Tree-ring reconstruction of bark beetle disturbances in the Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey. Forests of southeast Kazakhstan

Ann M. Lynch, Nurjan S. Mukhamadiev, Christopher D. O'Connor, Irina P. Panyushkina, Nursagim A. Ashikbaev, Abay O. Sagitov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ips hauseri Reitter is themost important bark beetle on Picea schrenkiana in southeastKazakhstan, but its biology, ecology, and outbreak dynamics are poorly known. We dendrochronologically reconstructed a 200-year history of disturbances in the Kazakh Tien Shan P. schrenkiana forests. Only localized, low-severity bark beetle events occurred during the reconstructed period, indicating that extensive high-severity bark beetle outbreaks have not occurred historically in the Tien Shan spruce forest, unlike bark beetle outbreaks in spruce forests in North America, Europe, and Russia. Disturbance frequency doubled after about 1965, probably due to warming climate. Results, combined with the failure of an outbreak to fully develop after blowdown events associated with hurricane-force windstorms in 2011, indicate that prolonged drought may be necessary to sustain I. hauseri outbreaks, or that year-to-year variation in the Tien Shan weather prevents outbreak development. I. hauseri is probably less aggressive than I. typographus, at least on their natural hosts within their natural ranges.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number912
JournalForests
Volume10
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2019

Keywords

  • Bark beetles
  • Blowdown
  • Dendrochronology
  • Hauser's engraver
  • Ips ahauseri
  • Ips duplicatus
  • Ips sexdentatus
  • Ips typographus
  • Schrenk's spruce
  • Windstorm

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry

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