Pathologists and entomologists must join forces against forest pest and pathogen invasions

Abstract

<jats:p>The world’s forests have never been more threatened by invasions of exotic pests and pathogens, whose causes and impacts are reinforced by global change. However, forest entomologists and pathologists have, for too long, worked independently, used different concepts and proposed specific management methods without recognising parallels and synergies between their respective fields. Instead, we advocate increased collaboration between these two scientific communities to improve the long-term health of forests.</jats:p> <jats:p>Our arguments are that the pathways of entry of exotic pests and pathogens are often the same and that insects and fungi often coexist in the same affected trees. Innovative methods for preventing invasions, early detection and identification of non-native species, modelling of their impact and spread and prevention of damage by increasing the resistance of ecosystems can be shared for the management of both pests and diseases.</jats:p> <jats:p>We, therefore, make recommendations to foster this convergence, proposing in particular the development of interdisciplinary research programmes, the development of generic tools or methods for pest and pathogen management and capacity building for the education and training of students, managers, decision-makers and citizens concerned with forest health.</jats:p>

Scientific review of the impact of climate change on plant pests

“…beneficial or with no known economic effect) in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and unmanaged habitats are included, for two main reasons (Juroszek and von Tiedemann, 2013a). First, an interdisciplinary approach to the management of pests and diseases should be established, because the knowledge gained in different disciplines can complement each other and should, therefore, be exchanged and used across disciplines (Jactel et al, 2020;Wilkinson et al, 2011). Second, many pest species, especially mobile generalists and those not restricted to a certain habitat, live in both managed and unmanaged ecosystems.…”

“…Pests have been investigated much more in agriculture compared to forestry settings (Ormsby and Brenton-Rule, 2017), and research related to unmanaged ecosystems is rare (Harvell et al, 2002). This highlights the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, coordination and knowledge exchange in climate-change biology research to bring together scientists working on different biota within the same ecosystem, for instance plant pathologists and entomologists (Jactel et al, 2020), and those working on different ecosystems and sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and unmanaged ecosystems (e.g. the "Circular Health" or "One Health'' approaches).…”

The role of passive surveillance and citizen science in plant health

“…In recent years plant, animal and human ecosystems across the globe have been threatened by an increased number of introductions of exotic pests and diseases (Boyd et al 2013 ; Jactel et al 2020 ). Within plant ecosystems most arrivals of novel pests and diseases are linked to the movement of living plant material, as well as, its products, and are accelerated by the global trade and the movement of people (Brasier 2008 ; Aukema et al 2010 ; Freer-Smith and Webber 2015 ).…”

Interactions between Phytophthora cactorum, Armillaria gallica and Betula pendula Roth. Seedlings Subjected to Defoliation

“…During the last few years, abundant research has been devoted to the combined effects of pests and pathogens on forest ecosystems [29]. Additionally, along with phytopathogens, birch trees are often subjected to attack by several insect defoliators, such as Deporaus betulae (L.), Phyllobius betulae F., and Ph.…”