Climate Change and Ecosystem Disruption: The Health Impacts of the North American Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation

Abstract

In the United States and Canada, pine forest ecosystems are being dramatically affected by an unprecedented pine beetle infestation attributed to climate change. Both decreased frequency of extremely cold days and warmer winter temperature averages have led to an enphytotic devastating millions of acres of pine forest. The associated ecosystem disruption has the potential to cause significant health impacts from a range of exposures, including increased runoff and water turbidity, forest fires, and loss of ecosystem services. We review direct and indirect health impacts and possible prevention strategies. The pine beetle infestation highlights the need for public health to adopt an ecological, systems-oriented view to anticipate the full range of potential health impacts from climate change and facilitate effective planned adaptation.

Bark beetles as agents of change in social–ecological systems

“…); on the other hand, bark beetle outbreaks can also harm human health (Embrey et al . ) by impairing water quality as a result of higher concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals (Mikkelson et al . ), as well as by reducing air quality due to the release of volatile organic compounds and biogenic aerosols (Berg et al .…”

“…Bark beetle outbreaks can enhance or diminish ecosystem services. For instance, outbreaks may increase water yield, which is generally perceived as beneficial for society, especially in mountain communities that rely on recharge from seasonal snowpack (Bearup et al 2014); on the other hand, bark beetle outbreaks can also harm human health (Embrey et al 2012) by impairing water quality as a result of higher concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals (Mikkelson et al 2013), as well as by reducing air quality due to the release of volatile organic compounds and biogenic aerosols (Berg et al 2013).…”

A spatiotemporal pattern analysis of historical mountain pine beetle outbreaks in British Columbia, Canada

“…Th ey are prevalent and striking disturbance agents in the coniferous forests and play important roles in shaping the structure and maintaining the functions and services of the forest ecosystem (Raff a et al 2008, Kashian et al 2011. Th e disruption of the ecosystem caused by the bark beetle outbreaks exerts signifi cant ecological, socioeconomic, and health impacts (Raff a et al 2008, Embrey et al 2012.…”

Managing bark beetle impacts on ecosystems and society: priority questions to motivate future research

“…). Yet, bark beetles can also cause deleterious effects to human health (Embrey, Remais & Hess ), including diminished air quality (Amin et al . ) and increased nutrient levels in surface water (Mikkelson et al .…”

“…Other benefits to society include improved livestock forage, wildlife viewing and hunting due to population increases of some big game species (Saab et al 2014). Yet, bark beetles can also cause deleterious effects to human health (Embrey, Remais & Hess 2012), including diminished air quality (Amin et al 2012) and increased nutrient levels in surface water (Mikkelson et al 2013), though elevated nutrient concentrations after outbreaks may not necessarily exceed drinking water standards (Huber et al 2004). Other negative impacts include real or perceived increases in wildfire risk, perhaps leading to modification of wildfire management strategies (Jenkins et al 2014).…”