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Biome-scale disturbances by eruptive herbivores provide valuable insights into species interactions, ecosystem function, and impacts of global change. We present a conceptual framework using one system as a model, emphasizing interactions across levels of biological hierarchy and spatiotemporal scales. Bark beetles are major natural disturbance agents in western North American forests. However, recent bark beetle population eruptions have exceeded the frequencies, impacts, and ranges documented during the previous 125 years. Extensive host abundance and susceptibility, concentrated beetle density, favorable weather, optimal symbiotic associations, and escape from natural enemies must occur jointly for beetles to...
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Synopsis: Because recent bark beetle population eruptions have exceeded the frequencies, impacts, and ranges documented during the previous 125 years, researchers have been prompted to determine what factors trigger broad scale outbreaks, and how do these factors interact? How do human activities, such as forest management, alter these interactions, and thus the frequency, extent, severity, and synchrony of outbreaks? Extensive host tree abundance and susceptibility, concentrated beetle density, favorable weather, optimal symbiotic associations, and escape from natural enemies must occur jointly for beetles to surpass a series of thresholds and exert widespread disturbance. Eruptions occur when key thresholds are...
Categories: Publication;
Types: Citation,
Map Service,
OGC WFS Layer,
OGC WMS Layer,
OGC WMS Service;
Tags: Alaska,
Alberta,
Arizona,
British Columbia,
California, All tags...
Colorado,
Curculionidae: Scolytinae,
Idaho,
Land use configuration,
Landscape fragmentation,
Montana,
Natural cover amount,
Natural cover heterogeneity,
Nevada,
New Mexico,
Oregon,
South Dakota,
Utah,
Washington,
Wyoming,
conifer forest,
fragmentation,
insect infestation,
landscape structure,
meso-regional,
mountain pine beetle,
pinyon beetle,
spruce beetle, Fewer tags
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