The effect of climate change on mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) in Western Canada

Abstract

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, (MPB) is the largest forest disturbance factor throughout its range in North America. The most recent MPB outbreak began in the 1990s and has resulted in an approximate loss of 723 million cubic meters of timber. The current global warming trends have seen global temperatures increase by approximately 1°C and are forecasted to rise by an additional 0.5-1.5°C over the preceding decades. These temperature increases are having a large impact on the MPB range, biology, and physiology. The range of MPB has expanded significantly in recent decades and is forecasted to continue to increase significantly in all directions as well as an increase in elevation. With further climate warming, there is a possibility of the MPB invading the boreal forest and using jack pine as host trees. MPB oviposition time, development, and winter survivability rates have been altered due to rising temperatures.