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Effects of host abundance on larch budmoth outbreaks in the E uropean A lps
Author(s) -
HartlMeier Claudia,
Esper Jan,
Liebhold Andrew,
Konter Oliver,
Rothe Andreas,
Büntgen Ulf
Publication year - 2017
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.12216
Subject(s) - outbreak , larch , host (biology) , abundance (ecology) , biology , range (aeronautics) , population , ecology , demography , virology , materials science , sociology , composite material
Outbreaks of the larch budmoth ( LBM ) in the E uropean A lps are among the most documented population cycles and their historical occurrence has been reconstructed over 1200 years. Causes and consequences of cyclic LBM outbreaks are poorly understood and little is known about populations near the margin of the host's distribution range. In the present study, we quantify historical LBM outbreaks and associated growth reductions in host trees ( E uropean larch). Tree‐ring data collected from 18 sites between approximately 500 and 1700 m a.s.l. in the N orthern pre‐ A lps are compared with data from the W estern A lps and T atra M ountains, as well as with nonhost N orway spruce. Highly synchronized host and nonhost growth in the N orthern pre‐ A lps shows that periodic LBM outbreaks are largely absent near the distributional limit of larch. By contrast, growth patterns in the W estern A lps LBM core region are indicative of LBM events. Although climatic conditions in the N orthern pre‐ A lps and T atra M ountains would allow LBM outbreaks, low host plant abundance is likely the key driver for the absence of cyclic outbreaks in these regions. The results obtained in the present study suggest that, in addition to the climatic conditions, host‐species abundance is critically important for the occurrence of periodic LBM outbreaks and the determination of the respective outbreak range.