一般影響
自從C. parasitica被引進後它就對美國大部分的森林組成與多樣性造成負面的影響。Davelos and Jarosz(2004)指出在枯枝病被引入之前,美國栗樹曾經是美國東部硬木森林上層的優勢樹種(Day and Monk, 1974; Karban, 1978; Russell, 1987)。在南阿帕拉契森林,成熟栗樹的減少已經降低了森林對野生動物的承載量(Diamond et al., 2000)。在 C. parasitica流行之後,橡樹( Quercusspp.)、紅色楓( Acer rubrum)與山胡桃樹( Caryaspp.)就成為了上層的優勢樹種(Keever, 1953; Stephenson, et al., 1991)。現在美國栗樹仍舊是重要的下層樹種因為新芽由尚存的樹根長出(Keever, 1953; Russell, 1987; Stephenson et al., 1991)。然而受感染的新芽在生存率和大小上都比較低,尤其是和其他硬木樹種競爭時(Griffin et al., 1991; Parker et al., 1993)。Vandermast et al.(2002)指出具有植物相剋作用的栗樹,樹葉的品質可能影響了東部森林的廣大區域。栗樹的樹葉很密集且多,腐化的很慢( Zon, 1904)。其他研究則指出穿過樹葉低落的雨水含有植物毒性的化學物質,足以抑制競爭物種的成長( Al; Lodhi and Nilsen)。在南阿帕拉契山區與競爭樹種與灌木種的數量相比,或許就是植物相剋作用使栗樹維持在該地區的優勢。在義大利,Dallavalle and Zambonelli(1999)指出在義大利中南部的混合林中,即使栗樹枯枝病在橡樹的發生率相當高,病原體仍然對栗樹造成嚴重的損害( Luisi et al., 1994)。雖然這種疾病不會對栗樹以外的寄主造成損害,但仍然在真菌流行病扮演重要的角色。
地點特有的影響:Italy 病原: It is reported that there is a very high occurrence of chestnut blight on oak in the mixed woods of southern-central Italy where the pathogen still causes severe damage on chestnut ( Luisi et al., 1994). United States (USA) 棲地改變: Several insect species which are restricted to chestnut are now extinct or endangered (Schmitz and Simberloff, 1997) . Vandermast et al. (2002) state that "Post-blight loss of allelopathic chestnut leaf litter could have contributed to changes in vegetative composition of eastern forests." Davelos and Jarosz (2004) state that, "The major epidemic following the introduction of C. parasitica into the United States has resulted in a rapid change in the species' place in eastern hardwood forests." 經濟 /民生: The EPPO (2003) states that, "Between 1904 and 1950, Cryphonectria parasitica caused almost complete destruction of Castanea dentata in the eastern USA (Hepting, 1974)."
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