Insects and diseases and climate change in Colorado Front Range forests (Chapter 8)

Abstract

Insects and diseases are major agents of change in forest ecosystems (Costello et al. 1995; Raffa et al. 2008). Their activities can result in scattered to extensive tree mortality across landscapes (Lundquist and Negrón 2000; Raffa et al. 2008). As natural components of forests, native insects, parasites, and pathogens contribute to shape forest structure and composition, contribute to nutrient cycling, and create habitat for wildlife species among other services (Negrón and Cain 2019). Innumerable species of insects, fungi, and other forms of life are part of the biological diversity of forests. There is a general consensus that abiotic disturbances such as fires and windstorms and biotic disturbances such as insects and diseases will increase in frequency and intensity as climate change manifests. Yet, there are still unresolved knowledge gaps, particularly on the effects of insect-associated organisms and interactions with their hosts (Jactel et al. 2019; Seidl et al. 2017). In this chapter, an overview of what is known about the general effects of a warming climate on pathogens and insects are presented followed by a general description of the most relevant insects and pathogens in the Colorado Front Range. Lastly, comments on how a warming climate may affect these organisms are offered.

Parent Publication

• Colorado Front Range climate change vulnerability assessment for National Forests

Citation

Negrón, José F.; Mercado, Javier E. 2024. Insects and diseases and climate change in Colorado Front Range forests (Chapter 8). In: Hanberry, Brice B., ed. Colorado Front Range climate change vulnerability assessment for National Forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-438. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 293-321.