Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA
An outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough, occurred in the South Platte River drainage on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest in the Colorado Front Range attacking Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Stocking levels, species composition, and tree siz...
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doaj-6cf97e7190314672872bde5b0edad3ba2020-11-24T21:03:58ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072014-12-015123131314610.3390/f5123131f5123131Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USAJosé F. Negrón0Ann M. Lynch1Willis C. Schaupp2Javier E. Mercado3Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 240 West Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USARocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 1215 E Lowell St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USAForest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service, Region 6, Southwest Oregon Service Center, J.H. Stone Nursery, 2606 Old Stage Road, Central Point, OR 95702, USARocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 240 West Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USAAn outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough, occurred in the South Platte River drainage on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest in the Colorado Front Range attacking Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Stocking levels, species composition, and tree size in heavily and lightly defoliated stands were similar. Douglas-fir tussock moth defoliation resulted in significant Douglas-fir mortality in the heavily defoliated stands, leading to a change in dominance to ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Lawson. Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsuqae Hopkins, populations increased following the defoliation event but caused less mortality, and did not differ between heavily and lightly defoliated stands. Douglas-fir tussock moth-related mortality was greatest in trees less than 15 cm dbh (diameter at 1.4 m above the ground) that grew in suppressed and intermediate canopy positions. Douglas-fir beetle-related mortality was greatest in trees larger than 15 cm dbh that grew in the dominant and co-dominant crown positions. Although both insects utilize Douglas-fir as its primary host, stand response to infestation is different. The extensive outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth followed by Douglas-fir beetle activity may be associated with a legacy of increased host type growing in overstocked conditions as a result of fire exclusion.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/5/12/3131Orgyia pseudotsugataDendroctonus pseudotsugaedouglas-fir tussock mothdouglas-fir beetleforest insectsdefoliatorsbark beetles |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
José F. Negrón Ann M. Lynch Willis C. Schaupp Javier E. Mercado |
spellingShingle |
José F. Negrón Ann M. Lynch Willis C. Schaupp Javier E. Mercado Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA Forests Orgyia pseudotsugata Dendroctonus pseudotsugae douglas-fir tussock moth douglas-fir beetle forest insects defoliators bark beetles |
author_facet |
José F. Negrón Ann M. Lynch Willis C. Schaupp Javier E. Mercado |
author_sort |
José F. Negrón |
title |
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA |
title_short |
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA |
title_full |
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA |
title_fullStr |
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA |
title_full_unstemmed |
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA |
title_sort |
douglas-fir tussock moth- and douglas-fir beetle-caused mortality in a ponderosa pine/douglas-fir forest in the colorado front range, usa |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Forests |
issn |
1999-4907 |
publishDate |
2014-12-01 |
description |
An outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough, occurred in the South Platte River drainage on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest in the Colorado Front Range attacking Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Stocking levels, species composition, and tree size in heavily and lightly defoliated stands were similar. Douglas-fir tussock moth defoliation resulted in significant Douglas-fir mortality in the heavily defoliated stands, leading to a change in dominance to ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Lawson. Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsuqae Hopkins, populations increased following the defoliation event but caused less mortality, and did not differ between heavily and lightly defoliated stands. Douglas-fir tussock moth-related mortality was greatest in trees less than 15 cm dbh (diameter at 1.4 m above the ground) that grew in suppressed and intermediate canopy positions. Douglas-fir beetle-related mortality was greatest in trees larger than 15 cm dbh that grew in the dominant and co-dominant crown positions. Although both insects utilize Douglas-fir as its primary host, stand response to infestation is different. The extensive outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth followed by Douglas-fir beetle activity may be associated with a legacy of increased host type growing in overstocked conditions as a result of fire exclusion. |
topic |
Orgyia pseudotsugata Dendroctonus pseudotsugae douglas-fir tussock moth douglas-fir beetle forest insects defoliators bark beetles |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/5/12/3131 |
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