Forever Changing the Treescape of Cities – The 400-Year-Old History of Oaks May Be Coming to an End

Quercus robur was first introduced into South Africa in 1656. Today it is one of the most widespread and recognized trees in the South African landscape, such as the centuries-old oak trees lining the streets of Stellenbosch . But these centuries-old trees are also the most susceptible to infections and pests such as the polyphagous shot hole borer. Credit: Christiaan Gildenhuys

Christiaan Gildenhuys, a postgraduate student in SU’s Department of Botany and Zoology and first author on the article, says the first written record of English oak are highly susceptible to diseases and invasive beetles such as the polyphagous shot hole borer: “Not only does this mean that many century-old oaks are at risk, but it also means that infected trees must be removed before the infestation spreads further,” says Gildenhuys.

Prof. Dave Richardson, an ecologist at CIB and co-author, says the story of oaks in South Africa is a classic example of how global change is rapidly changing the roles and perspectives of species in urban areas. The ideal would be to replace the infected trees with indigenous species which are less susceptible to pests and diseases such as the PSHB. However, people’s attachments to their oak-lined streets may inhibit replacement efforts and induce conflicts between management and stakeholders, he warns.

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