Comments on: Pine Beetle-Caused Forest Death, And Climate Change https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/ Fri, 06 May 2016 15:30:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.8 By: The Meaning of the Fort McMurray Fire – Greg Laden's Blog https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476672 Fri, 06 May 2016 15:30:05 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476672 […] climate change has helped the spread of the pine bark beetle in the region. Fort McMurray is within the area of increased pine bark beetle activity, but other areas farther […]

]]> By: Gail Zawacki https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476671 Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:05:36 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476671 So, Greg, what do you make of this – according to this article, native trees should be MORE resistent to invasive attacks of insects, not less: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/11/opinion/in-your-garden-choose-plants-that-help-the-environment.html?_r=0

and yet, next to climate change/drought, almost all foresters blame invasive species for tree decline such as in this horrifying instance (among many) where 286 different species of trees have been attacked http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-beetle-trees-20140530-story.html#page=1

I have never bought the “blame the invasives” argument for epidemics of insects, disease and fungus since, first of all, native pathogens are also on the rampage and furthermore, people have been exporting exotic plants, fruits, living trees and lumber products for centuries in very large quantities. If merely importing aliens were enough to destroy the world’s forests, it wouldn’t have taken until the last 10 years or so to reach emergency proportions (yes, the UK Environment Dept. has declared a state of emergency – http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6dd02b0a-24f7-11e2-86fb-00144feabdc0.html)

Thanks,
Gail

]]> By: M.R Revolta (u15137229) https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476670 Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:30:30 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476670 This is a very good example of one ways in which nature plays a roll in climate change and if we were to interfere with these pine beetles it would probably lead to even further damage.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476669 Wed, 08 Apr 2015 18:55:54 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476669 I’m sure lots of other animals eat the Pine Beetles.

]]> By: Heinrich(14124506) https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476668 Wed, 08 Apr 2015 18:32:44 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476668 As seen the pine beetles are a more severe threat to the pine trees than forest fires. Is their no way to reduce te population of pine beetles because of the great effect it hase of the pine tree population?
Are the pine beetles in anyway beneficial for the enviroment?

]]> By: Percy https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476667 Mon, 06 Apr 2015 06:41:40 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476667 The effect of clobal warming is just too much, especially when its effect is indirect. But still I believe that nature has a way of regulating itself. In so saying, I mean that the beetles will exit the carrying capacity of its habitats then eventually ‘die’, its pupation controlled then the pine trees will have a chance to recover.

Unless if there is another thought about this?

]]> By: Gail Zawacki https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476666 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 19:50:30 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476666 In reply to AG Woodley – u15001416.

The beetles are behaving exactly as any population does when they come across a surfeit of food – their numbers explode. This is what happened to the human population due to the “green revolution” and it is the same pattern for bacteria in a petri dish given a glut of sugar. The “food” the beetles have are the dying trees. The trees would be dying anyway, from pollution. The beetles and fungus they spread are hastening the decay. If you want to address the issue of forest decline and premature tree mortality, you would have to figure out how to curtail the human habit of burning fuel and spreading artificial fertilizers on agricultural crops and drilling for more fuel, releasing toxic gases. So since nobody wants to do that, nothing will be done until the ecosystem collapses and humans are left with the desert they created.

]]> By: Shannon-Lea O'Connor (u15033432) https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476665 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 17:57:40 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476665 While climate change is definitely due to human activity, it has become part of process of natural selection. As temperatures begin to increase and these species of trees die out is it not part of the introductory phase of a better adapted species to move into the area?
Perhaps Man is able to restore some of the damage caused to these forests…
It may seem as though this loss of trees is only a negative issue, it does provide a new opportunity for new life. While not much is able to grow in these cold regions, with rising temperatures the conditions are becoming favourable for a wider variety of plant species which could be introduced into the area.
Together with this, the death of these trees provides material which can decay naturally in the area providing nutrients for new growth.
Burning would not be a good idea since it would only lead to increased air pollution, cancelling out any efforts that Man may have for reparation in the area.
As degradation may take very long in these environments, it would be particularly challenging yet a new approach if entomologists and conservationists alike could join ideas to introduce a species of decomposers as well as a predator species that may control the population of beetles.
Personally these new innovative attempts to rebuild nature with nature may be more effective than trying to step in and do it ourselves, as Man alone.

]]> By: AG Woodley - u15001416 https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476664 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 14:11:27 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476664 I don’t think burning the trees is a good idea. By burning the trees, vast areas of the natural habitat of other animals will be destroyed, causing the destruction of whole ecosystems. Several other species of insects or animals will be put into danger. If these areas infested with the pine beetles were to be burnt, there will be no insects to pollinate plants after the plants grow back. Another reason why burning isn’t a good idea is because of all the air pollution that would be taking place if millions of acres of forests would be burned to get rid of the beetles. Are there no natural predators of these pine beetles that could help lessen the numbers the beetles infesting forsest, if only in a small area?

]]> By: Kelly https://gregladen.com/blog/2015/03/30/pine-beetle-caused-forest-death-and-climate-change/#comment-476663 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 08:14:25 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=21009#comment-476663 I think that burning the trees is a good idea. Its the most natural way of getting rid of the beetles. They will die and the trees will grow back.

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