Interactions among Norway spruce, the bark beetle Ips typographus and its fungal symbionts in times of drought

AbstractResilience and functionality of European Norway spruce forests are increasingly threatened by mass outbreaks of the bark beetle Ips typographus promoted by heat, wind throw and drought. Here, we review current knowledge on Norway spruce and I. typographus interactions from the perspective of drought-stressed trees, host selection, colonisation behaviour of beetles, with multi-level effects of symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi. By including chemo-ecological, molecular and behavioural perspectives, we provide a comprehensive picture on this complex, multitrophic system in the light of climate change. Trees invest carbon into specialised metabolism to produce defence compounds against biotic invaders; processes that are strongly affected by physiological stress such as drought. Spruce bark contains numerous terpenoid and phenolic substances, which are important for bark beetle aggregation and attack success. Abiotic stressors such as increased temperatures and drought affect composition, amounts and emission rates of volatile compounds. Thus, drought events may influence olfactory responses of I. typographus, and further the pheromone communication enabling mass attack. In addition, I. typographus is associated with numerous ophiostomatoid fungal symbionts with multiple effects on beetle life history. Symbiotic fungi degrade spruce toxins, help to exhaust tree defences, produce beetle semiochemicals, and possibly provide nutrition. As the various fungal associates have different temperature optima, they can influence the performance of I. typographus differently under changing environmental conditions. Finally, we discuss why effects of drought on tree-killing by bark beetles are still poorly understood and provide an outlook on future research on this eruptive species using both, field and laboratory experiments.

Download Full-text

Mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) associated with Ips typographus (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) in managed and natural Norway spruce stands in Central Europe

Open Life Sciences ◽

10.2478/s11535-012-0070-z ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 910-916 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Dariusz Gwiazdowicz ◽

Jacek Kamczyc ◽

Ewa Teodorowicz ◽

Jerzy Błoszyk

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Management Practices ◽

Mite Species ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Ne Poland ◽

Set Up ◽

Mite Communities ◽

The Impact

AbstractPrevious studies have suggested that forest management practices can influence bark beetle populations as well as those of some associated insects. However, the impact on bark beetle-associated mites, which occur in bark beetle galleries in large numbers, have not yet been studied. The objective of this study was to compare mesostigmatid mite communities associated with the Norway spruce pest Ips typographus in managed and natural forest stands separated by spruce-free belt. The study sites were located in Białowieża National Park (NE Poland) as well as in the Izery Mountains (Szklarska Poręba Forest District — SW Poland), which were destroyed in 1981–1987 by an ecological disaster. In total, 30 Borregard pipe traps containing the commercial attractant Ipsodor W (Chemipan, Poland) were set up at each study site and collected in August 2010. In total, 7214 bark beetles and 1804 mites were collected which were classified into 16 species. We observed differences in the total abundance of mites as well as the total number of recorded mite species. The communities were quite similar, and were generally dominated by populations of Trichouropoda polytricha, Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus and Uroobovella ipidis. The Shannon and Evenness indexes as well as the mean number of mites per sample were not significantly different between forests.

Download Full-text

Phenolic predictors for Norway spruce resistance to the bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and an associated fungus, Ceratocystis polonica

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x98-037 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 720-728 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Franck Brignolas ◽

François Lieutier ◽

Daniel Sauvard ◽

Erik Christiansen ◽

Alan A Berryman

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Phenolic Content ◽

Principal Component ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Phenolic Composition ◽

Relative Resistance ◽

Induced Reaction ◽

Ceratocystis Polonica

Changes in phloem phenolic content of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) clones were followed during the first 12 days of the reaction induced by phloem artificial inoculation with Ceratocystis polonica Siem., a bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) associated fungus. The aim was to confirm our previous results concerning the mechanisms of this reaction and the possible predictors of Norway spruce resistance to bark beetles and their associated fungi. The induced reaction was characterized by a slight decrease of tanning ability and an increase of (+)-catechin concentration, which confirmed our previous observations. The relative resistance of the clones was first predicted using the predictors previously proposed. In addition, the first axis of the principal component analysis describing the phenolic content of all clones was used as a synthetic predictor (resistance axis). Related variables were also tested as predictors. Actual resistance of each clone was then measured, using mass inoculations of C. polonica, and was compared with the predictions. Four predictors were so validated: the resistance axis, tanning ability and isorhapontin concentration in uninoculated phloem, and (+)-catechin concentration in the phloem 6 days after its inoculation. Phloem phenolic composition could thus be used to predict Norway spruce resistance to bark beetles and their associated fungi.

Download Full-text

Antioxidant defences of Norway spruce bark against bark beetles and its associated blue-stain fungus

Agricultura ◽

10.1515/agricultura-2016-0002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (1-2) ◽

pp. 9-18

Author(s):

Mateja Felicijan ◽

Metka Novak ◽

Nada Kraševec ◽

Andreja Urbanek Krajnc

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Inducible Defences ◽

Defence Mechanisms ◽

Spruce Bark ◽

Blue Stain ◽

Ceratocystis Polonica

Abstract Bark beetles and their fungal associates are integral parts of forest ecosystems, the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus Linnaeus, 1758) and the associated pathogenic blue stain fungus Ceratocystis polonica (SIEM.) C. MOREAU, are the most devastating pests regarding Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. KARST.]. Bark beetles commonly inhabit weakened and felled trees as well as vital trees. They cause physiological disorders in trees by destroying a phloem and cambium or interrupt the transpiration -ow in the xylem. Conifers have a wide range of effective defence mechanisms that are based on the inner bark anatomy and physiological state of the tree. The basic function of bark defences is to protect the nutrient-and energy-rich phloem, the vital meristematic region of the vascular cambium, and the transpiration -ow in the sapwood. The main area of defence mechanisms is secondary phloem, which is physically and chemically protected by polyphenolic parenchyma (PP) cells, sclerenchyma, calcium oxalate crystals and resin ducts. Conifer trunk pest resistance includes constitutive, inducible defences and acquired resistance. Both constitutive and inducible defences may deter beetle invasion, impede fungal growth and close entrance wounds. During a successful attack, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) becomes effective and represents a third defence strategy. It gradually develops throughout the plant and provides a systemic change within the whole tree’s metabolism, which is maintained over a longer period of time. The broad range of defence mechanisms that contribute to the activation and utilisation of SAR, includes antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes, which are generally linked to the actions of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The presented review discusses the current knowledge on the antioxidant defence strategies of spruce inner bark against the bark beetle (Ips typographus) and associated blue stain fungus (Ceratocystis polonica).

Download Full-text

Drivers of Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus) Infestations on Downed Trees after Severe Windthrow

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11121290 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1290

Author(s):

Branislav Hroššo ◽

Pavel Mezei ◽

Mária Potterf ◽

Andrej Majdák ◽

Miroslav Blaženec ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Wind Damage ◽

Stem Length ◽

Local Conditions ◽

Spruce Bark Beetle ◽

Management Actions ◽

Spruce Bark

Research Highlights: Bark beetles are important agents of disturbance regimes in temperate forests, and specifically in a connected wind-bark beetle disturbance system. Large-scale windthrows trigger population growth of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) from endemic to epidemic levels, thereby allowing the killing of Norway spruce trees over several consecutive years. Background and Objectives: There is a lack of evidence to differentiate how outbreaks are promoted by the effects of environmental variables versus beetle preferences of trees from endemic to outbreak. However, little is known about how individual downed-tree characteristics and local conditions such as tree orientation and solar radiation affect beetle colonization of downed trees. Materials and Methods: To answer this question, we investigated the infestation rates and determined tree death categories (uprooted, broken, and stump) in wind-damaged areas in Western Tatra Mts. in Carpathians (Slovakia) from 2014–2016, following a windthrow in May 2014. In total, we investigated 225 trees over eight transects. For every tree, we measured its morphological (tree height, crown characteristics), environmental (solar radiation, terrain conditions, trunk zenith), temporal (time since wind damage), and beetle infestation (presence, location of attack, bark desiccation) parameters. We applied Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) to unravel the main drivers of I. typographus infestations. Results: Over the first year, beetles preferred to attack broken trees and sun-exposed trunk sides over uprooted trees; the infestation on shaded sides started in the second year along with the infestation of uprooted trees with lower desiccation rates. We found that time since wind damage, stem length, and incident solar radiation increased the probability of beetle infestation, although both solar radiation and trunk zenith exhibited nonlinear variability. Our novel variable trunk zenith appeared to be an important predictor of bark beetle infestation probability. We conclude that trunk zenith as a simple measure defining the position of downed trees over the terrain can anticipate beetle infestation. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to understanding of the bark beetle’s preferences to colonize windthrown trees in the initial years after the primary wind damage. Further, our findings can help to identify trees that are most susceptible to beetle infestation and to prioritize management actions to control beetle population while maintaining biodiversity.

Download Full-text

Impacts of European spruce bark beetle infestations on Norway spruce BVOC emissions

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-7624 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Erica Jaakkola ◽

Anna Maria Jönsson ◽

Per-Ola Olsson ◽

Maj-Lena Linderson ◽

Thomas Holst

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Atmospheric Environment ◽

Strong Increase ◽

Healthy Tree ◽

Spruce Bark Beetle ◽

Spruce Bark

Tree killing by spruce bark beetles (Ips typographus) is one of the main disturbances to Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests in Europe and the risk of outbreaks is amplified by climate change with effects such as increased risk of storm felling, tree drought stress and an additional generation of spruce bark beetles per year[1]. The warm and dry&#160;summer of&#160;2018 triggered large outbreaks in Sweden, the increased outbreaks are still ongoing and affected&#160;about 8 million m3&#160;forest&#160;in 2020[2]. This is the so&#160;far highest record of trees killed by the spruce bark beetle in a single year in Sweden[2]. In&#160;1990-2010,&#160;the spruce bark beetle killed on&#160;average&#160;150 000 m3&#160;forest per year in southern Sweden[3]. Bark beetles normally seek and attack Norway spruces with lowered defense, i.e. trees that are wind-felled or experience prolonged drought stress[4]. However, as the number of bark beetle outbreaks increase, the risk of attacks on healthy trees also increase[5]. This causes a higher threat to forest industry, and lowers the possibilities to mitigate climate change in terms of potential decreases in carbon uptake if the forests die[4,5]. Norway spruce trees normally defend themselves by drenching the beetles in resin[6]. The resin in turn contains different biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), which can vary if the spruce is attacked by bark beetles or not [4,6]. The most abundant group of terpenoids (isoprene, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes), is most commonly emitted from conifers, such as Norway spruce[7,8]. The aim of this study was to enable a better understanding of the direct defense mechanisms of spruce trees by&#160;quantifying BVOC emissions and its composition&#160;from individual&#160;trees under attackTo analyze the bark beetles&#8217; impact on Norway spruce trees a method was developed using tree trunk chambers and adsorbent tubes. This enables direct measurements of the production of BVOCs from individual trees. Three different sites in Sweden, with different environmental conditions were used for the study and samples were collected throughout the growing season of 2019. After sampling, the tubes were analyzed in a lab using automated thermal desorption coupled to a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer to identify BVOC species and their quantity.The preliminary results show a strong increase in BVOC emissions from a healthy tree that became infested during the data collection. The finalized results expect to enable better understanding of how spruce trees are affected by insect stress from bark beetles, and if bark beetle infestation will potentially result in increased carbon emission in the form of BVOCs.References[1] J&#246;nsson et al. (2012). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 166: 188&#8211;200 [2] Skogsstyrelsen, (2020). https://via.tt.se/pressmeddelande/miljontals-granar-dodades-av-granbarkborren-2020?publisherId=415163&releaseId=3288473 [3] Marini et al. (2017). Ecography, 40(12), 1426&#8211;1435. [4] Raffa (1991). Photochemical induction by herbivores. pp. 245-276 [5] Seidl, et al. (2014). Nature Climate Change,&#160;4(9), 806-810. [6] Ghimire, et al. (2016).&#160;Atmospheric Environment,&#160;126, 145-152. [7] Niinemets, U. and Monson, R. (2013). ISBN 978-94-007-6606-8 [8] Kesselmeier, J. and Staudt, M. (1999). Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 33(1), pp.23-88

Download Full-text

Bark Beetle Population Dynamics in the Anthropocene: Challenges and Solutions

10.20944/preprints201810.0640.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Peter H. W. Biedermann ◽

Jean-Claude Grégoire ◽

Axel Gruppe ◽

Jonas Hagge ◽

Almuth Hammerbacher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Collaborative Research ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Large Scale ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Ecological Framework ◽

Beetle Population ◽

Spruce Bark ◽

Important Pest

Tree-killing bark beetles are the most economically important insects in conifer forests worldwide. Yet  despite >200 years of research, the drivers of population eruptions or crashes are still not fully understood, precluding reliable predictions of the effects of global change on beetle population dynamics and impacts on ecosystems and humans.  We critically analyze potential biotic and abiotic drivers of population dynamics of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) and present a novel ecological framework that integrates the multiple drivers governing this bark beetle system. We call for large-scale collaborative research efforts to improve our understanding of the population dynamics of this important pest; an approach that might serve as a blueprint for other eruptive forest insects.

Download Full-text

Merocoenoses of cambioxylophagous insect fauna of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) with focus on bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and types of tree damage in different gradation conditions

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/33/2010-jfs ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 10) ◽

pp. 474-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. Kula ◽

W. Ząbecki

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Insect Fauna ◽

Spruce Bark ◽

Standing Trees ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Endemic Population

Research on merocoenoses of cambioxylophagous insect fauna of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was carried out in spruce stands of different age in the area with an endemic population (Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Czech Republic) and in the area with an epidemic population (Beskid Żywiecki, Poland) of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.). The structure of merocoenoses was characterized separately for standing trees attacked by bark beetles, trees struck by lightning, trees affected by fungal pathogens and wind-felling and trees in the form of snags and fragments. The occurrence of cambioxylophagous insects, mostly bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), was compared between the study areas with emphasis on dominant facultative primary bark beetles and types of damage to spruce trees.  

Download Full-text

The alpha-cypermethrin coated net for protecting Norway spruce wood against bark beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Journal of Plant Protection Research ◽

10.1515/jppr-2015-0020 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 156-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Iwona Skrzecz ◽

Wojciech Grodzki ◽

Mieczysław Kosibowicz ◽

Dorota Tumialis

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Early Spring ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

High Efficacy ◽

Thanasimus Formicarius ◽

Spruce Wood ◽

Research Material ◽

Negative Effect

Abstract The study estimated the efficacy of a net coated with alpha-cypermethrin used to protect Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst] wood against bark beetle infestations. The inside of the net was coated with 100 mg/m2 of alpha-cypermethrin. The studies carried out in 2010 and 2011 took place in southern Poland in the Beskid Żywiecki and Beskid Sądecki mountains in P. abies stands threatened by Ips typographus (Linnaeus, 1758). The research material consisted of wood logs taken off of 70–80-year-old P. abies trees. The logs were wrapped in the net in the early spring before spring swarming of bark beetles. The unwrapped logs were considered as the study controls. An evaluation of the treatments was performed after 2 months. The evaluation was based on the counting of bark beetles galleries found after removing the bark from the wrapped and unwrapped logs. There were no insect galleries on the wrapped logs. The net was a barrier, on which bark beetles died. About 10 dead I. typographus beetles were found on 0.01 m2 of the net surface. On the bark from the unwrapped-control logs there were 3,156 galleries/entrance holes of bark beetles, in total, of which 73% belonged to I. typographus, 13% to Pityogenes chalcographus (Linnaeus, 1761), and almost 10% to Xyloterus lineatus (Oliv.). These results indicated the high efficacy of the net coated with alpha-cypermethrin used for the protection of Norway spruce wood against the bark beetles. At the same time, the net was found to have a negative effect on non-target entomofauna, mainly Hylobius spp., Thanasimus formicarius (L.), and Tetropium castaneum (F.). However, the use of a net did not affect other predatory (Carabidae) and parasitic (Ichneumonidae and Tachinidae) entomofauna.

Download Full-text

Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate elicits defenses in Norway spruce (Picea abies) and reduces host colonization by the bark beetle Ips typographus

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-006-0394-3 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 148 (3) ◽

pp. 426-436 ◽

Cited By ~ 104

Author(s):

Nadir Erbilgin ◽

Paal Krokene ◽

Erik Christiansen ◽

Gazmend Zeneli ◽

Jonathan Gershenzon

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Methyl Jasmonate ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Host Colonization ◽

Exogenous Application

Download Full-text

A Highly Contiguous Genome Assembly of a Major Forest Pest, the Eurasian Spruce Bark Beetle Ips Typographus

10.21203/rs.3.rs-182683/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Powell ◽

Ewald Grosse-Wilde ◽

Paal Krokene ◽

Amit Roy ◽

Amrita Chakraborty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bark Beetle ◽

Genome Assembly ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Plant Cell Wall ◽

Draft Genome ◽

Ips Typographus ◽

Whole Genome Sequence ◽

Comparative Genomic ◽

Spruce Bark Beetle ◽

Spruce Bark

Abstract Conifer-feeding bark beetles are important herbivores and decomposers in forest ecosystems. These species have evolved specializations to complete their life cycle in nutritionally poor wooden substrates and some can overwhelm tree defences and kill enormous numbers of trees during population outbreaks. The Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is one tree-killing species; during a recent epidemic it destroyed >100 million m3 of spruce in a single year. We report a 236 Mb, highly contiguous I. typographus genome assembly using PacBio long-read sequencing. The final phased assembly had a contig N50 of 6.65 Mb in 272 contigs and was predicted to contain 23,923 protein-coding genes. Comparative genomic analysis including 11 additional coleopterans revealed expanded gene families associated with plant cell wall degradation, including pectinases, aspartyl proteases, and glycosyl hydrolases. This first whole-genome sequence from the genus Ips provides timely resources to address important questions about the evolutionary biology of the true weevils (Curculionidae), one of the most species-rich animal families. This resource will also allow for improved studies of functional genomics of both fundamental and applied value. In forests of today, increasingly stressed by global warming, this draft genome may ultimately assist in developing novel pest control strategies to mitigate outbreaks.

Download Full-text