An article in ATL writes that pine, which is Sweden's second most common tree, has so far avoided spruce bark beetle attacks. Researchers will now study whether there is a risk of pine trees being attacked more in the future. Since 2018, the spruce bark beetle has killed 32 million cubic metres of spruce, equivalent to damage of SEK 14 billion. Climate change may also affect the behaviour of the spruce bark beetle, potentially making it more prone to attack pine trees.
Martin N Anderson, biologist and senior lecturer at Lund University, is leading a new research project to investigate the spruce bark beetle's choice of trees and why it sometimes attacks pine. The project aims to understand whether climate change and the changing environment can affect the behaviour of the spruce bark beetle. It is important to be prepared for possible future problems and to be able to adapt forest management to these changes.
Previous studies show that pine trees can smell differently, which may influence the bark beetle's choice. One hypothesis is that the pines that are attacked are those that smell more like a spruce. If researchers can identify the links between scent and infestation, it may be possible to develop more resistant tree species, which would reduce the risk of damage in the future.
The research project will last four years and includes lab tests and field studies of pine infestations. The lab tests involve studying spruce bark beetle preferences and ability to reproduce on pine trees, while field studies involve studying infestations on living pine trees in the forest. Both parts of the project are important to understand how the spruce bark beetle behaves in different environments and under different circumstances.
As the risk of spruce bark beetle infestation on pine is not well understood yet, it is important to continue research in this area. Forest owners should be aware of the potential risks and adapt their planting strategies accordingly. More research is needed to assess possible implications for afforestation policies and how best to manage pests such as spruce bark beetle in a changing climate.
The results of this research project will be valuable for both forest owners and authorities, as they can help to improve the sustainability and pest resistance of forestry. In addition, the knowledge generated in the project will be useful for understanding how climate change and other environmental factors affect insect pest behaviour and host selection.
