Climate change and forest diseases: using today’s knowledge to address future challenges

Abstract

The health of the earth's forests and urban green spaces is increasingly challenged by the outcomes of human activities, including global climate change. As climate changes, the role and impact of diseases on trees in both forest ecosystems and in urban settings will also change. Knowledge of relationships between climate variables and diseases affecting forest and urban trees is reviewed, with specific emphasis on those affecting foliage, shoots, and stems. Evidence that forest diseases are already responding to the earth's changing climate is examined (e.g., Dothistroma needle blight in northern British Columbia) as are predicted scenarios for future changes in impact on forests by other tree diseases. Outbreaks of tree diseases caused by native and alien pathogens are predicted to become more frequent and intense -this and other general predictions about the effects of climate change on forest and tree diseases are discussed. Despite the uncertainty that accompanies such predictions it is imperative that researchers, forest and urban tree managers, and policy makers work together to develop and implement management strategies that enhance the resilience of the worlds' forests and urbanized trees. Strategies discussed include monitoring, forecasting, planning, and mitigation.Key words: tree diseases; forest pathogens; forest health; urban forests; plant disease management. ResumenCambio climático y enfermedades forestales: uso de los conocimientos actuales para hacer frente a los retos del futuro La salud de los bosques y los espacios verdes urbanos está cada vez más cuestionada por los resultados de las actividades humanas, incluyendo el cambio climático global. Así como el clima cambia, también cambiarán el papel y el impacto de las enfermedades en los árboles en los ecosistemas forestales y en las zonas urbanas. En este artículo se revisa el conocimiento de las relaciones entre las variables climáticas y las enfermedades que afectan a los árboles forestales y urbanos, con especial hincapié en lo que afecta al follaje, los brotes y los troncos. Se examina la evidencia de que las enfermedades forestales ya están respondiendo al cambio climático (por ejemplo, el tizón de la hoja de Dothistroma en el norte de la Columbia Británica), como prevén escenarios de futuros cambios en el impacto sobre los bosques por otras enfermedades de los árboles. Los brotes de enfermedades causadas por patógenos de árboles nativos y exótico se prevé que sean cada vez más frecuentes e intensos -se discuten esta y otras predicciones generales sobre los efectos del cambio climático sobre los bosques y las enfermedades de los árboles. A pesar de la incertidumbre que acompaña a tales predicciones es imperativo que los investigadores y los responsables de la gestión de los bosques y árboles urbanos cooperen para desarrollar e implementar estrategias de manejo que mejoran la capacidad de recuperación de los bosques y los ár-boles urbanos. Las estrategias analizadas incluyen el monitoreo, la previsión, la planificación y la mitiga...

Remote monitoring of defoliation by the beech leaf-mining weevil Rhynchaenus fagi in northern Spain

“…Higher CO 2 concentrations have a potential fertilizing effect on beech growth that may be counteracted by defoliation and, at the same time, may promote growth of weevil populations to epidemic levels (Bignucolo and Körner, 2010). Even if some climate change predictions are uncertain, it is imperative that researchers and forest managers develop and implement health monitoring and forecasting strategies for the management of these forests (Sturrok, 2012).…”

Dothistromin toxin is a virulence factor in dothistroma needle blight of pines

“…Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a globally important disease that affects a large number of pine species in both natural and exotic forest locations (Bulman et al ., ). Climatic factors have exacerbated the disease, particularly in Canada and Europe, to the extent that there is now limited planting of susceptible pine species in some countries (Brown & Webber, ; Sturrock, ). In managed plantations the disease can be controlled by aerial application of copper fungicide sprays (Bulman et al ., ), but improved forest management practices, and tools for selection of resistant cultivars of pine, are urgently needed (Ivkovic et al ., ).…”

Multigene phylogenetic study of Cyclaneusma species

“…Secondly, the study of inter‐ and intraspecific responses to environmental stimuli such as changing climatic conditions (Fabre et al. ; Sturrock ; Tellenbach and Sieber ) may assist in predicting the likely disease impacts. Thirdly, selection for and deployment of host resistance, chemical control or putative biocontrol agents such as endophytes, also requires a sound knowledge of the pathogen (Ganley et al.…”

“…Firstly, the correct identification of an incursion can facilitate an appropriate and rapid response (Carnegie and Cooper 2011;McDougal, Schwelm et al 2011;Fichtner, Rizzo et al 2012). Secondly, the study of inter-and intraspecific responses to environmental stimuli such as changing climatic conditions (Fabre et al 2012;Sturrock 2012;Tellenbach and Sieber 2012) may assist in predicting the likely disease impacts. Thirdly, selection for and deployment of host resistance, chemical control or putative biocontrol agents such as endophytes, also requires a sound knowledge of the pathogen (Ganley et al 2008;Grac ßa et al 2011).…”