Fire and bark beetle interactions

Abstract

Bark beetle populations are at outbreak conditions in many parts of the western United States and causing extensive tree mortality. Bark beetles interact with other disturbance agents in forest ecosystems, one of the primary being fires. In order to implement appropriate post-fire management of fire-damaged ecosystems, we need a better understanding of relationships between bark beetles and wildfire. Interactions can be one of two primary types: Fires can influence bark beetle populations directly by providing significant amounts of susceptible trees which may precipitate serious outbreaks; and effects of bark beetle outbreaks may influence likelihood and behavior of future fires. We examine various aspects of these interactions.

Parent Publication

• The Western Bark Beetle Research Group: a unique collaboration with Forest Health Protection-proceedings of a symposium at the 2007 Society of American Foresters conference

Citation

Gibson, Ken; Negron, Jose F. 2009. Fire and bark beetle interactions. In: Hayes, J. L.; Lundquist, J. E., comps. The Western Bark Beetle Research Group: A unique collaboration with Forest Health Protection: Proceedings of a symposium at the 2007 Society of American Foresters conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-784. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 51-70