USFS : “New trees will soon replace those killed by the beetle”

4 Responses to USFS : “New trees will soon replace those killed by the beetle”

1. Maurizio Morabito says:

   July 25, 2011 at 6:39 pm

   we will soon be told that to be killed by beetles is an important part of the pines’ lifecycle

   Reply
   • papiertigre says:

     July 25, 2011 at 8:53 pm

     Well, now that you mention it.

     Actually it’s more accurate to say, clearing the canopy for understory growth, beetles that kill pines are an important part of the oak trees life cycle.

     Reply
     • Al Gored says:

       July 25, 2011 at 9:03 pm

       Minimial overlap between oaks and any of the pine species that are hit by this beetle, but your point makes complete sense in general.

       It is typically the spruces that cheer on this beetle. Although they only cheer when no one is in the forest to hear them, of course.

       Reply
   • Al Gored says:

     July 25, 2011 at 9:01 pm

     It actually is, particularly for lodgepole pines. The only way they can dominate an area is with fire wiping out their longer-living competition (typically spruce). Note the only place they do dominate is in relatively dry fire-prone areas. Under ‘natural’ (pre-1492) conditions the fire cycle was regular and mature forests – which can host beetle epidemics were patchy, not the vast ones that just got killed. In any case, these beetle killed forests are now a huge fire waiting to happen… and when fire does hit it will kill off any competition and, most importantly, pop the seeds out of all the lodgepole pine cones and replant an even-aged monoculture which is what led to the vast areas of even-aged mature forests that made these huge epidemics possible.

     They downplayed – almost lied – about the fact that mature forests are not just better than young forests, they are essential for the beetles because those trees have cambium layer thick enough to sustain beetles (in epidemics they attack younger trees due to their sheer numbers but they are not viable habitat… and those sheer numbers of beetles is what overwhelms even totally healthy vigorous mature trees).

     So, for lodgepole pine, if fire doesn’t get them then the beetle will, and then fire. If fire doesn’t happen spruce wins out and the lodgepole pine – which cannot start growing in the shade of the spruce – loses.

     Reply