Interaction dynamics of bark beetle aggregation and conifer defense rates

The requirement of host tree death for successful reproduction by some bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) has placed strong selective pressures on conifers for rapidly induced, complex defensive systems. Conversely, the ability of bark beetles to engage in cooperative attacks mediated by aggregat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oikos 1989-10, Vol.56 (2), p.256-263
Main Authors: Berryman, A.A. (Washington State Univ. (USA). Dept. of Entomology), Raffa, K.F, Millstein, J.A, Stenseth, N.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregation
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
BARK BEETLES
Biological and medical sciences
COLEOPTERA
Coniferales
CONIFERAS
CONIFERE
CONIFERS
Demecology
ESCARABAJOS DE LA CORTEZA
ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA
ETATS-UNIS
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungi
Isoclines
MODELE
MODELOS
Parasite hosts
PARASITISM
PARASITISME
PARASITISMO
PEST RESISTANCE
Pheromones
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Resin canals
Resins
RESISTANCE AUX RAVAGEURS
RESISTENCIA A LAS PLAGAS
SCOLYTE
SELECCION
SELECTION
Trees
USA
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Summary:The requirement of host tree death for successful reproduction by some bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) has placed strong selective pressures on conifers for rapidly induced, complex defensive systems. Conversely, the ability of bark beetles to engage in cooperative attacks mediated by aggregation pheromones and their associations with phytopathogenic fungi enable them to overcome these defenses under certain conditions. Although the outcome of colonization attempts is discrete, tree defensive capacities vary quantitatively within a population. There are multiple interactions among these features, and so the separate processes that govern conifer - bark beetle systems have proven difficult to study or manipulate for improved forest protection. A model is developed which delineates the key parameters of colonization success or failure. The differential equations that structure the model are based entirely on validated assumptions from previous field and laboratory work. Using this model, various assumptions regarding the effects of such factors as environmental stress, underlying resistance, and beetle immigration can be evaluated for each conifer - scolytid system. This model may also facilitate the development of comparative approaches for addressing coevolutionary interactions among bark beetles and their host plants.
ISSN:0030-1299
1600-0706
DOI:10.2307/3565345