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- Title
Forest structure altered by mountain pine beetle outbreaks affects subsequent attack in a Wyoming lodgepole pine forest, USA.
- Authors
Kashian, Daniel M.; Jackson, Rebecca M.; Lyons, Heather D.
- Abstract
Extensive outbreaks of the mountain pine beetle ( Hopkins) will alter the structure of many stands that will likely be attacked again before experiencing a stand-replacing fire. We examined a stand of lodgepole pine ( var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) in Grand Teton National Park currently experiencing a moderate-level outbreak and previously attacked by mountain pine beetle in the 1960s. Consistent with published studies, tree diameter was the main predictor of beetle attack on a given tree, large trees were preferentially attacked, and tree vigor, age, and cone production were unimportant variables for beetle attack at epidemic levels. Small trees killed in the stand were killed based mainly on their proximity to large trees and were likely spatially aggregated with large trees as a result of the previous outbreak. We concluded that the driving factors of beetle attack and their spatial patterns are consistent across outbreak severities but that stand structure altered by the previous outbreak had implications for the current outbreaks in the same location. This study should catalyze additional research that examines how beetle-altered stand structure affects future outbreaks - an important priority for predicting their impacts under climate change scenarios that project increases in outbreak frequency and extent.
- Subjects
GRAND Teton National Park (Wyo.); WYOMING; MOUNTAIN pine beetle; LODGEPOLE pine diseases &; pests; CLIMATE change
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2011, Vol 41, Issue 12, p2403
- ISSN
0045-5067
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/x11-142