Geography
Low-severity fires increase susceptibility of lodgepole pine to mountain pine beetle outbreaks in Colorado
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Both fire and insect outbreaks are critical components of many forest ecosystems and understanding the two-way interactions between these disturbance types is an important goal for researchers, resource managers, and policy makers. Much recent research has focused on understanding the effects of outbreaks on subsequent fires, but the effects of fires on subsequent outbreaks are also important in shaping ecosystem dynamics.In the current study we examined how low-severity fires influence susceptibility of lodgepole pine to mountain pine beetle (MPB). We examined 607 lodgepole pine trees in stands that were affected by low-severity fire in 2002 and subsequent MPB outbreak in Routt National Forest, Colorado. For each tree we recorded effect by fire (no visible effect; visible effect - i.e. charring), recent effect by MPB (no visible effect; infestation - i.e. presence of MPB entry or exit holes; or mortality), dbh, and age (based on increment core samples).Tree diameter (dbh) was the most important factor in determining susceptibility to MPB such that larger trees were more susceptible to MPB. But once dbh was taken into account, trees that were charred were more likely to have been attacked and killed by MPB. Previous work has found that stand-replacing fires reduce susceptibility of lodgepole pine stands to MPB in these ecosystems. The current results highlight the fact that fires that are below a high threshold of severity and instead injure or otherwise weaken trees, may increase susceptibility to MPB. Fire-affected lodgepole may act as vectors for the spread of outbreaks during moderate outbreak conditions or as refuges during endemic population phases. It is important to consider how low-severity fires, including prescribed burns, may increase forest susceptibility to outbreaks at local to landscape scales. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Title
Forest Ecology and Management
Publication Date
2-1-2013
Volume
289
First Page
544
Last Page
550
ISSN
0378-1127
DOI
10.1016/j.foreco.2012.10.020
Keywords
Colorado, dendroctonus ponderosae, disturbance interactions, forest disturbance, pinus contorta, subalpine forests
Repository Citation
Kulakowski, Dominik and Jarvis, Daniel, "Low-severity fires increase susceptibility of lodgepole pine to mountain pine beetle outbreaks in Colorado" (2013). Geography. 299.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_geography/299
