Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska: A review of 30 years of research

Werner, Richard A.; Holsten, Edward H.; Matsuoka, Steven M.; Burnside, Roger E.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.050

Cited by 98 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Changes in succession.-Insects are significantly impacting forests in the Southcentralboreal (Table 2), changing succession through direct impacts on vegetation and associated shifts in the frequency and severity of wildfires . In recent decades, warmer temperatures contributed to the spruce beetle outbreaks in the Southcentral-and Kenai-boreal forests (Werner 1996) in part due to a reduction of the beetle life cycle from 2 years to 1 year , Werner et al 2006). This has led to white spruce and Lutz spruce mortality throughout 1.2 million ha between 1990-2000 (Werner 1996, Werner et al 2006.…”

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent decades, warmer temperatures contributed to the spruce beetle outbreaks in the Southcentral-and Kenai-boreal forests (Werner 1996) in part due to a reduction of the beetle life cycle from 2 years to 1 year , Werner et al 2006). This has led to white spruce and Lutz spruce mortality throughout 1.2 million ha between 1990-2000 (Werner 1996, Werner et al 2006. In some watersheds of the Copper River Basin, spruce bark beetles have killed nearly every living mature white spruce v www.esajournals.org Table 2.…”

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, with projected warming, endemic levels of spruce beetles will likely be high enough to perennially thin the forests as trees reach susceptible size . The outbreaks in the Kenai have impacted postdisturbance succession by reducing both plant diversity and the size and density of spruce, as a result of competition from bluejoint grass and fireweed (Holsten et al 1995, Werner et al 2006.…”

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last decade, annual area burned in this region has doubled compared to any decade of the previous 40 years ( Kasischke et al 2010). The life histories of damaging insects (e.g., spruce beetle [Dendroctonus rufipennis] and spruce budworm [Choristoneura fumiferan]) are tightly linked to summer temperature , Han et al 2000, and their recent outbreaks have been attributed to climate change (Werner 1994, 1996, Werner et al 2006. Alaskan forests are becoming increasingly susceptible to non-native plant invasions as the climate warms and the amount of land disturbance (anthropogenic and natural) increases, which could collectively promote the establishment of invasive plant species into remote regions of Alaska (Villano and Mulder 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

et al. 2011

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Abstract. The structure and function of Alaska's forests have changed significantly in response to a changing climate, including alterations in species composition and climate feedbacks (e.g., carbon, radiation budgets) that have important regional societal consequences and human feedbacks to forest ecosystems. In this paper we present the first comprehensive synthesis of climate-change impacts on all forested ecosystems of Alaska, highlighting changes in the most critical biophysical factors of each region. We developed a conceptual framework describing climate drivers, biophysical factors and types of change to illustrate how the biophysical and social subsystems of Alaskan forests interact and respond directly and indirectly to a changing climate. We then identify the regional and global implications to the climate system and associated socio-economic impacts, as presented in the current literature. Projections of temperature and precipitation suggest wildfire will continue to be the dominant biophysical factor in the Interior-boreal forest, leading to shifts from conifer-to deciduous-dominated forests. Based on existing research, projected increases in temperature in the Southcentral-and Kenai-boreal forests will likely increase the frequency and severity of insect outbreaks and associated wildfires, and increase the probability of establishment by invasive plant species. In the Coastal-temperate forest region snow and ice is regarded as the dominant biophysical factor. With continued warming, hydrologic changes related to more rapidly melting glaciers and rising elevation of the winter snowline will alter discharge in many rivers, which will have important v www.esajournals.org 1 November 2011 v Volume 2(11) v Article 124 consequences for terrestrial and marine ecosystem productivity. These climate-related changes will affect plant species distribution and wildlife habitat, which have regional societal consequences, and trace-gas emissions and radiation budgets, which are globally important. Our conceptual framework facilitates assessment of current and future consequences of a changing climate, emphasizes regional differences in biophysical factors, and points to linkages that may exist but that currently lack supporting research. The framework also serves as a visual tool for resource managers and policy makers to develop regional and global management strategies and to inform policies related to climate mitigation and adaptation.

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Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

et al. 2011

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“…From late 1980s to early 2000s, Alaska's Kenai Peninsula experienced a massive spruce bark beetle outbreak and a range of subsequent ecological disturbances including wildfire hazard, fish and wildlife habitat loss, and the encroachment of invasive grasses [23,24]. Despite facing a region-wide outbreak and similar risks, communities on the Kenai Peninsula responded in different ways to the disturbance and subsequent forest management activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing Community Variations in Perceptions and Activeness in Response to the Spruce Bark Beetle Outbreak in Alaska

Qin

Flint

2017

Sustainability

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Local sociocultural processes including community perceptions and actions represent the most visible social impacts of various economic and environmental changes. Comparative community analysis has been used to examine diverse community perspectives on a variety of socioeconomic and environmental issues. However, as the temporal dimension of community processes remains understudied, relatively little is known regarding how such community variations change over time. This study draws on longitudinal survey data from six communities on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to explore temporal shifts in community differences in perceptions and activeness in response to forest disturbance associated with an extensive spruce bark beetle outbreak. The surveys were implemented in two phases over a 4-year study period. Results show that while community perceptions on the bark beetle condition waned and coalesced in some ways, significant differences remained or emerged with respect to other facets of local reactions. These shifting variances in community dimensions of the beetle disturbance were related to community positions along the beetle outbreak timeline and general community socioeconomic and biophysical situations (community context). The analysis also revealed community differences and contexts held an even more important role in predicting local responses to beetles in the re-survey. Taken together, findings from this research contribute a better understanding of the persistence and change in community variability as well as the continuity of community contextual effects.

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Phenological synchrony between eastern spruce budworm and its host trees increases with warmer temperatures in the boreal forest

Pureswaran

Neau

Marchand

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Climate change is predicted to alter relationships between trophic levels by changing the phenology of interacting species. We tested whether synchrony between two critical phenological events, budburst of host species and larval emergence from diapause of eastern spruce budworm, increased at warmer temperatures in the boreal forest in northeastern Canada. Budburst was up to 4.6 ± 0.7 days earlier in balsam fir and up to 2.8 ± 0.8 days earlier in black spruce per degree increase in temperature, in naturally occurring microclimates. Larval emergence from diapause did not exhibit a similar response. Instead, larvae emerged once average ambient temperatures reached 10°C, regardless of differences in microclimate. Phenological synchrony increased with warmer microclimates, tightening the relationship between spruce budworm and its host species. Synchrony increased by up to 4.5 ± 0.7 days for balsam fir and up to 2.8 ± 0.8 days for black spruce per degree increase in temperature. Under a warmer climate, defoliation could potentially begin earlier in the season, in which case, damage on the primary host, balsam fir may increase. Black spruce, which escapes severe herbivory because of a 2‐week delay in budburst, would become more suitable as a resource for the spruce budworm. The northern boreal forest could become more vulnerable to outbreaks in the future.

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Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska: A review of 30 years of research

Cited by 98 publications

References 62 publications

Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

Changing Community Variations in Perceptions and Activeness in Response to the Spruce Bark Beetle Outbreak in Alaska

Phenological synchrony between eastern spruce budworm and its host trees increases with warmer temperatures in the boreal forest

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