Differential effects of Douglas-fir tussock moth and western spruce budworm defoliation on radial growth of grand fir and Douglas-fir

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda B. Brubaker ◽  
Shannon K. Greene
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Spruce Budworm ◽  
Tussock Moth ◽  
Rate Of Growth ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
The Impact

This study compares the effects of separate Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgiapseudotsugata McDunnough) and western spruce budworm (Choristoneuraoccidentalis Freeman) infestations on the radial growth of two host species, grand fir (Abiesgrandis (Doug.) Lindl.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Growth records from nonhost species were also examined to substantiate that growth reduction in the hosts resulted from feeding by the respective defoliators. Ring-width data, standardized to remove trends of decreasing width from pith to bark, were tested statistically to identify significant differences in the effects of each defoliator on each host species. Four measures of radial growth were examined: maximum rate of growth decline, average rate of growth recovery, 1-year growth loss, and 5-year growth loss. The effects of tussock moth did not differ statistically between host species, but the impact of budworm defoliation on grand fir was significantly greater than on Douglas-fir. Differences occurred between the overall effects of tussock moth and budworm on the host species, with tussock moth causing significantly more rapid growth reductions and greater growth losses than budworm. It is concluded that (1) grand fir and Douglas-fir ring patterns, individually or in combination, can provide good evidence of severe defoliation by Douglas-fir tussock moth, (2) grand fir ring patterns can be used to identify severe defoliation by western spruce budworm, and (3) Douglas-fir ring patterns can provide evidence of budworm infestation only if corroborative evidence of a budworm infestation is present in the ring patterns of grand fir trees in the same stand.

Quantification of Douglas-fir growth losses caused by western spruce budworm defoliation using stem analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. Alfaro ◽  
A. J. Thomson ◽  
G. A. Van Sickle
Keyword(s):  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Spruce Budworm ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reduced Ring ◽  
Periodic Growth ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
The Impact

Periodic growth and volume losses in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees in one stand defoliated four times in their lifetime by western spruce budworm (Choristoneuraoccidentalis (Freeman)) are reported. Losses were calculated by comparing periodic growth for the years of reduced ring increment with potential growth estimated using the IMPACT growth loss program. Proportional losses in stem radius and cross-sectional area remained approximately constant or declined slightly from tree top to base; losses differed at all stem levels among the infestations. Average gross volume losses per tree relative to the potential volume the trees should have reached at the end of each loss period were 17, 15, 8, and 13% for the 1920's, 1940's, 1950's, and 1970's infestations, respectively. In the last infestation, losses ranged from 9% in trees defoliated from 1 to 50%, to 18% in trees defoliated 91–100%. Cumulative tree volume losses, calculated by adjusting growth during all loss periods to their potential values, were estimated to be 44% of the potential volume the trees should have reached by 1977 had the trees never been defoliated. On a per hectare basis, the 1970's infestation in this stand caused an estimated 60 m3 (18%) loss, comprising 40 m3 (12%) owing to tree mortality and 20 m3 (6%) of growth deficit in the surviving trees.

ESTIMATING NUMBER OF WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM EGGS FROM EGG MASS MEASUREMENTS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

1982 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 643-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. E. Harris ◽  
A. F. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Western Spruce Budworm ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
Insect Populations ◽  
The Relationship

Western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, periodically attacks Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco) in British Columbia, causing mortality, deformity, and growth loss. Insect populations are assessed annually by the Canadian Forestry Service's Forest Insect and Disease Survey, by branch sampling for egg mass densities; predictions of population trends and damage are based on these assessments. Eggs, laid in rows in masses affixed to needles, are a preferred stage to sample because they are easily collected, remain fixed in numbers for an extended period, and precede damage by sufficient time to plan suppression or other programs. Numbers of masses alone, however, may not show population trends accurately as egg numbers per mass varies. Thus it is sometimes necessary to count eggs (Miller 1957), which is a formidable task. Fortunately egg numbers can be estimated from the dimensions of egg masses (Washburn and Brickell 1973). In this study, we determined the relationship between egg numbers and egg mass length and number of rows for samples from Douglas-fir stands frequently affected by spruce budworm throughout British Columbia. Data were collected over 3 years, 1977-79, during which time budworm populations were in a period of decline.

Tree mortality and radial growth losses caused by the western spruce budworm in a Douglas-fir stand in British Columbia

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 780-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. Alfaro ◽  
G. A. Van Sickle ◽  
A. J. Thomson ◽  
E. Wegwitz
Keyword(s):  
Radial Growth ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Western Spruce Budworm ◽  
Number Of Stems ◽  
The Relationship

The effects of defoliation by western spruce budworm (Choristoneuraoccidentalis (Freeman)), on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) radial growth at breast height and tree mortality are given. Four hundred and twenty trees were marked in an 81-year-old stand, and their defoliation levels were recorded annually from 1970 to 1980 in an outbreak that lasted from 1970 to 1974, inclusive. Forty-one trees were felled and dissected in 1977, 3 years after recovery began. The number of stems per hectare was reduced by 39.3% and basal area by 11.6% through mortality, most occurring among the small diameter, suppressed, and intermediate trees. Relationships were established between mortality and defoliation. Radial increments were examined, and the presence of four outbreaks during the life of the stand was detected. The combined effect of these infestations amounted to a loss of about 12% of the estimated potential diameter had not the insects been active. The most recent outbreak (1970–1974) caused a total of 10 years of subnormal growth, including 5 years due to defoliation and 5 years of recovery. The relationship between radial increment losses and defoliation intensity and duration is studied and quantified.

Allozyme variation in interior Douglas-fir: association with growth and resistance to western spruce budworm herbivory

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1691-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Chen ◽  
Thomas E Kolb ◽  
Karen M Clancy ◽  
Valerie D Hipkins ◽  
Laura E DeWald
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Allozyme Variation ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Starch Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Western Spruce Budworm ◽  
Phenotypic Differences

We used starch gel electrophoresis to investigate levels of genetic variation between trees of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. glauca) that were phenotypically resistant versus susceptible to defoliation by the western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman). We also investigated the association between allozyme variation and tree growth traits. Overall, the phenotypically resistant trees had a lower allelic heterozygosity (p = 0.020) compared with susceptible trees. However, this difference between resistant and susceptible trees primarily occurred at the Buena Vista, Colorado, site rather than the Deckers, Colorado, and Jacob Lake, Arizona, sites. Among 25 loci we examined, the resistant trees also had a higher frequency of the most common alleles (p = 0.057) and a higher proportion of homozygous genotypes, especially at loci FEST-1 (p = 0.004), ACO-1 (p = 0.080), and 6PGD-1 (p = 0.084). The higher allelic heterozygosity in susceptible trees was mainly due to their higher proportion of uncommon and (or) rare alleles. Compared with susceptible trees, resistant trees had higher mean radial growth rates (p = 0.047) and less temporal variability in growth rate over 25 years (p = 0.037). Mean radial growth rate and average tree heterozygosity were not related at any site (p = 0.316). Relationships between temporal variability in growth rate and tree heterozygosity were inconsistent among sites. Our results suggest that phenotypic differences in resistance of interior Douglas-fir to western spruce budworm defoliation are partly caused by genetic differences among trees.

Dynamics of an old-growth, fire-initiated, subalpine forest in southern interior British Columbia: tree-ring reconstruction of 2 year cycle spruce budworm outbreaks

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1947-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Parish ◽  
Joseph A Antos
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Tree Ring Reconstruction ◽  
The Impact

Tree-ring width chronologies of three species from a 330-year-old subalpine forest were used to reconstruct outbreaks of 2 year cycle spruce budworm (Choristoneura biennis Freeman). The growth of host species, Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.), was compared with that of the nonhost, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) with and without the removal of the effects of climate on growth. Seven periods, 1989–1991, 1943–1957, 1911–1927, 1869–1875, 1839–1861, 1823–1829, 1785–1801, were identified in which the growth of both host species was reduced relative to the non-host; this includes the single known outbreak from 1944 to 1956. Spectral analysis indicated a periodicity for growth reduction of the host relative to non-host species of ca. 45 years for both spruce and fir. For three periods, the known outbreak in the 1940–1950s, and two inferred outbreaks in the 1910–1920s and 1840–1850s, we calculated the four measures of radial growth first proposed by Brubaker and Greene (L.B. Brubaker and S.K. Greene. 1979. Can. J. For. Res. 9: 95–105): the maximum rate of growth loss, 1-year and 5-year losses, and the rate and time to recovery. Growth losses were greater for fir than for spruce during all three periods. During the 1940–1950s, growth losses were severe, but losses were less in the 1910–1920s. The impact of C. biennis has varied among outbreak periods but, overall, has made a pronounced contribution to present stand conditions. Our work suggests that budworms have been a frequent agent of disturbance with major effects on forest dynamics in southern British Columbia, especially in spruce–fir forests when long periods occur between fires.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document