Climate-induced range expansion of an eruptive herbivore into novel habitat
PROJECT TEAM
Anthony Robinson, MSc
Dr. Jordan Burke, PhD
Dr. Allan Carroll, PhD

A Pest on the Move
DUE TO A WARMING ENVIRONMENT, the mountain pine beetle has invaded host-tree populations and species in regions that were historically climatically unsuitable. Without long-term interactions with the mountain pine beetle, these susceptible host trees lack effective, co-evolved defensive responses. As a consequence, the duration and severity of impacts by the beetle, and its rate of increase and spread have been exacerbated in newly invaded pine forests.