Ecology and Control of Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.) in Turkish Eastern Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Forests

dc.contributor.authorEsen, Deryaen
dc.contributor.committeechairZedaker, Shepard M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJones, Robert H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKirwan, Jeffrey L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSmith, David Williamen
dc.contributor.committeememberMou, Paul P.en
dc.contributor.departmentForestryen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:16:47Zen
dc.date.adate2000-09-27en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:16:47Zen
dc.date.issued2000-06-28en
dc.date.rdate2001-09-27en
dc.date.sdate2000-09-26en
dc.description.abstractPurple-flowered rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.) and yellow-flowered rhododendron (R. flavum Don.) are two dominant shrub species of the eastern beech (Fagus orientalis L.) understories in the eastern and western Black Sea Region (BSR), respectively. These invasive woody species significantly reduce beech growth and can preclude tree regeneration. The ecological consequence is an aging beech overstory with little or no regeneration to replace the mature trees. Great rhododendron (R. maximum L.) has been increasing in the forests of the Southern Appalachians of the United States, reducing tree regeneration and growth. The BSR and Southern Appalachians bear noteworthy similarities in climate, topography, and the forest flora. Purple-flowered and great rhododendrons also show important similarities in their ecology and the forest vegetation problems they can cause. Current rhododendron-dominated and threatened BSR forests may provide an advanced ecological picture of the forests of the Southern Appalachians in which great rhododendron now thrives. Therefore, new information gained on the ecology and effective and cost-efficient control of purple-flowered rhododendron may significantly improve forest management practices, not only for the current rhododendron-invaded BSR ecosystem, but also for other parts of the world. This dissertation consists of five separate yet related chapters. The first gives relevant literature reviewed for the dissertation. The second chapter focuses on various environmental and disturbance factors that may have shaped the current purple-flowered rhododendron-dominated beech forests of the BSR of Turkey. Chapter 3 assesses the effects of various manual and herbicidal woody control techniques on purple-flowered and yellow-flowered rhododendron in two field experiments in the BSR. The fourth chapter relates a study of uptake and translocation behavior of triclopyr ester and imazapyr in great rhododendron. This information is used to determine the optimum herbicide-surfactant combinations for the greatest active ingredient uptake and root translocation in great rhododendron. The last chapter is a synthesis of the information gained in all of these different experiments.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-09262000-16320008en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09262000-16320008/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/29098en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartesen.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectecology of rhododendron and beechen
dc.subjectcosten
dc.subjectanthropogenicen
dc.subjectherbicide uptake and translocationen
dc.subjectwoody weed controlen
dc.subjectdisturbanceen
dc.subjecttree growthen
dc.subjecttopographyen
dc.subjectsoilen
dc.subjectefficacyen
dc.subjectherbicidesen
dc.subjectsurfactanten
dc.subjectfireen
dc.titleEcology and Control of Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.) in Turkish Eastern Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Forestsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineForestryen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
esen.pdf
Size:
585.46 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format