W187: Interactions Among Bark Beetles, Pathogens, and Conifers in North American Forests

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[06/03/2002] [07/31/2003] [01/30/2004]

Date of Annual Report: 06/03/2002

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/12/2001 - 10/13/2001
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2001 - 12/01/2001

Participants

Baker, Fred - Utah State University; Bentz, Barbara - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Jacobi, Bill - Colorado State University; Negron, Jose - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Ross, Darrell - Oregon State University; Seybold, Steven - University of Minnesota; Six, Diana - University of Montana; Bonello, P. Enrico - Ohio State University; Boone, Celia - University of Wisconsin; Cook, Steve - University of Idaho; Erbilgin, Nadir - University of California; McPherson, Brice - University of California; Schaffert, Danielle - Oregon State University; Stark, Dan - University of California; Sullivan, Brian - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station; Wallin, Kimberly - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Brief Summary of Minutes

The 2001 annual meeting was held October 12-13, 2001, at McMenamins Grand Lodge, Forest Grove, OR.

Agenda item 1. Diana Six (Chair) welcomed all 16 attendees to the annual meeting of W-187 and thanked Darrell Ross for his excellent local arrangements. On day one, the agenda consisted of a discussion of business items followed by research reports. On day two, the agenda consisted of business matters including voting for new officers followed by additional research reports.

Agenda item 2. Chair Six brought a copy of the 2000 annual meeting minutes. Discussion ensued regarding the W-187 reporting format. Fred Baker suggested submitting two types of reports. The first would be a short report consisting of 3 or 4 bullet statements targeted toward a lay audience, particularly politicians. This report might include a list publications, extension presentations, fact sheets, and aspects of scientific progress that have immediate applied ramifications. The second is a longer, more scientifically-oriented report that could be posted on the web site. This report would list technical publications and be like a scientific abstract. Secretary Seybold will take the reports and organize information under the projects objective structure for the formal annual report.

Baker reported on status of the W-187 Web Site (http://cnr.usu.edu/departments/forest/w187-2/). The site currently has the project description and objectives, a PDF version of an Annual Review of Entomology article by Tim Paine and other project members, and the minutes and annual reports from 1999 and 2000. It also has a current membership list, an essay on who might join W-187, a copy of the Appendix E form, and a link to the current Chair. Baker asked whether the group should post a publication list relevant to the project and whether literature should be accessible and searchable in a database format. He also asked if we should post the individual publication lists of the PIs. As homepages of most PIs are accessible through the membership table on the web site, those lists are mostly already available; this suggestion was tabled. Seybold suggested that collaborative groups write summaries of their research projects for a lay audience and that the text be accompanied by graphics and illustrations. Baker asked members to send him slides or photographs to make the web site more visually appealing.

The committee then discussed W-187 renewal and steps that might be taken to enhance successful project continuation. The committee considered establishing collaborative contacts with other multistate research projects with similar interests. Two projects were identified: NCR-193 Plant Health: Managing Insects and Diseases of Landscape Plants, and W-189 Biorational Methods for Insect Pest Management (IPM): Bioorganic and Molecular Approaches. When renewal for W-187 was written in 1999, multistate project W-189 was identified as having the most potential overlap with W-187. Seybold is a member of both projects and Wood has attended annual meetings for both projects. W-187 members are more ecologically oriented and W-189 members are more chemically oriented, but members of both projects work on insect-plant interactions. Seybold noted that at their 2001annual meeting, W-189 members approved the idea of a joint meeting with W-187 and proposed that the meeting be held in Oct. 2002 in Taos, NM.

Baker suggested that the two projects share their project descriptions and progress reports with the respective memberships before the meeting. He suggested that it might be possible to write a paper or publishable summary as a result of the joint session. For the joint meeting to be a success, there should be more advance planning for the meeting than for a typical meeting and that the respective Chairs should consult frequently with one another before the joint meeting. Other ideas for the joint meeting included a 3-day meeting with one day of overlap between the projects; presentations during the overlapping period from each project on the development of each project; and research reports from each project on topics of interest to members of the other project. Members of W-187 with interested in chemical ecology should be encouraged to attend the joint meeting. Chair Six stressed that it would be important to complete this joint meeting in advance of the renewal of W-187. A vote was taken on the motion for a joint meeting with W-189 in Oct. 2002 in Taos; the motion passed unanimously. A joint meeting with NCR-193 will be contemplated at future annual meetings of W-187.

Chair Six suggested drafting of a new book summarizing the work of the scientists in W-187, which could be completed before the renewal of W-187. This would enhance renewal chances and provide a guidepost for the progress of the project since the 1993 book by Schowalter and Filip. Six planned to check on potential publishers and would e-mail her chapter suggestions/outline to the membership. She hoped to solicit chapter contributions from the membership. Items that came up during the discussion were: 1) the ultimate purchase price of the book (Six would work with the publisher to keep this low); 2) the content of the book--should the Schowalter and Filip text be revisited and updated or should a new approach be taken; and 3) the format of the book--should it be prepared as a digital book and made available on CD, which might keep the purchase price of the final product lower.

Another topic related to project revision was breadth of the project mission: should the project keep its focus on bark beetles, pathogens, and conifers or should it expand to include hardwood tree systems? With oak decline in California, continuing problems with oak wilt in eastern North America, and importance of hardwoods in urban/wildland interfaces, more scientists will be working on hardwood pathogen-bark beetle interactions; these scientists could join W-187. The project has been largely a western project, but there are some eastern scientists involved and others that could be more involved. It was noted that we are losing our representation of mycologists/Ophiostoma experts in the project; an effort should be made to recruit scientists working in this area. Ross wondered if there would be a disadvantage to broadening the project; we should contact Administrative Advisor Daugherty and see if whether broadening the focus too much would hurt the project. Jacobi noted that there may be too few of us and that the project should be expanded nationally. He said we should call people and invite them to attend the annual meeting. McPherson reported that the mechanism is flawed for announcing the annual meeting to participants who are not committee members. For example, he is not on the e-mail list and did not receive information about this meeting until it was passed on to him by Wood. Baker agreed to construct an unofficial section on the web site that will always have a current list of cooperators and collaborators who are not official members of the project. Ross suggested that the philosophy of the group has always been to advertise the meeting as widely as possible to attract as much interest as possible, and this years attendees agreed with this approach. Returning to the breadth of the project mission, Seybold noted that the theme is insect/pathogen/tree interactions and that if we broaden the mission to include hardwoods then we have to be careful not to overlap with NCR-193 (insects/pathogens on woody ornamentals), which involves ornamental hardwoods. Chair Six pointed out that the focus of W-187 is on bark beetles and if we keep that focus and expand to other host trees, the project will still be unique. The consensus was that we should expand the project now in preparation for the renewal to enhance the vitality of the project. New content on hardwoods could be incorporated into the renewed proposal in 2003.

Discussion of new officers for 2001-2002 led to the nomination of Steve Seybold to Chair W-187 and to coordinate the joint meeting with W-189 in Oct. 2002. Steve Cook was nominated to serve as Secretary in 2001-2002 and to lead the renewal effort of the proposal as Chair in 2002-2003.

Agenda item 3. The Administrative Advisor was absent due to other obligations. The CSREES advisor also was absent, but he sent Chair Six information on national activities. First, there was concern in Washington that long-term funding for USDA, NSF, and other agencies may be in jeopardy due to terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Second, FY 2001 and 2002 funding was secure because the Congress had passed a continuing resolution and President Bush had signed the resolution. Third, there is a personnel change with the USDA Biologically Based Pest Management Grant Program. Bob Nowierski from Montana State University had just been named to head the program. The group concluded that, given his past record of activity on behalf of W-187, Dr. Daughertys absence from the meeting was no reflection on his support for or interest in the project.

Agenda item 4. Chair Six asked that everyone in attendance give a brief introduction of themselves including their affiliation and area of interest. Bentz announced the WFIWC Scholarship for graduate students. Deadline is Jan. 15, 2002, and the application is available on the WFIWC web site. Ross announced the Norman R. DuBois scholarship for biocontrol (ESA) and Six announced the Jeffrey LaFage scholarship for termite biology (ESA). Applications were encouraged for these awards.

Agenda item 5. The committee reaffirmed that the next annual meeting would be held in October 2002 in Taos, NM. The date would be determined by the respective Chairs of W-187 and W-189.

Agenda item 6. The group brainstormed about scientific products related to the research presented during the meeting. The following list of examples was generated with no particular order to the topics. A logistic regression model has been developed to estimate the probability of infestation at the stand and tree levels for pinyon ips, Ips confusus, in pinyon pine, Pinus edulis, in Arizona (Negrsn). Douglas-fir beetle aggregation pheromone might be used by resource managers who are interested in the possibility of selectively killing dwarf mistletoe-infected trees (Ross). Forest thinning or a combination of thinning and fire might be used as techniques to ensure forest succession and diversity and prevent major conflagrations (Wood). Systemic induced resistance is a basic mechanism in pines that could be enhanced and utilized to prevent disease and create more healthy trees (Bonello). Areas of high risk to pines for mountain pine beetle attack can be detected based on changes in spectral resolution at 30 m spatial resolution (Landsat) and potentially at 3.5 m spatial resolution (AVIRIS-NASA). The latter resolution may allow resource managers to detect infestations at the level of 1 or 2 trees while they are still manageable (Cook).

Next Meeting Information: Location and Date: Taos, NM, October 2002. Responsible Individuals: Steve Seybold, University of Minnesota (Chair Elect), LeRoy Daugherty (Administrative Advisor), Diana Six, University of Montana (Local Arrangements Coordinator and ex-Chair), and Steve Cook, University of Idaho (Secretary).

Between Meeting Information Exchange/Development Information: It was suggested that we communicate electronically to assemble the annual report with a focus on impacts and outcomes. Further, development of the W-187 web site through Baker was encouraged. An emphasis on joint publications and joint grants was encouraged so as to have higher impacts in the future.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: Progress on characterizing abiotic and biotic factors that predispose trees to attack by bark beetles was made by many project members and associates. A study was initiated in David Woods group (UC-Berkeley) to understand the role of fire as an abiotic predisposing factor for bark beetle attack. In this fire/fire surrogate project at Blodgett Forest in the central Sierra Nevada, the objective is to quantify the short- and long-term effects of fire and fire surrogate treatments on many forest characteristics including insects and pathogens. Other project personnel include Andrew Storer (Michigan Tech. Univ.) and Scott Stephens (UC-Berkeley). The Dahlsten lab (UC-Berkeley) initiated work in Jeffrey pine stands near Spooner Summit (Tahoe Basin) to measure the effect of different fire intensities from prescribed fires on the vigor and susceptibility of Jeffrey pine to bark beetles. One of the important products of this research is that post-burning bark beetle-induced mortality can be significant and needs to be managed with the creation of guidelines for estimating the survival of fire-damaged trees. Fire as an abiotic predisposing factor for bark beetle attack can be investigated in relationship with fungal pathogens. In an example of fire as a predisposing factor of trees to attack by bark beetles, Steve Seybold and Jenny Juzwik (Univ. Minnesota) are investigating the three-way interactions among wildfire, oak wilt, and xylophagous and phloeophagous beetles in a recently burned area in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, MN. From preliminary sampling Monarthrum mali (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) appears to be strongly and preferentially attracted to burned oaks. Ultimately, the two-way interactions between fire-insects, fire-oak wilt, and oak-wilt-insects will be described. In another study of abiotic predisposing agents, Fred Baker (Utah State Univ.) is working on the effect of ozone on Douglas-fir. Pathogens can also predispose trees to bark beetle attack., Darrell Ross (Oregon State Univ.) is working on the role of dwarf mistletoe in Douglas-fir as a pre-disposing factor for Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae. Three studies are in progress; the results of the research will be useful to resource managers who are interested in the possibility of killing dwarf mistletoe-infected trees by baiting with Douglas-fir beetle pheromone. Diana Six (Univ. Montana) is working on white pine blister rust, a needle- and stem-infecting fungal pathogen of whitebark pine that acts as a predisposing factor for mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae. Six and colleagues developed a risk-rating system to understand white pine blister rust as a predisposing factor. Bill Jacobi (Colorado State Univ.) is working on black stain root disease (BSRD) in the pinyon-juniper woodlands of southwestern Colorado. This forest type is the largest cover type in Colorado; pinyon, Pinus edulis, has been dying in unprecedented numbers in this part of the state. BSRD, Leptographium wageneri var. wageneri, is considered a biotic predisposing factor of pinyon pines that are eventually colonized and killed by Ips confusus. Since 1999 Jacobi and colleagues have investigated the expansion rate of BSRD mortality centers. Josi Negrsn (USDA FS Rocky Mountain Station) is also studying the relationship between BSRD and predisposition of pinyon pine to bark beetle attack. He has examined tree and stand conditions in association with pinyon ips, Ips confusus, in pinyon pine, Pinus edulis (Coconino National Forest, AZ). Results suggest that at the stand level, pinyon pine stand density index is a good predictor of probability of infestation. Negrsn has also conducted a biological study of the western balsam bark beetle, Dryocoetes confusus, that colonizes subalpine fir, Abies lasiocarpa, at high elevations in Colorado. Flight periodicity data has been collected for the last 5 years; Peak flight of the insect consistently occurs around the first two weeks in July. Sudden oak death in California [Brice McPherson--Dave Wood Lab)] is caused by Phytophthora ramorum, a brown alga. Bark and ambrosia beetles (Pseudopityophthorus pubipennis and Monarthrum spp.) colonize infected coast live oaks while the foliage is green and apparently healthy, and may predispose these trees to rapid death and to catastrophic structural failure. The disease appears to be increasing its range. The group has developed methods for characterizing the disease state and disease symptom progression for oak species infected by Phytophthora ramorum at small (< 1 ha) and landscape scales. These methods should be applicable to other sites as the disease becomes more widespread. In an example of fungally-infected trees avoiding further fungal infection (and ultimate bark beetle infestation), Enrico Bonello (Ohio State Univ.) reported on systemic induced resistance vs. systemic acquired resistance in the Austrian pine (Pinus nigra)/Sphaeropsis sapinea host/pathogen system. The data show that Austrian pines inoculated with this pathogen become either less or more susceptible to a secondary infection, depending on where the secondary infection occurs in the plant. This is the first report of this phenomenon in any plant. Bonello defined the latter phenomenon as systemic induced susceptibility (SIS). These phenotypic responses strongly indicate that Austrian pine possesses systemically inducible metabolic pathways. Objective 2: Committee members and their associates have also characterized interactions among conifer hosts, bark beetles, their natural enemies and vectored fungi. In the Raffa and Dahlsten labs, a study was conducted to evaluate augmentation of predators that respond differentially from their prey to components of I. pini pheromones. Results from trapping indicated that there were more I. pini and its associated phloeophagous insects on baited logs. Also, parasitoids (Tomocobia tibialis) showed significant attraction to baited logs. The most common predators of I. pini did not show any variation on attraction. One of the important products of this research was that natural enemies of bark beetles were increased on slash pines. In another study from the Raffa lab, the host selection behavior of spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis, was examined in outbreak vs. non-outbreak populations. Seybold and Juzwik have studied the overland spread of oak wilt, Ceratocystis fagacearum, by sap beetles (Nitidulidae). The most cost-effective bait consisted of two hydrocarbon pheromone components combined with whole wheat bread dough. In work from the USDA Forest Service Southern Exp. Stn. (Klepzig and Sullivan) the response of root weevils (Hylobius spp.) to the enantiomers of alpha-pinene (in collaboration with the Raffa lab). In this study, Hylobius, Hylastes, and Dendroctonus valens response to (+)- and (-)-alpha-pinene in various combinations with ethanol were examined. The Forest Service group has also studied metabolites of Ophiostoma spp. fungi that are EAD active with the parasoitoid Roptrocerus xylophagorum, and the interaction of mites Entomocorticium fungi in three different species of Ips bark beetles. Foltz (Univ. Florida) followed an outbreak of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, across northern Florida in 2001, the third successive year of subnormal rainfall. Unlike 2000 when pine mortality was generally limited to numerous scattered, Ips-infested trees, mortality this year occurred in multi-tree, sometimes multi-acre spots with D. frontalis being the dominant insect. Preliminary analyses of these results suggest that turpentine quality was one factor in the low catch in the fall and winter months. The decline from spring to summer appears to be, in part, a seasonal pattern. The failure of the pheromone traps to detect the rise of D. frontalis to outbreak levels demonstrates their limitation as a tool for monitoring population change. The Wood and Gordon labs in California have continued their research on pitch canker, emphasizing the regeneration of stands of Monterey pine that have a higher level of resistance to the disease. The goal of this study is to provide management recommendations that enhance Monterey pine regeneration, and therefore increase the incidence of individual seedlings that are resistant to pitch canker in a way that does not unacceptably disturb the associated flora. A review of pitch canker disease in California is a noteworthy product that has come out of the work done by this group. Key members of the research team are Wood, Gordon, and Storer. Steve Cooke (Univ. Idaho) is developing techniques to use remotely-sensed data in operational forest management schemes. Cooke and colleagues recently completed a study in cooperation with Jim Guldin (USDA-Forest Service, Hot Springs, AR) to examine the use of Landsat data for rating the risk to southern pine beetle infestation of mixed pine-hardwood forests in the Ouachita National Forest. They constructed a hazard-rating scheme based upon ground data collected in four watersheds within the forest and then created a GIS-based map of the watersheds to depict the hazard to beetle infestation. The analysis is the first step in providing a cost-effective risk-rating scheme for southern pine beetle within the region based largely upon data from a satellite-based system. When completed, the research will result in a satellite-based risk-rating scheme for mixed pine-hardwood forests in Ouachita National Forest of western Arkansas. After modifications, the scheme should be useful in other southern forests as well. A new project has been initiated with the Nez Perce tribe to integrate remotely sensed data with data obtained from ground-based trapping of mountain pine beetle for predicting the impact of local infestations on stand dynamics. Fred Baker (Utah State Univ.) conducted a microscopic analysis of diseased root tissue. The major outcome of Bakers work was that scanning electron microscopy of root tissue of trees could reveal the presence of fungal mycelium in roots with stain columns. Attempts to culture fungi from these tissues were unsuccessful, suggesting that culturing fungi may not be an appropriate indicator of fungal colonization. This work included several host conifers and root pathogens. In overmature jack pine stands in Manitoba, Baker also reported on historical events that have led to the tree mortality that he is surveying and modeling. In these stands, fire is the main abiotic disturbance factor, although minor windstorms with 30 to 40 mph winds do occur in the spring. The ultimate product will be a contagion model that works at the stand level to project the spread of pathogens. Objective 3: Characterize the taxonomic diversity and genetic structure of key fungal pathogens and symbiotic fungi associated with insects on North American conifers. Six and colleagues (Univ. Montana) are continuing to work on the association of yeasts and ophiostomoid fungi with coniferophagous bark beetles. Raffa and colleagues are analyzing populations of D. rufipennis for mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA (microsatellite sequences). Plans for Coming Year: It was suggested that members communicate electronically to plan for a new monograph (Six and Seybold will take the lead). Development of the W-187 web site through Fred Baker was encouraged. W-187 members encouraged the new Chair (Seybold) and the Chair of W-189 to plan the format of a joint meeting with W-189 (October 2002, Taos, NM). Finally, members agreed that increasing the number of formal committee members for W-187 was a priority; members working on hardwood systems were targeted. Current members were encouraged to make telephone and e-mail contacts with prospective members and invite them to next years meeting.

Publications

Scientific Articles: Bentz, B.J., J.A. Logan, and J.C. Vandygriff. 2001. Latitudinal life history variation in Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) development time and size. The Canadian Entomologist 133:375-387. Blodgett, J. T., and P. Bonello. 2001. Systemic induction of ferulic acid and other phenolic compounds in Pinus nigra inoculated with Sphaeropsis sapinea. Phytopathology 91 (6 Supplement):S9. Bonello, P., T.R. Gordon, and A.J. Storer. 2001. Systemic induced resistance in Monterey pine. Forest Pathology 31:99-106. Bonello, P., W.R. McNee, A.J. Storer, D.L. Wood, and T.R. Gordon. 2001. The role of olfactory stimuli in the location of weakened hosts by twig-infesting Pityophthorus spp. Ecological Entomology 26:8-15. Cherry, S. J. 2001. Integrating geographical information systems and remote sensing to improve hazard rating of Dendroctonus frontalis infestations. M. S. University of Idaho, Department of Geography. Erbilgin, N. and K.F. Raffa. 2001. Kairomonal range of generalist predators in specialized habitats. Entomol. Exper. et Applic. 99: 205-210. Erbilgin N and Raffa K.F. 2001. Modulation of predator attraction to pheromones of two prey species by stereochemistry of plant volatiles. Oecologia. 127: 444 - 453. Erbilgin, N., A. Szele, K.D. Klepzig, & K.F. Raffa. 2001. Trap type, chirality of alpha-pinene, and geographic region affect sampling efficiency of root and lower stem insects in pine. J. Econ. Entomol. 94:1113-1121. Ganz, D.J., Community Based Fire Management in Asia; Lessons Learned and Implications. Proceedings of Fire Conference 2000: The First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention and Management; November 27th December 1, 2000. San Diego, California. Ganz, D.J., Communities in Flames: A Summary of the International Conference. Proceedings of Californias 2001 Wildfire Conference: Ten Years after the 1991 Oakland/East Bay Hills Fire. October 10-12th, 2001. Berkeley, California. Ganz, D.J., Troy, A., Mu Lan, and Toa Duan. Fire Risk in Strawberry Canyon. Proceedings of Californias 2001 Wildfire Conference: Ten Years after the 1991 Oakland/East Bay Hills Fire. October 10-12th, 2001. Berkeley, California. Ganz, D.J., Dahlsten, D.L., and S. Stephens. The Bark Beetle Response to a Fall Prescribed Burn in Lake Tahoe Basin: Implications for Management. Proceedings of Fire Conference 2000: The First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention and Management; November 27th December 1, 2000. San Diego, California. Gordon, T.R., A.J. Storer and D.L. Wood. 2001. The Pitch Canker Epidemic in California. Plant Disease 85: 1128-1139. Hansen, E.M., B.J. Bentz, and D.L. Turner. 2001. The physiological basis for flexible voltinism in the spruce beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The Canadian Entomologist 133:805-818. Hansen, E.M., B.J. Bentz, and D.L. Turner. 2001. A temperature-based model for predicting univoltine brood proportions in spruce beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The Canadian Entomologist133: 827-842. Extension publications. Kelly, N.M. and B.A. McPherson. 2001. Multi-scale approaches taken to SOD monitoring. California Agriculture 55: 15-16. Logan, J.A., J.A. Powell, B.J. Bentz. 2000. Evaluating the potential for climate change induced bark beetle invasion of high elevation ecosystems. In A. Menzel (ed) Progress in Phenology, Monitoring, Data Analysis, and Global Change Impacts, Freising, Germany, Oct 4-6, 2000. McPherson, B. A, D. L. Wood, A. J. Storer, N. M. Kelly, and R. B. Standiford. 2002 (accepted). Sudden Oak Death: Disease Trends in Marin County Plots after One Year In: Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Oak Woodlands, October 22-25, 2001, San Diego, CA, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, General Technical Report. This will also be available on CD ROM. Powell, J.A., J. L. Jenkins, J.A. Logan, and B.J. Bentz. 2000. Seasonal temperature alone can synchronize life cycles. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 62:977-998. Raffa, K.F. 2001. Mixed messages across multiple trophic levels: The ecology of bark beetle chemical communication systems. Chemoecology 11: 49-65. Redmer, J. S., K. F. Wallin, and K. F. Raffa. 2001. Effect of host tree seasonal phenology on substrate suitability for the pine engraver, Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Implications to population dynamics and enemy free space. J. Econ. Entomol. 94: 11-14. Seybold, S.J., Bohlmann, J., & K.F. Raffa. 2000. Biosynthesis of coniferophagous bark beetle pheromones and conifer isoprenoids: an evolutionary perspective and synthesis. Can. Entomol. 132: 1-57. Storer, A.J., D.L. Wood, T.R. Gordon, and W.J. Libby. 2001. Native Monterey pine forest restoration in the presence of an exotic pathogen on the Monterey Peninsula. Journal of Forestry 99: 14-18. Wallin, K.F., & K.F. Raffa. 2001. Host - mediated interactions among feeding guilds: Incorporation of temporal patterns can integrate plant defense theories to predict community level processes. Ecology 82: 1387-1400. Popular Articles: Cervenka, V.J., Skalbeck, T.C., Kyhl, J.F., Blackford, D.C., Juzwik, J.J., and Seybold, S.J. 2001. How to identify common nitidulid beetles associated with oak wilt mats in Minnesota. USDA Forest Service North Central Research Station, HT-71, 16 pp. Fragile Ecosystems. Earth & Sky Feature, National Public Radio, Nov. 7, 2000. Beetles are Supercool! Understanding the life cycle of mountain pine beetles. 2001. Natural Inquirer, USDA FS, Washington D.C. Palkovsky, N.K. and A.J. Storer. 2001. Emergency Regulations to Protect Our Neighbors from Sudden Oak Death. Oaks `n` Folks 17 (2). Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program, UC Berkeley, CA Storer, A.J., D.L. Wood and T.R. Gordon. 2001. Frequently asked questions about pitch canker. DANR Publication 8025, University of California. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8025_FAQPitchCanker.pdf Storer, A.J., D.L. Wood and T.R. Gordon. 2000. FAQs about pitch canker. http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/forestry/faqpitch.html Storer, A.J., D.L. Wood and T.R. Gordon. 2000. University of California Pitch Canker Severity Rating System. http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/forestry/pitch_rate.html Storer, A.J., K.E. Keirnan, N.K. Palkovsky, B.W. Hagen, G.W. Slaughter, N.M. Kelly and P.Svihra. 2001. Sudden Oak Death: Diagnosis and Management. University of California Cooperative Extension. Pest Alert 5, 12p. Svihra, P., K.E. Keirnan, N.K. Palkovsky and A.J. Storer. 2001. Sudden Oak Death: An Update of the Facts. University of California Cooperative Extension. Pest Alert 4a. Svihra, P., N.K. Palkovsky and A.J. Storer 2000.Sudden Oak Death: The Facts as We Know Them. University of California Cooperative Extension. Pest Alert 4, 2p.

Impact Statements

1. A logistic regression model has been developed to estimate the probability of infestation at the stand and tree levels for pinyon ips, Ips confusus, in pinyon pine, Pinus edulis, in Arizona (Negrsn).
2. Douglas-fir beetle aggregation pheromone might be used by resource managers who are interested in the possibility of selectively killing dwarf mistletoe-infected trees (Ross).
3. Forest thinning or a combination of thinning and fire might be used as techniques to ensure forest succession and diversity and prevent major conflagrations (Wood).
4. Systemic induced resistance is a basic mechanism in pines that could be enhanced and utilized to prevent disease and create more healthy trees (Bonello).
5. Areas of high risk to pines for mountain pine beetle attack can be detected based on changes in spectral resolution at 30 m spatial resolution (Landsat) and potentially at 3.5 m spatial resolution (AVIRISNASA). The latter resolution may allow resource managers to detect infestations at the level of 1 or 2 trees while they are still manageable (Cook).

Date of Annual Report: 07/31/2003

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/18/2002 - 10/19/2002
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2002 - 12/01/2002

Participants

Baker, Fred (forpest@cc.usu.edu) - Utah State University; Bentz, Barbara(fabentz@cc.usu.edu) - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Bonello, P. Enrico (bonello.2@osu.edu) - Ohio State University; Cook, Steve (stephenc@uidaho.edu) - University of Idaho; Costello, Sheryl - Colorado State University; Jacobi, Bill (wjacobi@agsci.colostate.edu) - Colorado State University; Klepzig, Kier (kklepzig@fs.fed.us) - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station; Koski, Ronda - Colorado State University; Loring, Steve (sloring@nmsu.edu) New Mexico State University; Negron, Jose (jnegron@lamar.colostate.edu) - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Raffa, Ken (raffa@entomology.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin; Seybold, Steven (sseybold@fs.fed.us) - USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station; Wood, Dave (bigwood@nature.berkeley.edu) - University of California;

Brief Summary of Minutes

18 October 2002: Meeting called to order by Chair Seybold

Introductions

Local arrangements update by Bonello

Approval of minutes from the 2001 meeting

Administrative update by Loring (for Daugherty)

CSREES update by Meyer

Web site update by Baker

Discussion of 2002-2003 officers and venue

Chairperson will be Stephen Cook, University of Idaho

Secretary will be Barbara Bentz, USDA Forest Service

2003 Meeting will be in Utah (Fred Baker to arrange)

Discussion of project renewal

Discussion of proposed book

Itinerary for the joint meeting the following day with W-189

Discussion of letter to USDA CSREES, Grants Programs with

regard to NRI program and one proposed area of concern to

the W-187 membership Processes Affecting Forest

Ecosystem Health

Research reports (see Appendix I)

Final business

19 October 2002: Continued discussion of project renewal

Joint meeting with Multi-state Project W-189

Introduction

History and accomplishments of W-187

History and accomplishments of W-189

Research reports

Meeting adjorned

Accomplishments

Project objectives (with major accomplishments) follow: Objective 1: characterize the role of biotic and abiotic factors in predisposing trees to bark beetle attack and subsequent mortality. Fred Baker has a sketch mapping project in Manitoba examining Armillaria and Ips beetles. The Rocky Mountain Experiment Station (Barbara Bentz) in collaboration with colleagues at Utah State University and in the Canadian Forest Service is pursuing projects examining life history parameters (voltinism, synchronization of population parameters, egg production, brood survival and development rate) of various beetle species based upon population seasonality parameters. The group is also continuing its modeling efforts with both mountain pine beetle and spruce beetle. Enrico Bonello and colleagues are using the Austrian pine/Sphaeropsis sapinea pathosystem to examine the phenomenon of primary fungal infections predisposing the host tree with a potential defensive response to subsequent attacks, resulting in a resistant host phenotype. Steve Cook and colleagues are working on the use of remotely sensed data for use in hazard rating schemes against southern pine beetle, the impact of stand management practices on beetle presence/abundance (even-aged management versus uneven-aged management and the creation of artificial tree snags as wildlife habitat within harvest units) and the association of Douglas-fir beetle infestations with rock and stand types in the inland Northwest. Bill Jacobi, in cooperation with the Forest Service (Forest Health Management and the Rocky Mt Research Station) and other regional cooperators, is modeling the potential impact of white pine blister rust on limber and bristle cone pines in the Central Rocky Mountains. The Southern Research Station (Kier Klepzig) is working on novel control methods and developing landscape level predictive models for bark beetles and invasive insects of southern conifers. They are evaluating the progeny of pines that escaped (or resisted) SPB attack and have begun a controlled environment study of southern pine beetles landing preferences. They have identified several natural compounds with sensory and/or behavioral activity for southern pine beetles and have identified a more effective aggregation pheromone combination for trapping the small southern pine engraver. In cooperation with the University of Georgia, they are investigating new insecticides for protecting trees from the southern pine beetle. They are also examining the effects of available water on the growth and competitive interactions of fungi associated with the southern pine beetle. Jose Negron (Rocky Mountain Research Station) is pursuing a project to estimate the probability of infestation of ponderosa pine by mountain pine beetle in Colorado. Ken Raffa and colleagues are conducting a long-term project on declining red pine stands in Wisconsin, examining the roles of root colonizing beetles and Leptographium associates in predisposing trees to Ips. Current emphases are on spatial analysis and predator-prey interactions. Populations of Dendroctonus rufipennis, Ips, and root insects, are being monitored in Alaska, as part of their involvement in a NSF LTER. They are evaluating the relative effects of ophiostomoid fungi on the reproductive success of I. pini and D. rufipennis. Diana Six and colleagues are examining the effect of white pine blister rust on mountain pine beetle preference in whitebark pine, conducting a comparison of constitutive defenses of whitebark and lodgepole pine, and collaborating in the national fire and fire surrogate study. They have investigated the relationship between white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) infection level and tree diameter, and sapwood moisture content as influences on mountain pine beetle preference for individual whitebark. They are involved in the entomology component of the fire/fire surrogate study examining fire and fire surrogate treatments for impact on bark beetle populations. Andrew Storer is examining the long term effects of pitch canker on urban Monterey pine forests (including regeneration) and is assessing the health of regenerating Monterey and Bishop pine following a 1987 wildfire and the impacts of mechanical treatments (pre Fall 2002 burns) at the Blodgett forest site of the fire/fire-surrogate study. He is also examining the interactions among eastern larch beetle, larch casebearer, mound forming ants and tamarack. Dave Wood and colleagues are investigating aspects of pitch canker and sudden oak death in association with insects in California. They are continuing to monitor the role of beetles in the sudden oak death syndrome caused by Phytophora ramorum and the landscape level monitoring of sudden oak death in 2 areas. Objective 2: characterize interactions among conifer hosts, bark beetles, their natural enemies and vectored fungi. The Rocky Mountain Experiment Station (Barbara Bentz) in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Montana, Utah State University and Forest Health Protection is examining various aspects of the interaction among beetles, natural enemies and fungal associates including the interaction between various bark beetles and their fungal associates with regard to geographic and temporal variability in fungal associates, cold hardening of beetles, and the use of remotely sensed data for determining infestation locations and population modeling. Steve Cook and colleagues are developing a management scheme for Conophthorus cone beetles in pine seed orchards that incorporates host odors and beetle natural enemies. The Southern Research Station (Kier Klepzig) is conducting research to characterize the biological and ecological interactions of bark beetles and invasive insects with associated organisms. Ken Raffa and colleagues have completed a study on host selection behavior in I. pini and D. rufipennis which found withinpopulation, heritable heterogeneity in the range of host physiologies beetles will accept and that during outbreaks. In addition, the aversion to host terpenes among individuals from outbreaks is largely negated by the presence of conspecifics. Raffa and colleagues are studying the molecular population genetics of spruce beetles, emphasizing relative sources of variation attributable to geographic region, population phase, and host type. They are examining the impacts of T. dubius and P. cylindrica on Ips reproduction and are evaluating the relative importance of various sources and types of chemical signals in the responses of predators and parasitoids of I. pini. They are collaborators in two interregional projects involving pheromone trapping. Steve Seybold and colleagues are working on projects involving oak wilt and the introduction of Douglas-fir beetle outside of its native range. They have documented the incidence and spore load of the oak wilt fungus, Ceratocystis fagacearum, in association with dispersing populations of the sap beetle, Colopterus truncates and tested another hydrocarbon in combination with whole wheat bread dough as an aggregation attractant for a second sap beetle, Carpophilus sayi. They are expanding the behavioral analysis of C. sayi by seasonally trapping the insects and have used naturally produced aggregation pheromones to examine the biology and monitor the flight of Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus, a potential vector of C. fagacearum. Diana Six and colleagues are examining the geographic and seasonal variation of fungal associates of mountain pine beetle, the effects of associated fungi and ergosterol on various aspects of bark beetle biology, the role of mycangial fungi and yeasts in host location by parasitoids of the mountain pine beetle and the role of fungal symbionts in host location by natural enemies of the pine engraver. They are collecting beetles over their entire emergence period at several populations in Montana and Idaho and investigating: 1) the effects of naturally occurring fungi on larval and adult cold hardening and low temperature survival o D. ponderosae and D. rufipennis and their fungi; 2) the effects of mycangial fungi on beetle development and reproduction, and 3) the effects of a fungal product, ergosterol, on beetle development and reproduction. They are also investigating the role of fungal symbionts in host location by natural enemies of pine engraver in conjunction with Ken Raffa and Don Dahlsten. Objective 3: characterize the taxonomic diversity and genetic structure of key fungal pathogens and symbiotic fungi associated with insects on North American conifers. Ken Raffa and colleagues are quantifying relative sources of variation in fungal associates of spruce beetles attributable to year, site, colonized tree, beetle, and population phase. Diana Six is continuing her work on taxonomy of yeasts associated with bark beetles. Plans for the coming year: A joint meeting with W-189 was held during 2002 to encourage collaboration between the two projects. A joint meeting with NCR-193 (Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants) was discussed. While we are not pursuing the joint meeting for 2003, it was encouraged to pursue it in the near future. The 2003 meeting of W-187 will take place during October. Further development of the W-187 web site through Fred Baker was encouraged. Further discussion of a new monograph was encouraged. It was noted that we still have attendance at the meeting by several non-members and they were encouraged to formalize their membership. Current members were also encouraged to continue making contacts with perspective members to invite them to join us at next years meeting.

Publications

Bonello, P., J.T. Blodgett and D.A. Herms. 2002. Progress in research on systemic induced resistance in Austrian pine against shoot blight (formerly known as Diploda tip blight). pp. 68-71 In: Ohio State Univ./Ohio Agric. Res. Develop. Center Annu. Rep. And Res. Review. Cook, S.P. 2002. Beetle (Coleoptera) diversity in mixed pine hardwood stands in the Ouachita highlands five years following tree harvests. Southwest. Entomol. 27: 269-276. Erbilgin, N., & K.F. Raffa. 2002. Association of declining red pine stands with reduced populations of bark beetle predators, seasonal increases in root colonizing insects, and incidence of root pathogens. For. Ecol. & Manag. 164: 221-236. Gandhi, K.J.K. and S.J. Seybold. 2002. Tamarack (Pinaceae): a previously unrecorded developmental host for the pine engraver and the eastern fivespined ips (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Canad. Entomol. 134: 299-302. Gilmore, D.W., S.J. Seybold, J.C. Zasada, P.J. Anderson, D.N. Kastendick, K.J.K. Gandhi and H.P. Johnson. 2002. Cumulative effects of a severe windstorm and subsequent silvicultural treatments on plant and arthropod diversity in the Gunflint Corridor of the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota: project design. pp. 364-379 In: Proceedings of the Society of American Foresters. 2001 National Convention. SAF Publ. 02-01. Haberkern, K.E., Illman, B.L. & K. F. Raffa 2002.. Subcortical insects and fungal associates colonizing white spruce in the Great Lakes region. Can. J. For. Res. 32: 1137-1150. Jacobi, W. R., Geils, B. W. and Taylor. J. E. 2002. Frequency of comandra blister rust infection episodes on lodgepole pine. USDA For. Serv. Rocky Mt Res. Station. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-36. 13 p Jenkins, J.L., J.A. Powell, J.A. Logan, and B.J. Bentz. 2001. Low seasonal temperatures promote life cycle synchronization. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 63:573-595. Kyhl, J.F., R.J. Bartlelt, A. Cosse, J. Juzwik and S.J. Seybold. 2002. Semiochemical-mediated flight response of sap beetle vectors of oak wilt, Ceratocystis fagacearum. J. Chem. Ecol. 28: 1527-1547. Kyhl, J.F., J. Juzwik, R.J. Bartelt and S.J. Seybold. 2002. Use of aggregation pheromones of sap beetles to study overland transmission of Ceratocystis fagacearum. Phytopathology 92: S43. McNee, W.R., D.L. Wood, A.J. Storer and T.R. Gordon. 2002. Insect and pathogen survival in intact and chipped Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) branches infected with pitch canker pathogen, Fusarium circinatum. Canad. Entomol. 134: 47-58. McPherson, B.A., D.L. Wood, A.J. Storer, N.M. Kelly and R.B. Standiford. 2002. Sudden oak death: disease trends in Marin County plots after one year. In: USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-184. McPherson, B.A., D.M. Rizzo, M. Garbelotto, P. Svihra, D.L. Wood, A.J. Storer, N.M. Kelly, N. Palkovsky, S.A. Tjosvold, R.B. Standisford and S.T. Koike. 2002. Sudden oak death in California: Integrated pest management in the landscape. Univ. California Agric. Natur. Res. Publ. 7498. Powell, H.D.W., S. Hejl and D.L. Six. 2002. Measuring woodpecker food: a simple method for comparing wood-boring beetle abundance among fire-killed trees. J. Field Ornithol. 73: 130-140. Seybold, S.J., M.A. Albers and S.A. Katovich. 2002. Eastern larch beetle. USDA For. Serv., For. Insect Disease Leafl. 175. Six, D.L., M. Vander Meer, T.H. DeLuca and P. Kolb. 2002. Pine engraver, Ips pini (Say), colonization of logging residues created using alternative slash management systems in western Montana. West. J. Appl. For. 17: 96-100. Storer, A.J., D.L. Wood and T.R Gordon. 2002. Effects of pitch canker pathogen on gallery excavation and oviposition by Ips paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Canad. Entomol. 134: 519-528. Storer, A.J., D.L. Wood and T.R. Gordon. 2002. The epidemiology of pitch canker of Monterey pine in California. For. Sci. 48: 694-700. Wallin, K.F. & K.F. Raffa. 2002. Density-mediated responses of bark beetles to host allelochemicals: A link between individual behavior and population dynamics. Ecol. Entomol. 27:484-492.

Impact Statements

The introduction of the Douglas-fir beetle into Minnesota was detected. It appears likely that the beetle and many associated insects have been introduced into northern Minnesota in barked logs of western larch, Larix occidentalis, imported from Montana.
One study has discovered that the abundance of mites and bluestain fungi are related to outbreak phases of southern pine beetles and another study has found that during outbreaks, natural populations of spruce beetle accept a broader physiological range of trees.
One study is examining the relationship of white pine blister rust with bark beetle infestation and, after one field season has reported that 14.3 % of the limber pine examined was infected with blister rust but only 1.3 % of the infected trees were attacked by bark beetles.
Genetically-based resistance to southern pine beetle is being evaluated. Pines that escaped (or resisted) southern pine beetle attack had resin flows 1.65 times higher than background population, indicating some genetic component of southern pine beetle resistance in loblolly pine.

Date of Annual Report: 01/30/2004

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/13/2003 - 10/14/2003
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2002 - 10/01/2003

Participants

Barbara Bentz USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station;
P. Enrico Bonello Ohio State University;
Steve Cook University of Idaho;
Tom Harringon Iowa State University;
Bill Jacobi Colorado State University;
Jose Negron USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station ;
Ken Raffa University of Wisconsin;
Diana Six University of Montana ;
Dave Wood University of California, Berkeley;
Aaron Adams University of Montana;
Kathy Bleiker University of Montana;
Dan Stark University of California, Berkeley;
Nadir Erbgilbin University of California, Berkeley;
Brian Giles USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station;
Det Vogler USDA Forest Service, Institute of Forest Genetics;
Rick Meyer CSREES, WO;
Ron Pardini Associate Director, Experiment Station, Reno, NV;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Chair Cook opened the meeting at 8:45 am with introductions. One of the major topics for this year?s meeting is the project renewal proposal. Chair Cook asked for suggestions for the next W187 meeting in 2004. Barbara Bentz agreed to organize the meeting in Salt Lake City, November 12-13, 2004, just prior to the Entomological Society of America Meeting in Salt Lake City. Chair Cook read the minutes from the 2002 meeting and Ken Raffa moved to accept the minutes and Enricho Bonello seconded the motion.

The discussion next focused on W-187 as a regional research committee. A large part of us are members of W187 because of the good interactions. Ken Raffa suggested we should have more joint meetings with other regional projects. A Southern Pine Beetle regional research group is starting soon, and we could meet jointly with them periodically. It was suggested that we could meet jointly with W193 (Ornamental Landscape Group), the Migration of Biota group, and Ken Raffa volunteerd to contact the Chemical ecology group (W189) and see if we could meet with them maybe every 3 years. Tom Harrington indicated he thought the meetings should be in a convenient western location. We are an international group but focused on research in the west.

Enrico Bonello will look into the W193 meeting and see if we could meet with them next year. A decision will be made by email. Barbara Bentz will contact the Southern Pine Beetle group.

Chair Cook brought up the discussion that occurred at the 2002 W187 meeting regarding a new book on bark beetle ? fungal interactions. Diana Six and Steve Seybold are still interested in putting together a book on bark beetle conifer fungus interactions. There has been a lot of new work done in this area since the last publication. Diana, Ken Raffa and Dave Wood all voiced opinions that the book should be a W187 product. Steve Seybold and Diana Six are working on an outline and will then send this out to the group. They are currently looking for a publisher who would be willing to produce the book for a lower price. A couple of thoughts are Island Press or the University of California Press. The other book cost too much and therefore was not cited. Ken Raffa indicated that the title of the book should capture emerging issues such as climate change and invasives.

Bill Jacobi voiced that the group could use a Logo. A logo could be used on things such as the letter that was sent to NRI.

The group then held a moment of silence for Donald Dahlsten, a W187 member who recently passed away. Also, Diana Six presented the motion to dedicate the renewal proposal to Don Dahlsten. The motion was seconded by Chair Cook.

State by State presentations on current research occurred from about 10:00 am on Friday through noon on Saturday.

Chair Cook initiated the discussion about the renewal proposal. Thoughts and comments followed. The remainder of the meeting was spent in 4 groups working on the 3 objectives and justification sections for the renewal proposal. Bill Jacobi moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:30 pm. Tom Harrington seconded the motion.

Accomplishments

· The taxonomy of Ophiostoma galeiformis was studied, and a new type specimen will be proposed. · Evaluated effects of soil type, fertilization, and mulching on mycorrhizal community structure and resistance to defoliators of paper birch. · Evaluated effects of Cambistat (paclobutrazol) on disease resistance and defense responses in the Diplodia blight and canker, pitch canker, and sudden oak death pathosystems. · We continued to monitor (initiated 1999) pitch canker and other disease and insect conditions in Monterey and Bishop pines regenerating after a wildfire in 1987. A higher proportion of Bishop pines (ca. 10%) have pitch canker in these forests than Monterey pines (ca. 6%), though tree mortality is higher in the Monterey pines. · Characterized systemic effects of root disease on stain fungi and bark beetles of ponderosa pine. · Characterized systemic induced resistance in the Austrian pine / Sphaeropsis sapinea / Diplodia scrobiculata tip blight and canker pathosystems. · Laboratory studies suggest that the presence of univoltine broods, which is highly dependent on weather, will increase the risk of a spruce beetle outbreak or can accelerate the rate of spruce mortality in an established outbreak. · We are examining the use of remotely sensed data (multispecrtal and hyperspectral) for use in detecting and delineating infestations of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in various host species. · We are examining the use by targeted wildlife and potential insect pests of artificially creating tree snags in harvest units. · Bark beetles in stands of ponderosa pines and white firs were collected from sticky traps monthly during the flight period from Spring to late Fall in 2003 to determine if the landing rates of these beetles is related to the experimental treatments with fire only, cutting only and fire and cutting together. In the fire only areas, many of the understory trees were killed. Many scorched overstory pines exhibited red turpentine beetle pitch tubes. · We are developing a non-insecticide based pest management strategy for ponderosa pine cone beetle (Conophthorus ponderosae) in ponderosa and western white pine seed orchards. · Studies on the Ceratocystis fimbriata complex found a new species is an associate of the hickory bark beetle, Scolytus quadrispinosis. · We inoculated with P. ramorum and treated with insecticide to prevent pheromone-mediated beetle colonization in 2002. Significantly more ambrosia and bark beetles were trapped on inoculated trees than on mock-inoculated trees in 2003. · When pheromones were used to increase visitation to Monterey pines by P. setosus, baited trees were more likely to develop pitch canker than unbaited trees even though the beetles did not tunnel into the host to develop egg galleries. · Developed and tested new resin sampling device and technique for evaluating resistance of pines to bark beetle attack. · Identified and helped initiate registration of novel insecticides for control of southern pine beetle. · We initiated field experiments to determine if twig beetles, Pityophthorus spp., can vector F. circinatum from infected Monterey pines to Bishop, ponderosa, and knobcone pines and Douglas-fir, all of which are hosts of F. circinatum. Twig beetles readily colonized Monterey, Bishop and ponderosa pines. Lesion lengths from inoculated trees were significantly shorter in Douglas-fir and ponderosa pines than in the three pine hosts. · Quantified ability of water potential and temperature to affect the interactions of bark beetles and their associated fungi. · Quantified effects of plant defense elicitors (harpin, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) on resistance of pines to bark beetles and their associated fungi. · A long-term project on declining red pine stands, specifically the roles of root colonizing beetles and Leptographium associates in predisposing trees to Ips, continues. Current emphases are on spatial analysis and predator-prey interactions. We developed functional responses for adult & larval predation, and partitioned relative effects of predation and intraspecific competition. We are evaluating the relative importance of various sources and types of chemical signals in the responses of predators and parasitoids of I. pini in Montana · We are studying the population genetics of spruce beetles, with emphasis on relative sources of variation attributable to geographic region, population phase, and host type. · We are evaluating the relative effects of ophiostomoid fungi on the reproductive success of I. pini and D. rufipennis. Studies include potential metabolism of host defensive compounds, and beetle-fungal competitive interactions. We have begun a new project on the transition of endemic D. ponderosae populations into outbreaks. · We have completed a study on the sources of variation of ophiostomatoid associates of Dendroctonus rufipennis in Alaska. We are using PCR and tRFLP methods to evaluate the bacterial gut flora of southern pine beetle and pine engraver. · Ophiostoma montium contained more ergosterol than did either O. clavigerum or L. abietinum. Phloem from green (uninfested) lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce contained basically no ergosterol while infested phloem from both tree species contained significantly more ergosterol than uninfested phloem. Because uninfested phloem contained no ergosterol, it is likely that D. rufipennis and D. ponderosae acquire at least a part of their dietary sterol from the associated fungi. · We completed evaluation of rock type as a predictive tool for determining where Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) populations may be present in refugia between outbreaks. · We completed examining the use of remotely sensed data to determine various stand attributes (host density, stand composition, topography) for use in hazard rating systems for southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis). · We have evaluated the roles of host monoterpenes in the ponderosa pine ? ponderosa pine cone beetle (Conophthorus ponderosae) interaction (a-pinene and D-3-carene are significant synergists for the male-attractant pheromone, pityol and myrcene appears to act as a female repellent). · We continue to examine the role of wildland fire in influencing the susceptibility to attack by bark beetles and woodborers. Plots have been established after wildfires in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota. · A new study is looking at trapping methods for wood borer beetles in fire damaged ponderosa pine in the Black Hills NF, South Dakota · Plots have been established across four National Forests in Arizona to examine the extent of tree mortality in ponderosa pine forests and pinyon-juniper woodlands in a current outbreak of bark beetles. · Studies where models have been developed to estimate the probability of infestation in ponderosa pine by mountain pine beetle in the Colorado Front Range and in pinyon pine by pinyon ips in Arizona have just been completed.

Publications

Publications Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. Gender- and sequence- dependent predation within group colonizers of defended plants: a constraint on cheating among bark beetles? Oecologia. In press. Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. Behavior of adult and larval Platysoma cylindrica (Coleoptera: Histeridae) and larval Medetera bistriata (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) during subcortical predation of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). J. Insect Behav. In press. Aukema, B.H., Clayton, M, K. & K. F. Raffa Density-dependent effects of multiple predators on an endophagous prey: features of an endophytic existence can reduce intraguild predation within a common habitat. Subm. to Oecologia. Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. Species assemblage of natural enemies arriving at and emerging from trees colonized by Ips pini in the Great Lakes region: Partitioning by time since colonization, seasonal phenology, and host species. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. In press. Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. Does aggregation benefit bark beetles by diluting predation? Links between a group-colonization strategy and the absence of emergent multiple predator effects. Subm. to Ecol. Entomol. Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. Interspecific exploitation by predators and competitors of bark beetle pheromones reflect geographic and host distribution patterns: Responses to frontalin and ipsdienol in the Great Lakes region. Subm. to J. Chem. Ecol. Aukema, B.H., & K. F. Raffa. 2002. Relative effects of exophytic predation, endophytic predation and intraspecific competition on a subcortical herbivore: Consequences to the reproduction of Ips pini and Thanasimus dubius. Oecologia. 133: 483-491. Bishop, R. J., and Jacobi, W. R. 2003. Insects associated with black stain root disease centers in pinyon pine stands. Southwestern Entomologist 78: 55-61. BLODGETT, J. T., and BONELLO, P. 2003. The aggressiveness of Sphaeropsis sapinea on Austrian pine varies with isolate group and site of infection. Forest Pathology 33:15-19. BLODGETT, J. T., BONELLO, P., and STANOSZ, G. R. 2003. An effective medium for isolating Sphaeropsis sapinea from asymptomatic pines. Forest Pathology, in press. BONELLO, P. 2003. Current perspectives on honeylocust knot. The Buckeye, May 2003:32-35. BONELLO, P., BELLIZZI, M., and HOITINK, H. A. J. 2003. Update on honeylocust knot. Wooster, OH: Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. BONELLO, P., and BLODGETT, J. T. 2003. Pinus nigra ? Sphaeropsis sapinea as a model pathosystem to investigate local and systemic effects of fungal infection of pines. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, under review. Bonello P, A.J. Storer, T.R. Gordon, D.L. Wood. 2003. Systemic effects of Heterobasidion annosum on ferulic acid glucoside and lignin of presymptomatic ponderosa pine phloem, and potential effects on bark-beetle-associated fungi. J. Chem. Ecol. 29:1167-1182. Cook, S.P. In Press. Impact of stand management practices on beetle diversity. Proceedings: 1999 symposium on ecosystem management research in the Ouachita and Ozark highlands. de Beer, Z. W., T. C. Harrington, H. F. Vismer, B. D. Wingfield, and M. J. Wingfield. 2003. Phylogeny of the Ophiostoma stenoceras - Sporothrix schenckii complex. Mycologia 95:434-441. Dahlsten, D.L., D.L. Six, N. Erbilgen, K.F. Raffa, A.B. Lawson, and D.L. Rowney. 2003. Attraction of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and its predators to various enantiomeric ratios of ipsdienol and lanierone in California: implications for the augmentation and conservation of natural enemies. Environmental Entomology. In press. Dahlsten, D. L., Six, D. L., Rowney, D. L., Lawson, A. B., Erbilgin, N., & K. F. Raffa. 2003. Attraction of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and its predators to natural attractants and synthetic semiochemicals: Implications for population monitoring in northern California. Environ. Entomol. In press. DIAS, A. P., BROWN, J., BONELLO, P., and GROTEWOLD, E. 2003. Metabolite profiling as a functional genomics tool, in E. Grotewold (eds.). Plant Functional Genomics: Methods & Protocols. Humana Press, New Jersey. Erbilgin, N., E. V. Nordheim, B. H. Aukema, & K. F. Raffa. 2002. Population dynamics of Ips pini and Ips grandicollis in red pine plantations in Wisconsin: Within- and between- year associations with predators, competitors, and habitat quality. Environ. Entomol. 31: 1043-1051. Erbilgin, N. & K. F. Raffa. 2003. Spatial analysis of forest gaps resulting from bark beetle colonization of red pines experiencing belowground herbivory and infection. For. Ecol. & Manag. 177: 145-153. Erbilgin, N., J. S. Powell, & K. F. Raffa. 2003. Effect of varying monoterpene concentrations on the response of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to its aggregation pheromone: Implications to the pest management and ecology of bark beetles. J Ag. & For. Ent. In press. Garriston-Johnston, M.T., J.A. Moore, S.P. Cook, & G.J. Niehoff. In Press.Douglas-fir beetle infestations are associated with certain rock and stand types in the Inland Northwestern United States. Environ. Entomol. Geils, B.W., Conklin, D., Frank, K., Guyon, J., Harris, J. L., Hoffman, J., Jacobi, W., Kearns, H., Newcomb, M., Smith, E., Van Arsdel, E., and D. Vogler. 2002. New Information on the Distribution of White Pine Blister Rust for 2002., Proceedings of the 50th Western International Forest Disease Work Conference. (Abstr.) Haberkern, K. E. & K. F. Raffa. 2003. Phloeophagous and predaceous insects responding to synthetic pheromones of bark beetles inhabiting white spruce stands in the Great Lakes Region. J. Chem. Ecol. 29: 1651-1663. Hansen, E.M., B.J. Bentz, 2003. Comparison of reproductive capacity among univoltine semivoltine, and re-emerged parent spruce beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The Canadian Entomologist 135:1-16. Harrington, T. C. 2004. Ecology and evolution of mycophagous bark beetles and their fungal partners. In: Ecological and Evolutionary Advances in Insect-Fungal Associations, F. E. Vega and M. Blackwell, eds. Oxford University Press. (in press). Hsiau, P. T., and T. C. Harrington. 2003. Phylogenetics and adaptations of basidiomycetous fungi fed upon by bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Symbiosis 34:111-131. Jacobi, W. R., Geils, B. W. and Taylor, J. E. 2002. Frequency of comandra blister rust infection episodes on lodgepole pine. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. RMRS RP-36:13 p. W.R. Jacobi, S. Zeglen2, J.A. Muir, R. S. Hunt. 2002. Black Stain Root Disease Mortality Rates on Douglas-fir in Coastal British Columbia. In: Proceedings of the 50th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference. (Abstr.) Kallas, M. A., Reich, R. M., Jacobi, W. R., and Lundquist, J. E. 2003. Modeling the probability of observing Armillaria root disease in the Black Hills. Forest Pathology 33:241-252. Kearns, H.S.J. and W.R. Jacobi. 2002. Final report on the small scale analysis of the impact of black stain root disease centers in pinyon pine. In: Jacobi, W.R. (ed.), Final report for cooperative agreement number RMS-98103and cost share agreement number 00-CS-11020000-026. Unpublished report delivered to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO: p 1-110. Holly S. J. Kearns, William R. Jacobi, and Jeri Lyn Harris.. 2002. The Distribution of White Pine Blister Rust in Southeast Wyoming In: Proceedings of the 50th Annual Western International Forest Disease Work Conference. (Abstr.) Klepzig, K.D. and D.L. Six. In Press. Context dependency in bark beetle-fungal symbioses: Complex interactions in complex associations. Symbiosis. Kopper, B.J., K.D. Klepzig, and K.F. Raffa. 2003. Effectiveness of modified White?s solution at removing ascomycete fungi associated with the bark beetle, Ips pini. For. Pathol. 33:237-240. Kopper, B. J. , K. D. Klepzig & K. F. Raffa Components of antagonism and mutualism in Ips pini - fungal interactions: Relationship to a life history of colonizing highly stressed and dead trees. Environ. Entomol. In Press. Lombardero, M.J., M.P. Ayres, R.W. Hofstetter, J.C. Moser, and K.D. Klepzig. 2003. Strong indirect interactions of Tarsonemus mites (Acarina, Tarsonemidae) and Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Oikos 102:243-252. Maijala, P., T. C. Harrington, and M. Raudaskoski. 2003. A peroxidase gene family and gene trees in Heterobasidion and related genera. Mycologia 95:209-221. MCNEE, W. R., BONELLO, P., WOOD, D. L., STORER, A. J., and GORDON, T. R. 2003. Feeding response of Ips paraconfusus to phloem and phloem metabolites of Heterobasidion annosum-inoculated ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29:1183-1202. McNee W.R., P. Bonello, A.J. Storer, D.L. Wood, T.R. Gordon. 2003. Feeding response of Ips paraconfusus to phloem and phloem metabolites of Heterobasidion annosum-inoculated ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa. J. Chem. Ecol. 29: 1183-1202. McPherson, B.A., D.L.Wood, A.J. Storer, N.M. Kelly, R.B. Standiford. 2003. Sudden oak death, a new forest disease in California. Integrated Pest Manag. Rev. 6: 243-246. Miller, D.R., K.F. Raffa, M.J. Dalusky, & C.W. Berisford. 2003. North-south variation in the response of the pine engraver, Ips pini, to lanierone in eastern North America. J. Entomol. Sci. 38: 468-476. Negron, J.F., Wilson, J.L. 2003. Attributes associated with probability of infestation by the pinon ips, Ips confusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), in pinon pine, Pinus edulis. Western North America Naturalist 63: 440-451. Sandoval, S. J. 2003. Beetle capture at artificially created snags in harvested stands. M.S. University of Idaho, Department of Forest Resources. Six, D. L., T. C. Harrington, J. Steimel, D. McNew, and T. D. Paine. 2003. Genetic relationships among Leptographium terebrantis and the mycangial fungi of three western Dendroctonus bark beetles. Mycologia 95: 781-792. Six, D. L. 2003. A comparison of mycangial and phoretic of individual mountain pine beetles. Can. J. For. Res. 33: 1331-1334. Six, D.L. 2003. Bark Beetle-Fungus Symbioses In: Insect Symbiosis. K. Kourtzis and T. Miller, eds. CRC Press. Six, D.L. and B.J. Bentz. 2003. Fungi associated with the North American spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33:1815-1820. Six, D.L. and K. D. Klepzig. In Press. Dendroctonus bark beetles as model systems for the study of symbiosis. Symbiosis. Smith, E.L.; Geils, B.W.; Kearns, H.S.; and W.R. Jacobi. 2002. The biogeography of blister rust invasions: the challenges of new outbreaks. 2002 Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting; Symposium on "The Rapid Decline of White Pine Ecosystems of the West: Causes, Consequences, and Restoration Strategies"; August 5-9, 2002, Tucson, AZ. (Abstr.) Sullivan, B.T., M.J. Dalusky, K.D. Klepzig, and C.W. Berisford. Mediation of Parasitoid Host Location by Fungal Associates of Bark Beetles. Journal of Chemical Ecology. Sullivan, B.T., M.J. Dalusky, and C.W. Berisford nterspecific Variation in Host-Finding Cues of Parasitoids of the Southern Pine Beetle. Journal of Entomological Science. Sullivan, B.T., C.J. Fettig, W.J. Otrosina, M.J. Dalusky, and C. W. Berisford, Association between severity of prescribed burns and subsequent activity of conifer-infesting beetles in stands of longleaf pine. Forest Ecology and Management. Thomsen, I.M., Baker, F.A. 2003: Egevisnesyge. En svampesygdom i USA.Videnblad 8.7-23. Skovbrugsserien. Forskningscentret for Skov & Landskab.( Oak wilt. A fungal disease in USA. Information sheet 8.7-23. Forestry Series. Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute, 2 pp.). Thomsen, I.M., Baker, F.A. 2003: Egevisnesyge - endnu ikke en trussel. Videnblad 5.26-14. Park- og Landskabsserien. Forskningscentret for Skov & Landskab.( Oak wilt - not yet a threat. Information sheet 5.26-14. Parks and Landscape Series. Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute, 2 pp. ) Veysey, J.S., M.P. Ayres, M.J. Lombardero, R.W. Hofstetter, and K.D. Klepzig. 2003. The effect of alternative host species on reproductive success of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ Entomol. 32:668-679. Wager, D.J., and Baker, F.A. Ozone Concentrations in Utah‘‘‘‘s Central Wasatch Mountains. J. Air and Waste Mgmt. (in press) Wallin, K.F., & K.F. Raffa. 2004. Feedback between individual host selection behavior and population dynamics in an eruptive insect herbivore. Ecol. Monogr. In Press. Wallin, K.F., J. Rutledge, & K.F. Raffa. 2002. Heritability of host acceptance and gallery construction behaviors of the bark beetle Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ. Entomol. 31: 1276-1281. Waring, K. M. and D.L. Six. In review. Distribution of bark beetle attacks following whitebark pine restoration treatments. Western Journal of Applied Forestry. Werner, R. A. ; K. F. Raffa, & B. L. Illman Insect and Pathogen Dynamics. 2002. In Alaska?s Changing Boreal Forest. Chapin, F.S., III, M. Oswood, K. Van Cleve, L.A. Viereck, and D. Verbyla.. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford. In Press. Wikler, K., A.J. Storer, W. Newman, T.R. Gordon, and D.L. Wood. 2003. The dynamics of an introduced pathogen in a native Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 179 (1-3): 209-221 JUL 3 2003. Worrall, J., K. Sullivan, T.C. Harrington, and J. Steimel. 2004. Incidence, host relations and population structure of Armillaria ostoyae in Colorado campgrounds. Forest Ecology and Management (in press).

Impact Statements

Phytophthora ramorum infection (cause of Sudden Oak Death) increased from 6 to 19% in study plots in Marin Co,. CA from 2000 to 2003.
Twig beetles, Pityophthorus setosus and P. carmeli, were shown to vector Fusarium circinatum, Pitch Canker.
No distinct relationship was found between white pine blister rust and bark beetle attack of limber pine in Colorado.
Fungi were isolated from the introducted elm bark beetle, Scolytus schevyrewi , to see if it may have brought pathogenic Ophiostoma species (e.g. similar to Dutch elm disease) from China. No Ophiostoma species were recovered from beetles collected in Utah and Colorado, nor were other likely plant pathogens found.
Landscape-scale predictions of the temperature-dependent dynamics of bark beetle populations are providing tools to assess the long-term impact of global warming on native and native-invasive bark beetle species and their ecosystems.