Stand and landscape level effects of a major outbreak of spruce beetles on forest vegetation in the Copper River Basin, Alaska

Allen, Jennifer L.; Wesser, Sara; Markon, Carl J.; Winterberger, Kenneth C.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.040

Cited by 25 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Although the outbreak is within the historic geographic range, the outbreak during the 1990s exhibits greater spatio-temporal synchrony (i.e., more sites record high-severity infestations) than at any other time in the last ;250 years (Sherriff et al 2011). The mortality of mature white spruce in beetle-killed areas of the Southcentral-boreal has impacted succession by reducing the structural complexity of stands to earlier successional stages dominated by a more homogeneous overstory composition (Allen et al 2006).…”

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Changes in succession), spruce regeneration in the Southcentral-boreal appears to be reduced by the low soil temperatures associated with the abundance of moss cover in the forest understory in this region (Allen et al 2006). Spruce regeneration could be increased in this region by applying high-intensity prescribed burning (Goodman and Hungate 2006), which reduces the moss layer thickness, resulting in soil temperatures that are favorable for spruce regeneration (Allen et al 2006).…”

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

et al. 2011

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Abstract. The structure and function of Alaska's forests have changed significantly in response to a changing climate, including alterations in species composition and climate feedbacks (e.g., carbon, radiation budgets) that have important regional societal consequences and human feedbacks to forest ecosystems. In this paper we present the first comprehensive synthesis of climate-change impacts on all forested ecosystems of Alaska, highlighting changes in the most critical biophysical factors of each region. We developed a conceptual framework describing climate drivers, biophysical factors and types of change to illustrate how the biophysical and social subsystems of Alaskan forests interact and respond directly and indirectly to a changing climate. We then identify the regional and global implications to the climate system and associated socio-economic impacts, as presented in the current literature. Projections of temperature and precipitation suggest wildfire will continue to be the dominant biophysical factor in the Interior-boreal forest, leading to shifts from conifer-to deciduous-dominated forests. Based on existing research, projected increases in temperature in the Southcentral-and Kenai-boreal forests will likely increase the frequency and severity of insect outbreaks and associated wildfires, and increase the probability of establishment by invasive plant species. In the Coastal-temperate forest region snow and ice is regarded as the dominant biophysical factor. With continued warming, hydrologic changes related to more rapidly melting glaciers and rising elevation of the winter snowline will alter discharge in many rivers, which will have important v www.esajournals.org 1 November 2011 v Volume 2(11) v Article 124 consequences for terrestrial and marine ecosystem productivity. These climate-related changes will affect plant species distribution and wildlife habitat, which have regional societal consequences, and trace-gas emissions and radiation budgets, which are globally important. Our conceptual framework facilitates assessment of current and future consequences of a changing climate, emphasizes regional differences in biophysical factors, and points to linkages that may exist but that currently lack supporting research. The framework also serves as a visual tool for resource managers and policy makers to develop regional and global management strategies and to inform policies related to climate mitigation and adaptation.

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Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Types Of Change In Alaskan Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

et al. 2011

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“…2). The life cycles of the three species would allow a significant temporal and spatial overlap, which could give frequent facilitations, more frequent and severe outbreaks and ecosystem effects as described in Table 3 Possible ecosystem-wide effects that may occur if population interactions between invasive and native aggressive bark beetles lead to increased occurrence of bark beetle eruptions Ecosystem aspect Potential effects Forest structure More extensive areas with reduction in tree density, canopy cover and ratio of large trees (Holsten et al 1995;Allen et al 2006;Raffa et al 2008); changes in tree-species composition and tree-species dominance in favour of non-host tree species (Veblen et al 1991;Allen et al 2006;Werner et al 2006); more dead wood and increased interactions with other disturbances such as fire (Raffa et al 2008). …”

Section: Effects Of Bark Beetle Outbreaks On Economy and Ecosystem Fumentioning

confidence: 99%

Inter-species interactions and ecosystem effects of non-indigenous invasive and native tree-killing bark beetles

Økland¹,

Erbilgin

Skarpaas

et al. 2011

Biol Invasions

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Frequent bark beetle outbreaks cause biome-scale impacts in boreal and temperate forests worldwide. Despite frequent interceptions at ports of entry, the most aggressive bark beetle species of Ips and Dendroctonus in North America and Eurasia have failed to establish outside their original home continents. Our experiments showed that Ips typographus can breed in six North American spruce species: Engelmann spruce, white spruce¸Sitka spruce, Lutz spruce, black spruce and red spruce. This suggests that differences between the Eurasian historical host and North American spruce species are not an insurmountable barrier to establishment of this tree-killing species in North America. However, slightly diminished quality of offspring beetles emerged from the North American spruces could reduce the chance of establishment through an Allee effect. The probabilistic nature of invasion dynamics suggests that successful establishments can occur when the import practice allows frequent arrivals of non-indigenous bark beetles (increased propagule load). Model simulations of hypothetical interactions of Dendroctonus rufipennis and I. typographus indicated that inter-species facilitations could result in more frequent and severe outbreaks than those caused by I. typographus alone. The potential effects of such new dynamics on coniferous ecosystems may be dramatic and extensive, including major shifts in forest structure and species composition, increased carbon emissions and stream flow, direct and indirect impacts on wildlife and invertebrate communities, and loss of biodiversity.

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“…Spruce beetle activity in Alaska subsequently subsided due to a depletion of suitable host spruce (U.S. Forest Service, 2000) but the outbreak left forest managers with the task of managing over 1 million ha of forest with dead trees. A significant increase in surface fuel loading coupled with increases in fuel height has increased the risk of wildfire in forests impacted by the spruce beetle (See, 1998). Downed white spruce fuels alone increased significantly by as much as 7.6 tonnes per ha per size category between 1987 and 2000 (Schulz, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing forests infested by spruce beetles in south-central Alaska: Effects on nitrogen availability, understory biomass, and spruce regeneration

Goodman

Hungate

2006

Forest Ecology and Management

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Stand and landscape level effects of a major outbreak of spruce beetles on forest vegetation in the Copper River Basin, Alaska

Cited by 25 publications

References 20 publications

Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

Evidence and implications of recent and projected climate change in Alaska's forest ecosystems

Inter-species interactions and ecosystem effects of non-indigenous invasive and native tree-killing bark beetles

Managing forests infested by spruce beetles in south-central Alaska: Effects on nitrogen availability, understory biomass, and spruce regeneration

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