Extent and causes of mortality in Pinus sylvestris advance growth in northern Sweden following overstorey removal

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Abstract
Mortality of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) advance growth seedlings following overstorey removal was studied in nine stands in north Sweden. In each stand, one 40 × 40 m plot was established for each of four different intensities of overstorey removal: 0% (control), 60%, 85% and 100%. Seedlings were monitored on one 18 × 18 m sub‐plot at the centre of each plot for two or three growing seasons following overstorey removal. For seedlings taller than 100 mm, mortality and number of injured seedlings after two growing seasons increased significantly with increasing basal area removal. Seedlings ≤ 100 mm showed the same trend, though not statistically significant. For the height interval > 100 ≤ 500 mm, mortality was not significantly influenced by seedling height. Most of the mortality and the injuries to seedlings were caused by Hylobius abietis (L.) and Pissodes spp. It is concluded that insect damage to released Scots pine advance growth in northern Sweden is a common problem.