Research Accomplishment Reports 2007

Interactions among Bark Beetles, Pathogens, and Conifers in North American Forests

L.K. Rieske-Kinney, F.A. Baker, S. Cook, B. Bentz, T.C. Harrington, P. Bonello
Department of Entomology

 

Project Description

As exotic invaders are introduced and gain a foothold in US and Kentucky forests, the Forest Entomology Lab is working to gain an understanding of their potential impacts on forest composition and forest structure. After assessing current forest conditions, we are modeling the effects of invasion by specific exotic organisms on vegetation and structure in specific forest types.

Based on current forest conditions and specific exotic invaders' impacts, we can project forest growth 50 years into the future. Exotic species will undoubtedly influence future vegetation and alter the ecological interactions within a forest community. Our results have implications with respect to determining the level of proactive management needed to minimize our losses and to develop ways of mitigating the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species. We are modeling forest composition and structure following widespread pine mortality due to an outbreak of the endemic Southern pine beetle. Forest modeling predicts that subsequent disturbance from wildfire maintains pine forest composition relative to a single disturbance from insect outbreak. Prescribed fire, which is utilized for site preparation, facilitates shortleaf pine regeneration. Prescribed fire has little impact on larger, mobile arthropods. However, soil-borne mite and collembolan populations, which are critical to decomposition processes, are devastated. This work will help land managers determine viable options for managing future forests.

Impact

Exotic species will undoubtedly influence future vegetation and alter the ecological interactions within a forest community. We are modeling the effects of specific invaders and projecting forest structure and composition into the future. Our results have implications with respect to determining the level of proactive management needed to minimize our losses and to develop ways of mitigating the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species.

We are modeling forest composition and structure following widespread pine mortality due to an outbreak of the endemic Southern pine beetle. This work will help land managers determine viable options for managing future forests. Our results have implications with respect to determining the level of proactive management needed to minimize our losses and to develop ways of mitigating the ecological and economic impacts of native and non-native invasive species.

Publications

Coleman, T.W., Meeker, J.R., Clarke, S. and Rieske, L.K. 2008. Forest composition following overstory mortality from southern pine beetle and associated treatments. Canadian Journal of Forest Research (In press).

Coleman, T.W., Meeker, J.R., Clarke, S. and Rieske, L.K. 2008. Widespread forest disturbance from southern pine beetle suppression and subsequent wildfire impacts forest stand dynamics. Applied Vegetation Science (In press).

Coleman, T.W., Martin, A., Meeker, J.R., Clarke, S. and Rieske, L.K. 2008. Sixteen years of vegetation succession in loblolly pine forests following catastrophic stand replacement. Natural Areas Journal (Submitted).

Reeves, J.D., Strom, B.L., Rieske, L.K., Ayres, B.D., and Costa, A.M. 2008. Geographic variation in prey preference in bark beetle predators. Ecological Entomology (Under revision).