by worego | Jan 8, 2025 | 2021-Present Publications
Abstract
Intraspecific genetic variation underpins many evolutionary processes and phenomena. For species considered pests, the dynamics of how genetic variation is distributed geographically take on a greater importance, because they can impact pest-management strategies directly. This is particularly true when management strategies are genetic in nature, such as population manipulation via RNA interference (RNAi; a naturally occurring antiviral response that disrupts translation of messenger RNAs into proteins to silence genes). Using RNAi for gene silencing is highly species specific; however, the efficacy of this approach in geographically distinct populations of widespread pest species has not been evaluated comprehensively. Here, we present a preliminary study evaluating differential susceptibility of geographically disparate populations of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, to RNAi. Although the efficacy of RNAi has been demonstrated in localized populations, D. frontalis has a broad distribution across North and Central America and is expanding its range owing to climate change. We observe differences in response between and within geographically distinct populations from its core range and recently expanded range. Our findings have broad implications for the use of RNAi as a management tool in widely distributed species and highlight the need for a deeper understanding of intraspecific genetic variation in this species and others.
Keywords
intraspecific variation; gene silencing; pest management; invasive species
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Kyre, B. R., Dupuis, J. R., Zúñiga, G., & Rieske, L. K. (2024). Variation in RNA interference sensitivity in the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (Vol. 142, Issue 2, pp. 147–154). Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blad126
by worego | Jan 8, 2025 | 2021-Present Publications
Abstract
Bark beetle infestations have historically been primary drivers of stand thinning in Mexican pine forests. However, bark beetle impacts have become increasingly extensive and intense, apparently associated with climate change. Our objective was to describe the possible association between abundance of bark beetle flying populations and the occurrence of given value intervals of temperature, precipitation and their balance, in order to have a better comprehension of the climatic space that might trigger larger insect abundances, an issue relevant in the context of the ongoing climatic change. Here, we monitored the abundance of two of the most important bark beetle species in Mexico, Dendroctonus frontalis and D. mexicanus. We sampled 147 sites using pheromone-baited funnel traps along 24 altitudinal transects in 11 Mexican states, from northwestern Chihuahua to southeastern Chiapas, from 2015 to 2017. Through mixed model analysis, we found that the optimum Mean Annual Temperatures were 17˚C–20˚C for D. frontalis in low-elevation pine-oak forest, while D. mexicanus had two optimal intervals: 11–13˚C and 15–18˚C. Higher atmospheric Vapor Pressure Deficit (≥ 1.0) was correlated with higher D. frontalis abundances, indicating that warming-amplified drought stress intensifies trees’ vulnerability to beetle attack. As temperatures and drought stress increase further with projected future climatic changes, it is likely that these Dendroctonus species will increase tree damage at higher elevations. Pine forests in Mexico are an important source of livelihood for communities inhabiting those areas, so providing tools to tackle obstacles to forest growth and health posed by changing climate is imperative.
Keywords
bark beetle, outbreak, pheromone, temperature
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Sáenz-Romero C, Cambro ́n-Sandoval VH, Hammond W, Me ́ndez-Gonza ́lez J, Luna-Soria H, Mac ́ıas-Sa ́mano JE, et al. (2023) Abundance of Dendroctonus frontalis and D. mexicanus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) along altitudinal transects in Mexico: Implications of climatic change for forest conservation. PLoS ONE 18(7): e0288067. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288067
by worego | Jan 8, 2025 | 2021-Present Publications
Abstract
Timely detection of insect infestation (or other disturbance) in a forest is vital for an adequate response plan to be developed. To determine the status of an active infestation of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) in the Bienville National Forest,WorldView-2 imagery was utilized. Principal components analysis (PCA) was performed and correlated with spectral reflectance bands to assess differences between the classification of spectral reflectance bands and principal components. Unsupervised classification of combinations of principal components (e.g., combining principal components 1 and 2, principal component 1 alone, and principal component 2 alone) was performed and compared with combinations of principal component correlations with spectral reflectance bands (e.g., all bands, bands 1–5, bands 6–8, and bands 2, 4, and 5). Combining principal components 1 and 2 was more accurate than other methods, closely followed by spectral bands 1–5. Employing PCA will aid resource managers in quickly detecting areas of active insect infestation and allow them to deploy adequate response measures to prevent or mitigate continued outbreaks
Keywords
bark beetles, southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, WorldView-2, principal components analysis, forest disturbance
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Crosby, M.K.; McConnell, T.E.; Holderieath, J.J.; Meeker, J.R.; Steiner, C.A.; Strom, B.L.; Johnson, C. The Use of High-Resolution Satellite Imagery to Determine the Status of a Large-Scale Outbreak of Southern Pine Beetle. Remote Sens. 2024, 16, 582. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16030582
by worego | Jan 8, 2025 | 2021-Present Publications
Abstract
The southern pine beetle was recently captured in baited traps in several states in the northeastern U.S., representing a significant range expansion from what was previously known for this pest.
Keywords
distribution, northeast, range expansion, trap captures
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Caroline R. Kanaskie, Thomas C. Schmeelk, Jessica A. Cancelliere, and Jeff R. Garnas “New Records of Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in New York, New Hampshire, and Maine, USA Indicate Northward Range Expansion,” The Coleopterists Bulletin 77(2), 248-251, (16 June 2023). https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-77.2.248
