scholarly journals Lightning Damage Facilitates Beetle Colonization of Tropical Trees

Author(s):  
Brady P Parlato ◽  
Evan M Gora ◽  
Stephen P Yanoviak

Abstract Lightning is a common agent of disturbance in many forest ecosystems. Lightning-damaged trees are a potentially important resource for beetles, but most evidence for this association is limited to temperate pine forests. Here, we evaluated the relationship between lightning damage and beetle colonization of tropical trees. We recorded the number of beetle holes on the trunks of trees from 10 strike sites (n = 173 lightning-damaged trees) and 10 matching control sites (n = 137 control trees) in Panama. The trunks of lightning-struck trees had 370% more beetle holes than control trees. The abundance of beetle holes increased with increasing total crown dieback among both control and lightning-damaged trees, and with larger tree diameter among lightning-struck trees. Beetle holes also were more abundant in trunk sections of lightning-damaged trees located directly below a damaged section of the crown. The results of this study suggest that lightning damage facilitates beetle colonization in tropical forest trees and provide a basis for investigations of the effects of lightning-caused disturbance on beetle population dynamics and assemblage structure.

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-305
Author(s):  
Shawn J. Leroux

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e16111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris J. Kettle ◽  
Colin R. Maycock ◽  
Jaboury Ghazoul ◽  
Pete M. Hollingsworth ◽  
Eyen Khoo ◽  
...  

Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian R. McFadden ◽  
Megan K. Bartlett ◽  
Thorsten Wiegand ◽  
Benjamin L. Turner ◽  
Lawren Sack ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Garbaye

Forest trees live in enforced symbiosis with specialized fungi that form composite organs (ectomycorrhizas) with fine roots. This paper examines how this association contributes to the water status of trees and how it plays a major role in the protection mechanisms by which trees and forest stands resist drought-induced water stress. It shows how ectomycorrhizal symbiosis has both direct effects (at the uptake level) and indirect effects (at the regulation level) on the water status of trees. The facts presented are discussed in terms of forest adaptation to changing environmental conditions and the practical consequences for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.


Author(s):  
Gonca Ece Özcan ◽  
Korhan Enez ◽  
Burak Arıcak

Forest roads are important transportation equipment through forested areas in the rugged, mountainous terrain of northern Turkey. Forest roads harm forest ecosystems due to both the manner in which they are established and how they are used afterwards. Damage to trees that occur during road construction through forests stresses trees, which facilitates outbreaks of bark beetle populations. Bark beetles are significant risk to the health and productivity of Turkish pine forests and to pine forests worldwide. In particular, Ips sexdentatus (Boerner) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is a particularly destructive species of bark beetle in Turkish forests. Their damage to coniferous trees threatens the sustainability of the forest ecosystems. This study primarily aims to assess the intensity of damage that I. sexdentatus inflicts on Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold stands relative to several parameters: the distance to the nearest forest road, aspect (shady - sunny), slope (0–15% or >15%), and other stand characteristics. In this study, we show how damage by an I. sexdentatus infestation in pure black pine stands varies with distance to forest roads and in situ edaphic factors. We sampled 45 plots (400 m2 each), slope, aspect and distances to the nearest forest road was determined using ArcGIS software and the region’s road network overlays. Results showed that trees located within 100 m from the nearest forest road were the most severely damaged ones. The intensity of I. sexdentatus damage was about 16% in a hectare. Trees that were in 16–20 cm diameter class were damaged more often. I. sexdentatus damage did not show any significant correlation with the slope, aspect or degree of canopy closure.


Author(s):  
Peter H. W. Biedermann ◽  
Jean-Claude Grégoire ◽  
Axel Gruppe ◽  
Jonas Hagge ◽  
Almuth Hammerbacher ◽  
...  

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.


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