Large-scale forest fragmentation increases the duration of tent caterpillar outbreak (original) (raw)
Abstract
I examined historical data (1950–1984) on the duration of outbreaks of the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) in northern Ontario, Canada. Outbreak duration was compared to host tree species dominance and forest structure over large areas of boreal forest partially cleared for agriculture. Abundance of the principal host tree species Populus tremuloides had no consistent effect on duration of outbreak within forest districts, and was negatively correlated with duration of outbreaks among the eight forest districts examined. The amount of forest edge per km2 was the best, and most consistent, predictor of the duration of tent caterpillar outbreaks both within individual forest districts and among forest districts. Because forest tent caterpillar populations are driven largely by the impact of parasitoids and pathogens, results here suggest that large-scale increase in forest fragmentation affects the interaction between these natural enemies and forest tent caterpillar. Increased clearing and fragmentation of boreal forests, by agriculture and forestry, may be exacerbating outbreaks of this forest defoliator.
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Authors and Affiliations
- Ontario Region, Forestry Canada, 1219 Queen St. East, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Jens Roland - Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, T6G 2E9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jens Roland
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Roland, J. Large-scale forest fragmentation increases the duration of tent caterpillar outbreak.Oecologia 93, 25–30 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00321186
- Received: 11 May 1992
- Accepted: 19 August 1992
- Issue date: February 1993
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00321186