Kopolovets Y. Natural resistance of Abies alba Mill. in the Ukrainian Carpathians

The analysis of domestic and foreign scientific literatures was focused on the biotic and abiotic impact on the biological resilience of the forest ecosystem and its important component such as tree species. The structural features of wood in the different forest types as a natural polymer consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin was analyzed. The biological destruction of wood in a growing tree was associated with living organisms – fungi, bacteria, insects and other pests, for which it is a potential source of nutriment. The complex action of different types of pathogens from different ecological groups of phytophagous insects, the influence of which significantly changes the protective functions of the forest ecosystem, was analyzed. The issue of biodegradation of Silver fir stem wood was considered in the context of damage of fir stands by pests (bark beetle, woodwasp, etc.) and fungus (root sponge, honeysuckle and other pathogens of stem rot), which significantly affect the qualimetric characteristics of the stem. Literature review of the results of the study of the wood properties of Silver fir states that the structural and physical wood features influencing by biotic factors in the various altitude and forest types were studied. It has been established that the issue of studying the natural resistance of white fir stem wood against surface mould, wood-staining and wood-destroying fungi in terms of changes in its physical quality and qualimetric characteristics of round timber remains unexplored. To study the natural wood resistance of Abies alba Mill. in the forest conditions of the Ukrainian Carpathians, 14 fir stands were selected in the State Enterprises “Perechynske Forestry”, “Velykobereznyanske Forestry” and “Berehomet 8 Forestry”. The research area was characterized by a clear vertical zonation of forest vegetation and mixed plantations with the participation of Silver fir from 350 to 1045 m above sea level. The study of the natural resistance of Silver fir stemwood and changes in its physical properties under the impact of biological damages (surface mold; wood-staining and wood-destroying fungi, insects) was carried out in wet beech-fir and wet beech-hornbeam-fir forest types.