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Tree defence and bark beetles in a drying world: carbon partitioning, functioning and modelling
Author(s) -
Huang Jianbei,
Kautz Markus,
Trowbridge Amy M.,
Hammerbacher Almuth,
Raffa Kenneth F.,
Adams Henry D.,
Goodsman Devin W.,
Xu Chonggang,
Meddens Arjan J. H.,
Kandasamy Dineshkumar,
Gershenzon Jonathan,
Seidl Rupert,
Hartmann Henrik
Publication year - 2020
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.16173
Subject(s) - bark beetle , ecology , climate change , bark (sound) , ecosystem , tree (set theory) , vegetation (pathology) , disturbance (geology) , forest ecology , biogeochemical cycle , biology , environmental science , medicine , mathematical analysis , paleontology , mathematics , pathology
Summary Drought has promoted large‐scale, insect‐induced tree mortality in recent years, with severe consequences for ecosystem function, atmospheric processes, sustainable resources and global biogeochemical cycles. However, the physiological linkages among drought, tree defences, and insect outbreaks are still uncertain, hindering our ability to accurately predict tree mortality under on‐going climate change. Here we propose an interdisciplinary research agenda for addressing these crucial knowledge gaps. Our framework includes field manipulations, laboratory experiments, and modelling of insect and vegetation dynamics, and focuses on how drought affects interactions between conifer trees and bark beetles. We build upon existing theory and examine several key assumptions: (1) there is a trade‐off in tree carbon investment between primary and secondary metabolites (e.g. growth vs defence); (2) secondary metabolites are one of the main component of tree defence against bark beetles and associated microbes; and (3) implementing conifer‐bark beetle interactions in current models improves predictions of forest disturbance in a changing climate. Our framework provides guidance for addressing a major shortcoming in current implementations of large‐scale vegetation models, the under‐representation of insect‐induced tree mortality.