Cascading impacts of bark beetle‐caused tree mortality on coupled biogeophysical and biogeochemical processes

Edburg, S. L.; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Brooks, P. D.; Pendall, Elise; Ewers, B. E.; Norton, Urszula; Gochis, David; Gutmann, E. D.; Meddens, Arjan J. H.

doi:10.1890/110173

Cited by 231 publications

(181 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…This commonly results in tree mortality and a reduction of the assimilation of carbon within the disturbed ecosystem [Brown et al, 2012]. For pine trees affected by mountain pine beetle, the cascade of hydraulic failure to reduced photosynthesis [Katul et al, 2003] and ultimately tree mortality [Edburg et al, 2012] can happen within months [Hubbard et al, 2013;Knight et al, 1991;Yamaoka et al, 1995]. Yet this can take much longer in spruce forests [Mast and Veblen, 1994], possibly because spruce are among the few plants that survive without tightly regulating stomatal conductance to plant hydraulics [Ewers et al, 2005].…”

Section: 1002/2013jg002597mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem CO₂/H₂O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

et al. 2014

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Disturbances are increasing globally due to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate. This study determines whether a disturbance that affects the physiology of individual trees can be used to predict the response of the ecosystem by weighing two competing hypothesis at annual time scales: (a) changes in ecosystem fluxes are proportional to observable patterns of mortality or (b) to explain ecosystem fluxes the physiology of dying trees must also be incorporated. We evaluate these hypotheses by analyzing 6 years of eddy covariance flux data collected throughout the progression of a spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) epidemic in a Wyoming Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii)-subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forest and testing for changes in canopy conductance (g c ), evapotranspiration (ET), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO 2 . We predict from these hypotheses that (a) g c , ET, and NEE all diminish (decrease in absolute magnitude) as trees die or (b) that (1) g c and ET decline as trees are attacked (hydraulic failure from beetle-associated blue-stain fungi) and (2) NEE diminishes both as trees are attacked (restricted gas exchange) and when they die. Ecosystem fluxes declined as the outbreak progressed and the epidemic was best described as two phases: (I) hydraulic failure caused restricted g c , ET (28 ± 4% decline, Bayesian posterior mean ± standard deviation), and gas exchange (NEE diminished 13 ± 6%) and (II) trees died (NEE diminished 51 ± 3% with minimal further change in ET to 36 ± 4%). These results support hypothesis b and suggest that model predictions of ecosystem fluxes following massive disturbances must be modified to account for changes in tree physiological controls and not simply observed mortality.

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Section: 1002/2013jg002597mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem CO₂/H₂O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

et al. 2014

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“…Insect attack can also alter surface-atmosphere exchanges of heat, water, and momentum through land surface modification (e.g. Wiedinmyer et al, 2012;Edburg et al, 2012). Hais and Kucera (2008) estimate a 3.5 K increase in temperature in a spruce forest after beetle attack.…”

Section: A R Berg Et Al: the Impact Of Bark Beetle Infestations Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of bark beetle infestations on monoterpene emissions and secondary organic aerosol formation in western North America

et al. 2013

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Over the last decade, extensive beetle outbreaks in western North America have destroyed over 100 000 km² of forest throughout British Columbia and the western United States. Beetle infestations impact monoterpene emissions through both decreased emissions as trees are killed (mortality effect) and increased emissions in trees under attack (attack effect). We use 14 yr of beetle-induced tree mortality data together with beetle-induced monoterpene emission data in the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model (CESM) to investigate the impact of beetle-induced tree mortality and attack on monoterpene emissions and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in western North America.

Regionally, beetle infestations may have a significant impact on monoterpene emissions and SOA concentrations, with up to a 4-fold increase in monoterpene emissions and up to a 40% increase in SOA concentrations in some years (in a scenario where the attack effect is based on observed lodgepole pine response). Responses to beetle attack depend on the extent of previous mortality and the number of trees under attack in a given year, which can vary greatly over space and time. Simulated enhancements peak in 2004 (British Columbia) and 2008 (US). Responses to beetle attack are shown to be substantially larger (up to a 3-fold localized increase in summertime SOA concentrations) in a scenario based on bark-beetle attack in spruce trees. Placed in the context of observations from the IMPROVE network, the changes in SOA concentrations due to beetle attack are in most cases small compared to the large annual and interannual variability in total organic aerosol which is driven by wildfire activity in western North America. This indicates that most beetle-induced SOA changes are not likely detectable in current observation networks; however, these changes may impede efforts to achieve natural visibility conditions in the national parks and wilderness areas of the western United States

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“…(Clow et al, 2011;Pugh and Small, 2012). Edburg et al (2012) have hypothesized a chronological sequence of impacts as a cascade of ecological changes of which biogenic emissions may be an important outcome.…”

Section: T R Duhl Et Al: Emissions Of Bvoc From Lodgepole Pinementioning

confidence: 99%

Emissions of BVOC from lodgepole pine in response to mountain pine beetle attack in high and low mortality forest stands

et al. 2013

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Abstract. In this screening study, biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions from intact branches of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) trees were measured from trees at two forested sites that have been impacted differently by the mountain pine beetle (MPB), with one having higher mortality and the other with lower mortality. Differences in the amounts and chemical diversity of BVOC between the two sites and from apparently healthy trees versus trees in different stages of MPB attack are presented, as well as (for one site) observed seasonal variability in emissions. A brief comparison is made of geological and climatic characteristics as well as prior disturbances (both natural and man-made) at each site. Trees sampled at the site experiencing high MPB-related tree mortality had lower chemodiversity in terms of monoterpene (MT) emission profiles, while profiles were more diverse at the lower-mortality site. Also at the higher-mortality site, MPB-infested trees in various stages of decline had lower emissions of sesquiterpenes (SQTs) compared to healthy trees, while at the site with lower mortality, MPB-survivors had significantly higher SQT emissions during part of the growing season when compared to both uninfested and newly infested trees. SQT profiles differed between the two sites and, like monoterpene and oxygenated VOC profiles, varied through the season. For the low-mortality site in which repeated measurements were made over the course of the early summer-late fall, higher chemical diversity was observed in early-compared to late-season measurements for all compound classes investigated (MT, oxygenated VOC, and SQT), with the amount of change appearing to correlate to the MPB status of the trees studied. Emissions of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) had a distinct seasonal signal but were not much different between healthy or infested trees, except in trees with dead needles, from which emissions of this compound were negligible, and in late-season MPB survivors, in which they were higher than in newly infested or uninfested trees. Emissions of SQT were significantly higher in the MPB survivors during both mid-and late-season sampling at the low-mortality site. The changes in emissions could have implications for regional air quality and climate through changes in ozone and aerosol distributions, although this study was designed as a preliminary screening effort and not enough individuals were sampled for all of the observed differences to be statistically demonstrated. Despite this, the compelling differences in emissions observed between the sites and individual trees with differing MPB-infestation statuses and the potential impacts these have on regional atmospheric chemistry argue for further research in this topic.

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Cascading impacts of bark beetle‐caused tree mortality on coupled biogeophysical and biogeochemical processes

Cited by 231 publications

References 55 publications

Ecosystem CO₂/H₂O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

Ecosystem CO₂/H₂O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

The impact of bark beetle infestations on monoterpene emissions and secondary organic aerosol formation in western North America

Emissions of BVOC from lodgepole pine in response to mountain pine beetle attack in high and low mortality forest stands

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Cascading impacts of bark beetle‐caused tree mortality on coupled biogeophysical and biogeochemical processes

Cited by 231 publications

References 55 publications

Ecosystem CO2/H2O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

Ecosystem CO2/H2O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

The impact of bark beetle infestations on monoterpene emissions and secondary organic aerosol formation in western North America

Emissions of BVOC from lodgepole pine in response to mountain pine beetle attack in high and low mortality forest stands

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Ecosystem CO₂/H₂O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles

Ecosystem CO₂/H₂O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles