Spatiotemporal evolutionary dynamics and biological response of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in western Canada after range expansion

Abstract

Global ecosystems are increasingly affected by climate change leading to alterations in expected disturbance regimes. Outbreaks of irruptive insect pests represent some of the most destructive disturbance events possible that occur in the forests of North America. The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Cuculionidae) (MPB), an irruptive tree-killing pest of several species of pine, is responsible for the most damaging insect outbreak in recent history in western Canada, leading to a massive range expansion from established territory in British Columbia to pine stands in central and northern Alberta during the mid-2000s. The adaptive genetic structure of these new populations is relatively unknown a decade after range expansion and the selective response of the beetle to novel habitats is likewise understudied. There is I must also thank Kinton Sy (my field assistant), Caroline Whitehouse, Erica Samis, Conan Ma, the members of FIRG, and the members of the TRIA network, particularly Jasmine Janes and Phil Batista. Special thanks to the members of the Sperling lab, including Victor Shegelski and Erin O'Dell Campbell. The staff of the Lucerne campground and Jasper National Park were also instrumental in supporting my sampling efforts.