PROJECT TEAM
Sichen Zhou, MSc
Dr. Allan Carroll, PhD
OPPORTUNISTIC SYMBIOSES
The relationships between ambrosia beetles and their hosts vary, ranging from benign infestations of sapwood to attacks on living trees. With the decline of red alder (Alnus rubra) in coastal British Columbia, determining which ambrosia beetles are associated and whether non-native species play a disproportionate role is crucial for understanding and managing emerging forest disturbances.
“Ambrosia beetles do more than colonize deadwood—some are thriving in living trees, challenging what we thought we knew about forest disturbance.”
– Sichen Zhou
ASSESSING THE ROLE OF INVASIVE SPECIES
While ambrosia beetles have traditionally been considered decomposers of deadwood, my research has revealed that multiple species, particularly non-native species, are currently infesting live red alder. This study aims to assess the potential contribution of invasive ambrosia beetles to the decline of red alder by quantifying beetle abundance in woodlands and linking species distribution to site characteristics, and to identify ecological conditions that may facilitate their establishment.
