A dendroecological study in a declining oak coppice stand

Abstract

The decline of a 30-year-old mixed oak coppice stand, with a prevalence of Quercus cerris, located near Tolfa, Rome, Italy, was studied. In order to better understand the importance of some disturbance factors resulting in decline, phytopathological conditions were compared with data provided by a dendroecological analysis. The increment series showed that dominant shoots classified as healthy have always had better growth than trees classified as declining. A multiple regression analysis showed spring climatic parameters to be those with the highest correlation to growth. These results confirm that several factors are associated to the observed oak decline.