Spatiotemporal patterns of mountain pine beetle activity in the southern Rocky Mountains

Ecology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 2175-2185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa B. Chapman ◽  
Thomas T. Veblen ◽  
Tania Schoennagel
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Southern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

Mountain Pine Beetle Host Selection Between Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines in the Southern Rocky Mountains

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. West ◽  
Jennifer S. Briggs ◽  
William R. Jacobi ◽  
José F. Negrón
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Host Selection ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Southern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

scholarly journals Simulated impacts of mountain pine beetle and wildfire disturbances on forest vegetation composition and carbon stocks in the Southern Rocky Mountains

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 12919-12965 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Caldwell ◽  
T. J. Hawbaker ◽  
J. S. Briggs ◽  
P. W. Cigan ◽  
S. Stitt
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Forest Vegetation ◽  
Southern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Disturbance Regimes ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

Abstract. Forests play an important role in sequestering carbon and offsetting anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, but changing disturbance regimes may compromise the capability of forests to store carbon. In the Southern Rocky Mountains, a recent outbreak of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae; MPB) has caused levels of tree mortality that are unprecedented in recorded history. To evaluate the long-term impacts of both this insect outbreak and another characteristic disturbance in these forests, high-severity wildfire, we simulated potential changes in species composition and carbon stocks using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS). Simulations were completed for 3 scenarios (no disturbance, actual MPB infestation, and modeled wildfire) using field data collected in 2010 at 97 plots in the lodgepole pine-dominated forests of eastern Grand County, Colorado, which were heavily impacted by MPB after 2002. Results of the simulations showed that (1) lodgepole pine remained dominant over time in all scenarios, with basal area recovering to pre-disturbance levels 70–80 yr after disturbance; (2) wildfire caused a greater magnitude of change than did MPB in both patterns of succession and distribution of carbon among biomass pools; (3) levels of standing-live carbon returned to pre-disturbance conditions after 40 vs. 50 yr following MPB vs. wildfire disturbance, respectively, but took 120 vs. 150 yr to converge with conditions in the undisturbed scenario. Lodgepole pine forests appear to be relatively resilient to both of the disturbances we modeled, although changes in climate, future disturbance regimes, and other factors may significantly affect future rates of regeneration and ecosystem response.

scholarly journals Simulated impacts of mountain pine beetle and wildfire disturbances on forest vegetation composition and carbon stocks in the Southern Rocky Mountains

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 8203-8222 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Caldwell ◽  
T. J. Hawbaker ◽  
J. S. Briggs ◽  
P. W. Cigan ◽  
S. Stitt
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Forest Vegetation ◽  
Southern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Disturbance Regimes ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

Abstract. Forests play an important role in sequestering carbon and offsetting anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, but changing disturbance regimes may compromise the capability of forests to store carbon. In the Southern Rocky Mountains, a recent outbreak of mountain pine beetle (\\textit{Dendroctonus ponderosae}; MPB) has caused remarkable levels of tree mortality. To evaluate the long-term impacts of both this insect outbreak and another characteristic disturbance in these forests, high-severity wildfire, we simulated potential changes in species composition and carbon stocks using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS). Simulations were completed for 3 scenarios (no disturbance, actual MPB infestation, and modeled wildfire) using field data collected in 2010 at 97 plots in the lodgepole-pine-dominated forests of eastern Grand County, Colorado, which were heavily impacted by MPB after 2002. Results of the simulations showed that (1) lodgepole pine remained dominant over time in all scenarios, with basal area recovering to pre-disturbance levels 70–80 yr after disturbance; (2) wildfire caused a greater magnitude of change than did MPB in both patterns of succession and distribution of carbon among biomass pools; (3) levels of standing-live carbon returned to pre-disturbance conditions after 40 vs. 50 yr following MPB vs. wildfire disturbance, respectively, but took 120 vs. 150 yr to converge with conditions in the undisturbed scenario. Lodgepole pine forests appear to be relatively resilient to both of the disturbances we modeled, although changes in climate, future disturbance regimes, and other factors may significantly affect future rates of regeneration and ecosystem response.

Movement of outbreak populations of mountain pine beetle: influences of spatiotemporal patterns and climate

Ecography ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 080227084236895-0
Author(s):  
Brian H. Aukema ◽  
Allan L. Carroll ◽  
Yanbing Zheng ◽  
Jun Zhu ◽  
Kenneth F. Raffa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

Movement of outbreak populations of mountain pine beetle: influences of spatiotemporal patterns and climate

Ecography ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian H. Aukema ◽  
Allan L. Carroll ◽  
Yanbing Zheng ◽  
Jun Zhu ◽  
Kenneth F. Raffa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

scholarly journals Albedo-induced radiative forcing from mountain pine beetle outbreaks in forests, south-central Rocky Mountains: magnitude, persistence, and relation to outbreak severity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 11935-11968 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vanderhoof ◽  
C. A. Williams ◽  
Y. Shuai ◽  
D. Jarvis ◽  
D. Kulakowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
South Central ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Central Rocky Mountains ◽  
Induced Changes

Abstract. Mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreaks in North America are widespread and have potentially-persistent impacts on forest albedo and associated radiative forcing. This study utilized multiple datasets, both current and historical, within lodgepole pine stands in the south-central Rocky Mountains to quantify the full radiative forcing impact of outbreak events for decades after outbreak (0 to 60 yr) and the role of outbreak severity in determining that impact. Change in annual albedo and radiative forcing peaked at 14–20 yr post-outbreak (0.06 ± 0.006 and −0.8 ± 0.1 W m−2, respectively) and recovered to pre-outbreak levels by 30–40 yr post-outbreak. Change in albedo was significant in all four seasons, but strongest in winter with the increased visibility of snow (radiative cooling of −1.6 ± 0.2 W m−2, −3.0 ± 0.4 W m−2, and −1.6 ± 0.2 W m−2 for 2–13 yr, 14–20 yr and 20–30 yr post-outbreak, respectively). Change in winter albedo and radiative forcing also increased with outbreak severity (percent tree mortality). Persistence of albedo effects are seen as a function of the growth rate and species composition of surviving trees, and the establishment and growth of both understory herbaceous vegetation and tree species, all of which may vary with outbreak severity. The establishment and persistence of deciduous trees was found to increase the temporal persistence of albedo effects. MPB induced changes to radiative forcing may have feedbacks for regional temperature and precipitation, which could impact future MPB outbreaks dynamics.

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