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Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2024) | Viewed by 18446

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Celia Boone

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Guest Editor

BC Ministry of Forests, Smithers, BC V0J 2N5, Canada
Interests: forest entomology; insect-plant interactions; insect ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Katherine P. Bleiker

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Guest Editor

Research Scientist, Bark Beetle Ecology, Pacific Forestry Centre, 506 Burnside Road West, Victoria, BC, Canada
Interests: forest entomology; bark beetle population dynamics; climate–insect interactions; community ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the population dynamics of forest insects is pivotal for describing and understanding insect ecology, and is critical for assessing the potential impacts on forest health, resources, and other species. Identifying the conditions and factors that cause certain species to erupt is also critical for the development and application of effective forest management approaches. Further, global change, including climate and land use changes, pollution, and invasive species, can affect insect populations, and, in turn, forested habitats, which adds a layer of complexity and uncertainty for the future. We encourage submissions related to the population dynamics of insects that affect forest health. Manuscripts that address how global changes may affect the population dynamics of forest insects, and the implications for management in an uncertain future, are especially encouraged.

Dr. Celia K. Boone
Dr. Katherine P. Bleiker
Guest Editors

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Keywords

forest insect population dynamics
density dependence/independence
life tables
population growth models
population regulation (bottom-up/top-down)
outbreak cycles
species interactions
climate change
forest pest management

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 9355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maximum Entropy Model Prediction of the Distributions of Two Sympatric Bean Weevil Species, Megabruchidius dorsalis (Fahraeus, 1839) and Bruchidius coreanus (Chûjô, 1937), under Various Climate Scenarios in Guizhou Province, China

by Guanying Ma, Qiyan Peng, Xiukui Pan, Minghui Xie, Jun Liao, Chengxu Wu and Maofa Yang

Forests 2024, 15(2), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020300 - 4 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1443

Abstract

Megabruchidius dorsalis and Bruchidius coreanus are sympatric bean weevil species that bore into Gleditsia sinensis seeds, seriously affecting the commercial development of this plant. Here, we aimed to understand potential changes in the distribution of these two sympatric pests under current and future climate conditions to provide a reference for the prediction of their occurrence and facilitate their prevention and control. Based on empirical field data, we predicted the potential distribution of M. dorsalis and B. coreanus in suitable habitat areas using the MaxEnt model and explored the relationships among different spatiotemporal distributions using change analysis. Our findings showed that compared with the current situation, the suitable areas for M. dorsalis and B. coreanus were predicted to increase by 4.8141% and 3.1009%, respectively, in the future. Isothermality (BIO3), min temperature of coldest month (BIO6), and variance in precipitation (BIO15) in the coldest month were determined to be the main factors restricting the current distribution of M. dorsalis and B. coreanus. Areas currently suitable for the two species are mainly in the central region of Guizhou and are predicted to move eastward in the future. Significant area under the receiver operating characteristics curve values for M. dorsalis (0.878) and B. coreanus (0.833) indicated that MaxEnt could be used to predict the potential habitats of these weevils, providing valuable information to inform their control in Guizhou Province. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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18 pages, 13220 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Suitable Habitat Prediction and Analysis of Dendrolimus houi and Its Host Cupressus funebris in the Chinese Region

by Guangting Miao, Youjie Zhao, Yijie Wang, Chunjiang Yu, Fei Xiong, Yongke Sun and Yong Cao

Forests 2024, 15(1), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010162 - 12 Jan 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1532

Abstract

The Dendrolimus houi, a phytophagous pest, displays a broad range of adaptations and often inflicts localized damage to its hosts. Cupressus funebris, an indigenous timber species in China, is significantly impacted by D. houi. Investigating the suitable habitat distribution and changes in D. houi and its host plant, C. funebris, within the context of climate warming, is essential for understanding D. houi’s development and providing novel insights for managing D. houi and conserving C. funebris resources. In this study, MaxEnt was employed to simulate the distribution of D. houi and its host plant, C. funebris, in their suitable habitats, evaluating the influence of environmental factors on their distribution and determining changes under a warming scenario. MaxEnt model parameters were adjusted using the Kuenm data package based on available distribution and climatic data. The minimum temperature of the coldest month emerged as the primary environmental factor influencing the distribution of a suitable habitat for D. houi and C. funebris, with a percentage contribution of environmental factors over 60%. There was a substantial similarity in the suitable habitat distributions of D. houi and C. funebris, with varying degrees of expansion in the total habitat area under different temporal and climatic scenarios. Intersection analysis results indicated that the 2041–2060 period, especially under low (SSP1-2.6) and high (SSP5-8.5) emission scenarios, is a critical phase for D. houi control. The habitat expansion of D. houi and C. funebris due to climate change was observed, with the distribution center of D. houi shifting northeast and that of C. funebris shifting northwest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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12 pages, 2170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Phenology Model for Egg Hatching of Walking-Stick Insect, Ramulus mikado (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae) in Korea

by Min-Jung Kim, Keonhee E. Kim, Seulki Son, Yonghwan Park, Youngwoo Nam and Jong-Kook Jung

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1710; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091710 - 24 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1852

Abstract

The walking-stick insect Ramulus mikado is occasionally considered a forest pest, as its mass occurrence can cause severe defoliation. It overwinters as eggs on the ground surface, and the hatched nymphs climb up to the host trees in spring. In this study, temperature-dependent development experiments were performed on R. mikado eggs under three constant temperatures (23.3, 28.3, and 29.2 °C) to extend the previously reported thermal response. The development times of eggs collected in summer and winter were also compared to investigate how development status is influenced by the seasons. The lower and upper developmental thresholds and thermal constants of R. mikado eggs were estimated to be 6.1 °C, 29.2 °C, and 1707.8 DD, respectively. The starting point for effective temperature effects on the eggs was estimated to be 1 August, based on the results of the experiment on field-collected eggs. A phenology model was constructed by using a development completion model scaled by the thermal constant, with a starting point of degree-day accumulation. The model showed good agreement, with a deviation of 3.2 ± 2.95 days between prediction and observation. The developed phenology model is useful for determining the appropriate timing for management decision-making regarding this insect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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15 pages, 3007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combining Tree-Ring Width and Density to Separate the Effects of Climate Variation and Insect Defoliation

by Marcel Kunz, Jan Esper, Eileen Kuhl, Lea Schneider, Ulf Büntgen and Claudia Hartl

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071478 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2051

Abstract

Though frequently used in dendroclimatology, European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) is regularly defoliated by mass outbreaks of the larch budmoth (Zeiraphera griseana Hb., LBM). The near-cyclic growth depressions are unrelated to but possibly coincide with cold summers, which challenges signal detection on interannual timescales. LBM defoliation events cause sharp maximum latewood density declines and irregular earlywood/latewood ratios in the outbreak year, followed by one or two anomalously narrow rings. Here, we present a process-based method integrating these diverse response patterns to identify and distinguish LBM-related signals from climate-induced deviations. Application to larch sites along elevational transects in the Swiss Alps reveals the algorithm to perform better than existing extreme event detection methods, though our approach enables additional differentiation between insect- and climate-induced signatures. The new process-based multi-parameter algorithm is a suitable tool to identify different causes of growth disturbances and will therefore help to improve both tree-ring-based climate and insect defoliation reconstructions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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13 pages, 3717 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differentiation of Forest Stands by Susceptibility to Folivores: A Retrospective Analysis of Time Series of Annual Tree Rings with Application of the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem

by Vladislav Soukhovolsky, Polina Krasnoperova, Anton Kovalev, Irina Sviderskaya, Olga Tarasova, Yulia Ivanova, Yuriy Akhanaev and Vyacheslav Martemyanov

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071385 - 6 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1498

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between characteristics of annual tree ring time series and the intensity of attacks on forest stands by forest insects. Using tenets of the fluctuation–dissipation theorem (which is widely used in physics), time series parameters are proposed that can help to assess the susceptibility of a forest stand to insect pests. The proposed approach was applied to evaluate differences in parameters of tree ring widths among outbreaks of the pine looper, Siberian silk moth, and spongy moth. A comparison of trees characteristics between outbreak locations and undamaged forest stands (control) showed that the tested parameters statistically significantly differed between the outbreak locations and control stands and can be used to assess the risk of pest outbreaks in forest stands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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11 pages, 2079 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Suitability of a Historical, Novel, and Occasional Host for Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

by Katherine P. Bleiker, Claire A. Ethier and Brian H. Van Hezewijk

Forests 2023, 14(5), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050989 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2095

Abstract

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), recently underwent a notable range-expansion event in western Canada, resulting in access to the novel host jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb. We assessed the suitability of jack pine for mountain pine beetle, as well as the historic host lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm., and the non-Pinus host white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, to help inform an assessment of the risk of future spread into Canada’s boreal forest and to further our understanding of host use in bark beetles. Several performance traits we measured were similar between lodgepole pine and jack pine, but gallery length and productivity indicated that lodgepole pine was the more suitable host. Development appeared to be faster in jack pine; however, in contrast to previous studies, we attribute it to oviposition arresting earlier in the novel host compared to the other hosts and not a difference in development rate. Initial productivity was surprisingly high in spruce, but we found evidence of a delayed negative effect that manifested as reduced cold tolerance, delayed development, and high mortality of late-instar larvae. Although jack pine is a suitable host for the mountain pine beetle, our results indicate that the beetle’s eruptive potential could be lower in jack pine compared to lodgepole pine, given all other factors are equal. Other factors that may also affect mountain pine beetle population dynamics require additional research and include the composition and structure of jack pine forests, environmental conditions, and biotic interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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18 pages, 3701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Re-Inventory after 12 Years—Increase in Red Wood Ant Nests and Woodpecker Cavities in Nests in the West Eifel Volcanic Field despite Climatic Changes

by Gabriele M. Berberich and Martin B. Berberich

Forests 2023, 14(5), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050985 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1663

Abstract

We re-inventoried red wood ant nests (RWA) in 12 study sites (≈1281 ha) in the tectonically active Westeifel Volcanic Field, Germany, in an area-wide and integrated ecosystem approach after 12 years. Combined with the re-identification of previously mapped nests using a photo database, this approach leads to more accurate nest counts in (re)inventories. A total increase in nests from 1144 (2009) to 1252 (2021), and a dramatic one for the Heidberg site by 52-fold (2009) and 85-fold (2021) compared to a 1984 inventory was observed, contrasting with earlier postulations of a decline in RWA. Early to medium mature (41–80 years) and mature (≥81–140 years) spruce forests were the preferred habitat. A large increase in small-sized nests suggests an increase in new nest settlements also in clearings, despite climate-induced forest dieback over the past decade. A decline in biodiversity in the herbaceous layer was observed; highly proliferating blackberries had no negative impact on RWA nests. Monitoring of woodpecker cavities in RWA nests is suggested as an indirect indicator tool for evaluating populations in forests. Positive ground movement rates caused by the Eifel plume are suggested as another factor favoring nest settlements, especially in NE-SW and WNW-ESE directions. This study contributes to the urgent need for updating the statistical data required to (a) effectively substantiate the status quo of RWA occurrences, (b) protect RWA as ecosystem engineers, (c) advance understanding of GeoBio-Interactions in the wake of climate change, and (d) contribute to the German government’s Insect Conservation Action Program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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27 pages, 5998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Infestation Phases and Impacts of Dryocoetes confusus in Subalpine Fir Forests of Southern British Columbia

by Lorraine E. Maclauchlan, Arthur J. Stock and Julie E. Brooks

Forests 2023, 14(2), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020363 - 11 Feb 2023

Viewed by 2189

Abstract

Subalpine fir mortality and stand decline are increasingly evident in British Columbia (B.C.). This long-term study confirmed Dryocoetes confusus to be the major disturbance agent in high-elevation subalpine forests, killing over two-thirds of subalpine fir in eleven one-hectare study plots. D. confusus infestations in mature stands can be described as early-, mid-, or late-phase. The transition from the early- through late-phase is characterized by a lowered stem density as high levels of D. confusus attack and remove the largest trees, while other mortality factors kill smaller trees. Initially, live subalpine fir density and D. confusus activity varied among plots. By a final assessment, very little difference was observed in live stems per hectare. Mortality from all factors ranged from 0.5% to 5% annually, reaching as high as 80% in-stand mortality with >6 times more dead than live volume. When subalpine fir density was reduced to <400 sph, the D. confusus attack rate declined. Cumulative mortality increased the average gap size in plots from 11 m² to 18 m². Our study also showed that D. confusus might be able to switch to a univoltine life cycle, taking advantage of warmer and longer growing seasons that, in part, could explain the rapid increase in mortality in stands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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11 pages, 2828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Larval Instars and Adult Flight Period of Monochamus saltuarius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

by Lichun Fan, Jue Wang, Weitao Wang and Yanan Zheng

Forests 2022, 13(6), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13060910 - 10 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2986

Abstract

Monochamus saltuarius is a vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Japan, South Korea, and the middle temperate zone of China. However, there are only a few reports on this species in China, and its biological characteristics are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the larval development and adult flight period of M. saltuarius to provide a theoretical basis for the effective control of pine wilt disease in the middle temperate zone of China. Seven morphological variables of larvae were measured to determine the number of larval instars, and the adult specimens of M. saltuarius were collected from traps in forests to study the flight period of adults in Fushun, Liaoning, the epidemic center of pine wilt disease in the middle temperate zone of China. The results revealed that the full larval period of M. saltuarius was 279.6 d, and the larvae had five instar stages, with an average duration of 7.4, 14.3, 49.8, 83.6, and 124.5 d, respectively. Additionally, 78.4% of the overwintering larvae were fourth instar, and 21.6% were fifth instar larvae. We also found that the adults began to emerge from early May to late June, and the period was from early May to mid-August in the forest. During the investigations period from 2018 to 2020, the total number of adults captured was minimal at 744, and precipitation was highest at 291.54 mm in 2019. We characterized the larval instars and adult flight period of M. saltuarius, which is a prerequisite for developing appropriate management strategies. The results of this study will provide an important reference for the formulation of strategies to control M. saltuarius and pine wilt disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Health: Forest Insect Population Dynamics)

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