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Huk, Matthew

Climate change has been the driver of diverse ecological changes worldwide. The effects of the warming environment have been observed among several forest insect species, and their host tree interactions. Insects are cold-blooded organisms, therefore, temperature is the key parameter determining timing and duration of lifecycle events, as well as their geographical distribution. Correspondingly, the warming environment is also affecting forest health, resilience and structure. Consequently, shifting herbivory rates, altered distribution of forest pests, and an increased unpredictability of trophic interactions have already threatened the integrity of several forest systems. This review contrasts the effects of climate change on bark beetles and European defoliators outlining the key mechanisms of altered population dynamics. Additionally two case studies are developed involving the spruce beetle and the larch bud moth (LBM) to illustrate the nuances between the systems.

Text

University of British Columbia. FRST 497

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0075597

Forestry, Faculty of

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/