Effects of an Invasive Bark Beetle Polygraphus proximus Blandf. Outbreak on Carbon Pool Dynamics in West Siberian Dark Coniferous Forests

Invasions of dendrophagous insects pose major threats to forest ecosystems and to the timber industry. The alien species bark beetle Polygraphus proximus Blandf. of Far Eastern origin has caused Siberian fir dieback in vast areas within several regions of Russia. Rapid spread of the pest and its out...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forests
Main Authors: Ivan A. Kerchev, Elvina M. Bisirova, Nikita A. Smirnov, Igor G. Grachev, Artem N. Nikiforov, Daria A. Kalashnikova
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024
Subjects:
bark beetle
carbon
invasion
outbreak foci
Siberian fir
Western Siberia
Plant ecology
QK900-989
taiga
Siberia
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030542
https://doaj.org/article/a1ed1c1ec5344dc49924055e40ed1516
Description
Summary:Invasions of dendrophagous insects pose major threats to forest ecosystems and to the timber industry. The alien species bark beetle Polygraphus proximus Blandf. of Far Eastern origin has caused Siberian fir dieback in vast areas within several regions of Russia. Rapid spread of the pest and its outbreaks raise the issue of preserving the most important functions, including carbon sequestration, by the damaged forests. In this study, monitoring of carbon pool dynamics was carried out during 2012–2023 on four sample plots showing various degrees of damage in the southern taiga zone of Western Siberia in the Larinsky Landscape Reserve. Dynamics of the forest stands’ vitality were reflected in a rapid decline of the number of viable trees and an increase in amounts of deadwood, debris, and soil composition, resulting in a transformation of the natural biological carbon cycle in the native dark coniferous ecosystems.

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