10.5061/DRYAD.CQ1R1
Weed, Aaron S.
Dartmouth College
Ayres, Matthew P.
Dartmouth College
Hicke, Jeffrey
Hicke, Jeffrey A.
University of Idaho
Data from: Consequences of climate change for biotic disturbances in North
American forests
Dryad
dataset
2013
disease
forest disturbance
2013-09-06T16:56:34Z
2013-09-06T16:56:34Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1890/13-0160.1
8135 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
About one third of North America is forested. These forests are of
incalculable value to human society in terms of harvested resources and
ecosystem services and are sensitive to disturbance regimes. Epidemics of
forest insects and diseases are the dominant sources of disturbance to
North American forests. Here we review current understanding of climatic
effects on the abundance of forest insects and diseases in North America,
and of the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of biotic disturbances. We
identify 27 insects (6 nonindigenous) and 22 diseases (9 nonindigenous)
that are notable agents of disturbance in North American forests. The
distribution and abundance of forest insects and pathogens respond rapidly
to climatic variation due to their physiological sensitivity to
temperature, high mobility, short generation times, and high reproductive
potential. Additionally, climate affects tree defenses, tree tolerance,
and community interactions involving enemies, competitors, and mutualists
of insects and diseases. Recent research affirms the importance of milder
winters, warmer growing seasons, and changes in moisture availability to
the occurrence of biotic disturbances. Predictions from the first US
National Climate Assessment of expansions in forest disturbances from
climate change have been upheld - in some cases more rapidly and
dramatically than expected. Clear examples are offered by recent epidemics
of spruce beetles in Alaska, mountain pine beetle in high-elevation
five-needle pine forests of the Rocky Mountains, and southern pine beetle
in the New Jersey Pinelands. Pathogens are less studied with respect to
climate but some are facilitated by warmer and wetter summer conditions.
Changes in biotic disturbances have broad consequences for forest
ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Climatic effects on
forest insect and disease outbreaks may foster further changes in climate
by influencing the exchange of carbon, water, and energy between forests
and the atmosphere. Climate-induced changes in forest productivity and
disturbance create opportunities as well as vulnerabilities (e.g.,
increases in productivity in many areas, and probably decreases in
disturbance risks in some areas). There is a critical need to better
understand and predict the interactions among climate, forest
productivity, forest disturbance, and the socioeconomic relations between
forests and people.
climate studiesList of studies evaluating links between forest insect and
disease abundance with minimum winter temperature, growing season
temperatures, and/or changes in moisture availability in North American
forests.summary of climate studiesSummary of studies evaluating links
between forest insect and disease abundance and climate in North American
forests.
North America