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Drought predisposes piñon–juniper woodlands to insect attacks and mortality
Author(s) -
Gaylord Monica L.,
Kolb Thomas E.,
Pockman William T.,
Plaut Jennifer A.,
Yepez Enrico A.,
Macalady Alison K.,
Pangle Robert E.,
McDowell Nate G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.12174
Subject(s) - juniper , biology , twig , insect , agronomy , botany
Summary To test the hypothesis that drought predisposes trees to insect attacks, we quantified the effects of water availability on insect attacks, tree resistance mechanisms, and mortality of mature piñon pine ( Pinus edulis ) and one‐seed juniper ( Juniperus monosperma ) using an experimental drought study in New Mexico, USA. The study had four replicated treatments (40 × 40 m plot/replicate): removal of 45% of ambient annual precipitation (H 2 O−); irrigation to produce 125% of ambient annual precipitation (H 2 O+); a drought control (C) to quantify the impact of the drought infrastructure; and ambient precipitation (A). Piñon began dying 1 yr after drought initiation, with higher mortality in the H 2 O− treatment relative to other treatments. Beetles (bark/twig) were present in 92% of dead trees. Resin duct density and area were more strongly affected by treatments and more strongly associated with piñon mortality than direct measurements of resin flow. For juniper, treatments had no effect on insect resistance or attacks, but needle browning was highest in the H 2 O− treatment. Our results provide strong evidence that ≥ 1 yr of severe drought predisposes piñon to insect attacks and increases mortality, whereas 3 yr of the same drought causes partial canopy loss in juniper.