Effect of pine wood nematode invasion on pine community functions in the Pinghu region, Zhejiang Province, eastern China

In order to investigate the effect of invastion by pine wood nematode (PWN), this study analyzed several functional indices, i.e., the increment in DBH and stand volume and biomass, in the damaged stands with various mixed percentages of Pinus massoniana and P. thunbergii and with different levels of damage. According to the results of rate of change in increment of DBH and stand volume, the forest ecosystem resistance against PWN increased with a reduction in the mixed ratio of pine. The resistance was highest with a mixed percentage of 50%. The invasion of PWN changed the corresponding relationship of increment between DBH and stand volume (pure stands > 7:3 conifer and broadleaf > 6:4 conifer and broadleaf > 5:5 conifer and broadleaf) among the P. thunbergii stands when there is no damage, but for P. massoniana stands this phenomenon did not occur. For the increment rate of DBH and stand volume, this significant change in P. thunbergii forest indicates that the resistance of pure P. thunbergii forest was higher than that of P. massoniana. The invasion of PWN accelerates the succession from pure stands to mixed stands and then to the broadleaf evergreen stands.