Can Landscape-scale management influence insect outbreak dynamics? A natural experiment for eastern spruce budworm

Brian R. R. Sturtevant; V. Quinn; L.E. Robert; D. Kneeshaw; P. James; M.-J. Fortin; P. Wolter; P. Townsend; B. Cooke; D. Anderson

Treesearch

Can Landscape-scale management influence insect outbreak dynamics? A natural experiment for eastern spruce budworm

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Brian R. R. Sturtevant, V. Quinn, L.E. Robert, D. Kneeshaw, P. James, M.-J. Fortin, P. Wolter, P. Townsend, B. Cooke, D. Anderson

Year:

2010

Type:

Other

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: 7th Annual Research Review Symposium; 2010 Feb 23; Cloquet, MN. UMN Cloquet Forestry Center.

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Abstract

The balance of evidence suggests forest insect outbreaks today are more damaging than ever because of changes in forest composition and structure induced by fire suppression and post-harvest proliferation of tree species intolerant to herbivory. We hypothesized that landscape connectivity of acceptable host trees increases defoliator population connectivity, altering the dynamics and spatial structure of defoliator populations, and thus increasing forest susceptibility to insect pest damage.

Citation

Sturtevant, Brian R.; Quinn, V.; Robert, L.E.; Kneeshaw, D.; James, P.; Fortin, M.-J.; Wolter, P.; Townsend, P.; Cooke, B.; Anderson, D. 2010. Can Landscape-scale management influence insect outbreak dynamics? A natural experiment for eastern spruce budworm. In: 7th Annual Research Review Symposium; 2010 Feb 23; Cloquet, MN. UMN Cloquet Forestry Center.