The effects of forest spatial structure on insect outbreak dynamics: insights from host-parasitoid models

Hughes, J. S., Cobbold, C. A. , Haynes, K. and Dwyer, G. (2015) The effects of forest spatial structure on insect outbreak dynamics: insights from host-parasitoid models. American Naturalist, 183(5), E130-E152. (doi: 10.1086/680860) (PMID:25905513)

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Abstract

Understanding how cycles of forest-defoliating insects are affected by forest destruction is of major importance for forest management. Achieving such an understanding with data alone is difficult, however, because population cycles are typically driven by species interactions that are highly nonlinear. We therefore con- structed a mathematical model to investigate the effects of forest de- struction on defoliator cycles, focusing on defoliator cycles driven by parasitoids. Our model shows that forest destruction can increase de- foliator density when parasitoids disperse much farther than defolia- tors because the benefits of reduced defoliator mortality due to in- creased parasitoid dispersal mortality exceed the costs of increased defoliator dispersal mortality. This novel result can explain observa- tions of increased outbreak duration with increasing forest fragmen- tation in forest tent caterpillar populations. Our model also shows that larger habitat patches can mitigate habitat loss, with clear impli- cations for forest management. To better understand our results, we developed an approximate model that shows that defoliator spatial dynamics can be predicted from the proportion of dispersing animals that land in suitable habitat. This approximate model is practically useful because its parameters can be estimated from widely available data. Our model thus suggests that forest destruction may exacerbate defoliator outbreaks but that management practices could mitigate such effects.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cobbold, Professor Christina
Authors: Hughes, J. S., Cobbold, C. A., Haynes, K., and Dwyer, G.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
Journal Name:American Naturalist
Publisher:University of Chicago Press
ISSN:0003-0147
ISSN (Online):1537-5323

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