Influence of oak woodland composition and structure on infection by Phytophthora ramorum

Abstract

Introduced plant pathogens have major ecological impacts in many parts of the world. While the spread of pathogens can be strongly mediated by the composition and structure of local host plant communities, little is known about effects of plant community structure on invasion dynamics of introduced pathogens. The progress of infection by the invasive pathogen Phytophthora ramorum in coastal California woodlands varies greatly among localities, and some of this variation might be explained by local variation in tree species composition and forest structure. The degree to which patterns of P. ramorum infection depend on the abundance and type of host species present was examined in 202 randomly located plots within a 275 km² region in eastern Sonoma County, California.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the sudden oak death third science symposium

Citation

Rank, Nathan; Cushman, Hall; Anacker, Brian; Rizzo, David; Meentemeyer, Ross. 2008. Influence of oak woodland composition and structure on infection by Phytophthora ramorum. In: Frankel, Susan J.; Kliejunas, John T.; Palmieri, Katharine M., tech. coords. 2008. Proceedings of the sudden oak death third science symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-214. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. pp. 219-220