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Forests
Special Issues
Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks
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Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2024 | Viewed by 5775

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rastislav Jakuš

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
Interests: bark beetles; remote sensing; pheromones; anti-attractants; forest protection; risk assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests are becoming increasingly vulnerable to pest outbreaks as a result of climate change, resulting in more frequent and severe infestations that critically impact ecological health and sustainability. The changing climate, characterized by rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, creates a hospitable environment for pests to reproduce and intensify their attacks on forested regions. This issue summarizes research that addresses risk assessment, early detection, and effective management to preserve the well-being of our invaluable forested landscapes. Remote sensing methods provide a comprehensive overview of forested areas, enabling the efficient monitoring and timely identification of areas impacted by pest infestations. As a result, this technology facilitates proactive measures to contain the spread of pests and mitigate potential damage. Risk assessment can also be linked to advances in molecular biology. Molecular biology-based approaches offer vital insights into the genetics and vulnerabilities of pest populations, making them crucial for accurate risk assessments. Additionally, these methods play a critical role in evaluating tree health, providing a deep comprehension of their physiological and genetic responses to pest infestations and environmental stressors. Furthermore, this Special Issue aims to showcase novel techniques in pest control, such as pheromones, anti-attractants, biocontrol agents, and precision application technologies. These methods considerably disturb the life cycle of pests and reduce their populations effectively.

Dr. Rastislav Jakuš
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bark beetles
  • defoliators
  • semiochemicals
  • push–pull
  • repellents
  • smart forestry
  • traps
  • drones
  • satellite

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 3264 KiB  
Article
Influence of Elevation and Stand Age on the Abundance of the Beech Bark Beetle (Taphrorychus bicolor Her.) and Its Potential Threat to Beech Stands
by Jakub Špoula, Adam Véle and Kateřina Neudertová Hellebrandová
Forests 2024, 15(9), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091595 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 501
Abstract
In 2023, branches of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were placed on 24 different study sites within beech stands in the Czech Republic to study the distribution of the beech bark beetle (Taphrorychus bicolor Her.). After infestation, the branches were placed [...] Read more.
In 2023, branches of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were placed on 24 different study sites within beech stands in the Czech Republic to study the distribution of the beech bark beetle (Taphrorychus bicolor Her.). After infestation, the branches were placed in emergence traps to capture adults of the offspring generation. In total, 2167 adults of T. bicolor were captured across the 24 study sites. The average capture (mean ± SE) was 90.3 ± 24.4 adults per site. Statistical analyses, including GLMM and GLM, were employed to assess the influence of elevation and stand age on the abundance of T. bicolor. The results indicate that the distribution of T. bicolor is mainly influenced by the elevation and age of the beech stand. The number of captured adults decreased with elevation and increased with stand age. Climatic region, volumes of beech, and volumes of felled beech wood from principal felling and thinning felling had no significant effect on the number of T. bicolor adults captured. We found that, overall, 73.37% of Czech beech stands (at elevations 300–650 m a.s.l.) are possibly threatened (either highly or slightly) by the large occurrence of T. bicolor, because they are present at elevations where T. bicolor is widespread. No outbreaks of T. bicolor have yet been reported in the Czech Republic, but with the increasing amount of beech planted, combined with global climate change, the possibility of outbreaks in the future cannot be excluded. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks)
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15 pages, 2505 KiB  
Article
Is It Possible to Predict a Forest Insect Outbreak? Backtesting Using Remote Sensing Data
by Anton Kovalev, Olga Tarasova, Vladislav Soukhovolsky and Yulia Ivanova
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081458 - 19 Aug 2024
Viewed by 969
Abstract
In this study, methods are proposed for analyzing the susceptibility of forest stands to attacks by forest insects on the basis of Earth remote sensing data. As an indicator of the state of forest stands, we proposed to use a parameter of the [...] Read more.
In this study, methods are proposed for analyzing the susceptibility of forest stands to attacks by forest insects on the basis of Earth remote sensing data. As an indicator of the state of forest stands, we proposed to use a parameter of the sensitivity of a vegetation index (normalized difference vegetation index; NDVI) during a vegetative period to changes in the radiative temperature of the territory (land surface temperature; LST) determined from satellite data of the Terra/Aqua system. The indicator was calculated as a spectrum of a response function in an integral equation linking changes of NDVI to those of LST. Backtesting was carried out using data from two outbreaks of the Siberian silk moth Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv. and outbreaks of the white mottled sawyer Monochamus urussovi Fischer and of the four-eyed fir bark beetle Polygraphus proximus Blandford in taiga forests of Krasnoyarsk Territory in Russia. In addition, the state of fir stands in the year 2023 was examined when damage to the forest stands was not yet noticeable, but Siberian silk moth adults were found in pheromone traps. It was shown that the proposed indicator of susceptibility of forest stands changed significantly 2–3 years before the pest outbreak in outbreak foci of the studied areas. Thus, the proposed indicator can be used to predict outbreaks of insect pests. The proposed approach differs from commonly used remote sensing methods in that, rather than using absolute values of remote indicators (such as, for example, NDVI), it focuses on indicators of the susceptibility of these remote indicators to the characteristics of the natural environment. Since any given point on the planet is characterized by a seasonally varying temperature, it is always possible to determine the sensitivity of a remote sensing indicator to changes in the environment that are not directly related to the absolute value of the indicator. Future studies are expected to examine susceptibility indices as a function of forest stand location and species, and to examine the length of spatial correlation of susceptibility indices, which may provide information on the possible extent of future insect outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks)
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20 pages, 3974 KiB  
Article
An Autoregulatory Model of Forest Insect Population Dynamics and Forest Stand Damage Dynamics in Different Habitats: An Example of Lymantria dispar L.
by Vladislav Soukhovolsky, Anton Kovalev, Yuriy Akhanaev, Dmitry Kurenshchikov, Vasiliy Ponomarev, Olga Tarasova, Fabien Caroulle, Maki N. Inoue and Vyacheslav Martemyanov
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071098 - 25 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1033
Abstract
This paper addresses the problem of constructing a mathematical model of population density dynamics and the dynamics of forest areas damaged by spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) outbreaks in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Japan. The key variable of the model [...] Read more.
This paper addresses the problem of constructing a mathematical model of population density dynamics and the dynamics of forest areas damaged by spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) outbreaks in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Japan. The key variable of the model is either the pest population density or the area of forests damaged by spongy moths during a season. This variable can be considered proportional to the total current pest abundance in the study area. For the purposes of modeling, data from a number of different authors was used (see bibliography), as well as data from surveys conducted at the egg or caterpillar stage. The complexity of modeling the dynamics of L. dispar abundance is largely due to the fact that, when studying the dynamics of spongy moth population density, the values of external factors such as parasites, predators, and the amount of available food are often unknown. A simple model was proposed using only two types of data: population density and monthly weather characteristics. Our analysis demonstrated that, even in the absence of knowledge regarding the characteristics of ecosystem components interacting with the spongy moth population (parasites, predators, and the state of forage trees), it is possible to introduce models that characterize the regulatory processes in the population in terms of (i) the presence of negative and positive feedbacks in the system and (ii) the influence of external weather factors. The system under investigation was described as an autoregressive system, whereby the current state of the population is dependent on its state in previous years. The order of autoregression in the system was estimated using the order of the maximum significant partial autocorrelation function. It was found that the regulation of spongy moth population density was characterized by the presence of two feedback loops: positive feedback between the current population density and the population density in the previous season and negative feedback between the current population density and the population density two years ago. To evaluate the model, its stability margin was calculated and found to be directly proportional to the positive feedback coefficient and inversely proportional to the negative feedback coefficient. The model was demonstrated to explain up to 90% of the observed variance of real data. Although the model coefficients for different local populations (North America, Europe, and Asia) differ, the general form of the equation describing both direct data on population densities and indirect data on pest dynamics characterized by areas of stand damage is consistent. Consequently, the form of the ADL model is general, irrespective of the location of the local population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks)
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15 pages, 6174 KiB  
Article
Forecast of Current and Future Distributions of Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) under Climate Change in China
by Ningning Li, Jiaxuan Zhang, Chao Tan, Xi Zhu, Suyan Cao and Cuiqing Gao
Forests 2024, 15(5), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050843 - 11 May 2024
Viewed by 1129
Abstract
Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) emerged as an invasive pest in China around 2010, posing a significant threat to plants within the Asteraceae family. Employing the MaxEnt model, this study endeavors to anticipate the potential geographic distribution of Corythucha marmorata amid present and forthcoming climatic [...] Read more.
Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) emerged as an invasive pest in China around 2010, posing a significant threat to plants within the Asteraceae family. Employing the MaxEnt model, this study endeavors to anticipate the potential geographic distribution of Corythucha marmorata amid present and forthcoming climatic conditions, utilizing a dataset of 60 distributional occurrences alongside environmental parameters. The results revealed that presently, suitable regions span from 18–47° N to 103–128° E, with pronounced suitability concentrated notably in Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, and Sichuan. Projections suggested a general expansion of suitable habitats, albeit with exceptions noted in SSP1–2.6 and SSP2–4.5 scenarios in the 2050s and SSP5–8.5 in the 2070s. The potential suitability of areas for Corythucha marmorata was influenced by major factors such as precipitation in the warmest quarter (bio18), mean temperature in the warmest quarter (bio10), mean temperature in the wettest quarter (bio8), and annual precipitation (bio12). Notably, temperature and precipitation emerge as primary determinants affecting both current and future ranges. In comparison with the current distributional area, there was a trend towards increasing the potentially suitable areas in the future. Moreover, there was a greater risk of spreading to the north of China in the future. This study serves as a pivotal resource for guiding future endeavors in monitoring, early detection, and preventative management strategies targeting Corythucha marmorata. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks)
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18 pages, 25908 KiB  
Article
Spruce Protection against Ips typographus with Anti-Attractant Blend of Tree-Based Semiochemicals: From Small Experimental Plots to Stand Scales
by Rastislav Jakuš, Aleksei Trubin, Vivek Vikram Singh, Khodabakhsh Zabihi, Anna Jirošová, Roman Modlinger, Andrej Majdák, Nataliya Korolyova, Antonioni Acacio Campos Moliterno, Jaroslav Kašpar, Martin Slavík, Peter Surový, Marek Turčáni and Fredrik Schlyter
Forests 2024, 15(2), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020356 - 12 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1625
Abstract
Tree-killing bark beetles require rapid management, such as anti-attractants, to stop the enlargement of attack hot-spots. We tested two newer anti-attractant blends, both without verbenone and one with the addition of trans-4-thujanol, in traps against standard pheromone baits for inhibition of catch. [...] Read more.
Tree-killing bark beetles require rapid management, such as anti-attractants, to stop the enlargement of attack hot-spots. We tested two newer anti-attractant blends, both without verbenone and one with the addition of trans-4-thujanol, in traps against standard pheromone baits for inhibition of catch. Both blends provided effective catch reduction (>95%). We also tested these anti-attractant blends in tree protection experiments for two years. We had experimental plots with a center of an anti-attractant protected tree zone, with no traditional control area, but we followed tree kills in 10 m wide concentric rings to 100 m. In 2020, we had 12 plots, and 9 plots in 2021. Monitoring by low-strength pheromone traps followed beetle flight averaging 300/trap during the shorter period, August 2020, and 5000/trap during the longer period, May to August 2021. The blends of anti-attractants were 100% effective in avoiding tree mortality in both treated trees and their surroundings. There were no bark beetle attacks on any treated trees, and there was zero tree mortality up to 19 m in 2020, and up to 30 m in 2021, thus full protection to circa 20 m. The density of killed trees then increased from close to zero, over 20 to 50 m, reaching a level of ca 30 (trees/ha) then declined. The spatial pattern of tree mortality on our experimental plots was highly heterogeneous and individual 10m-ring data points on tree kill density could not be statistically separated. In contrast, a non-linear regression model showed a continuous increase of attacks over the distance from the center to a peak ca 60m, followed by a decline. This model agrees partly with the only similar study in the literature, but importantly, it does not give a peak of kill density at distances between the first and second rings close to treatment zones. Such patterns of close-quarter kills have been observed as a “switching” of attack in this and other scolytid systems manipulated by anti-attractants, but not in the present study, likely due to the elimination of verbenone from our blends. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment and Management of Forest Pest Outbreaks)
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