Premium
Distribution of N orway spruce bark and wood‐boring beetles along A lpine elevational gradients
Author(s) -
Chinellato Fabio,
Faccoli Massimo,
Marini Lorenzo,
Battisti Andrea
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
agricultural and forest entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.755
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-9563
pISSN - 1461-9555
DOI - 10.1111/afe.12040
Subject(s) - picea abies , biology , abundance (ecology) , ecology , range (aeronautics) , climate change , temperate climate , species richness , bark (sound) , population , bark beetle , elevation (ballistics) , latitude , geography , materials science , demography , geodesy , sociology , composite material , geometry , mathematics
Temperature is probably the most important driver of insect response to climate change and has many implications at both individual and population levels. The present study explored how elevation, as a proxy for temperature, affects the abundance and diversity of bark and wood‐boring beetles associated with N orway spruce ( Picea abies ) along its southern range. We selected three elevational gradients (approximately 900–1500 m) in spruce stands in the south‐eastern A lps, each consisting of four locations. From A pril to S eptember 2011, four traps of different types were installed at each location: three baited with generic lures (α‐pinene and ethanol) and one baited with a pheromone specific for Ips typographus . In addition, three fresh spruce logs were exposed on the same locations. Species richness did not vary significantly with elevation, whereas the abundance of most individual species did. Generally, aggressive species responded positively to higher temperature, whereas most non‐aggressive species responded negatively. In a warming scenario, it is likely that spruce forests will face increasing damage from aggressive species. This will threaten the growth and survival of N orway spruce at low elevation, especially at southern latitudes.