Low-Severity Fires Increase Susceptibility of Lodgepole Pine to Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreaks in Colorado
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Forest Ecology and Management
Publication Date
2013
Volume
289
First Page
544
Last Page
550
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 out- breaks 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 incre- ment core samples).
Tree diameter (dbh) was the most important factor in determining susceptibility to MPB such that lar- ger 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 high- light 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 out- breaks during moderate outbreak conditions or as refuges during endemic population phases. It is impor- tant to consider how low-severity fires, including prescribed burns, may increase forest susceptibility to outbreaks at local to landscape scales.
Ó 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Kulakowski, Dominik and Jarvis, Daniel. 2013. Low-severity fires increase susceptibility of lodgepole pine to mountain pine beetle outbreaks in Colorado. Forest Ecology and Management. 289:544-550.