Abstract

Reduction of tree mortality caused by bark beetle attacks is not only important for forestry, but is essential for the preservation of biodiversity and forest carbon sinks in the face of climate change. While bark beetle mass trapping (a "pull" approach) is implemented in practise, few studies exist to estimate its effect. The more complex "push-pull" tactic has, in contrast, been repeatedly tested during the last decade. I analysed published data from 32 experiments in 9 papers published during 2000-2011 on Ips typographus and Dendroctonus ponderosae, to test if there was an overall effect of anti-attractant semiochemicals, i.e. if treatments reduced the number of attacks on standing trees at the habitat or stand scale. This meta-analysis showed a substantial overall effect size (treatment -control means divided by their SD) of -1, with some heterogeneity but little evidence of publication bias. There was no effect of beetle species or publication year. Heterogeneity resulted from different designs and beetle population levels (as year of study). The conventional "% Reduction" measure correlated well with effect size (r2= 0.7). Recommendations include more precise reporting of responses (avoiding dichotomous data), more unified experimental designs, and further meta-analyses that include "grey literature" and more beetle species.

Published in

Psyche
2012, Volume: 2012, article number: 268621

SLU Authors

• Schlyter, Fredrik

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss


UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Organic Chemistry


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/268621

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/44137