe impact of wildudboars on the increment and growth of forest trees and stands. The influenceudof wild boarsudon standudvariables was observedudin a wildudgame preserveudestablished in central Slovakia in 2000udpracticingudintensive wild boar managementud.udLongud-udterm measurements obtained from two longud-udterm researchudplots ofudsessileudoak treesudestablished in 1969 were usedudto monitor stand growth.udIudncrements of treesudwere observed on tree ring cores coming fromudtrees surrounded byuddifferently damaged soil surfaceudsud.udWild boarsudrootingudthe soil surface provedudto haveudneither a positive norudnegative influence on theudmean diametuder and height of the forest stands. Analysis of radial increments inud9udtrees growing on sitesudwith more intense, deeperud,udand permanentudrootingudinudthe soil profileudlocated near audlarger mud bath wasudalso carried out. A more distinctive increment depression was found on one oakudnear the mud bathudandudon one budeech where deeper soil surface rootingudoccurred.