Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.4
2.4
Journals
Forests
Special Issues
Ecology and Management of Forest Pests—2nd Edition
share announcement

Ecology and Management of Forest Pests—2nd Edition

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 5942

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roman Modlinger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Forest Risk Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: forest entomology; disturbances; integrated pest management; applied statistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anna Jirošová

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha, Czech Republic
Interests: chemical ecology; semiochemicals; pheromone sythesis; bark beetles; anti-attractants; chemistry; plant defense
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, we have faced an increasing frequency and extent of forest disturbances caused by various agents. Climate change and its consequences are the major drivers of these processes appearing around the world. Many native or invasive species have expanded their distribution range due to more suitable environmental conditions or international trade growth. Therefore, it is more important than ever to develop rapid detection methods for trees' health status or vulnerability, registering new pests, or recognizing the beginning of the outbreak. The traditional methods for the direct suppression of forest pests should be revised due to changes in the harmful species ecology and the lower resistance of the host trees. More prevention than suppression should be applied in forest pest population management and pointed towards higher forest resilience in the future. Integrated pest management (IPM) incorporates the important concept of fulfilling these requirements. The management decision in IPM depends on information from multiple sources, frequently coming from complex information bases that form the decision support systems (DSS). These enable the optimal evaluation of a given situation.

We would like to announce the Special Issue of the journal Forests, which will concentrate on articles dealing with different aspects of forest pest management, mainly focused on methods for the detection of forest pests, improving the management options or control methods, and the development of new tools for decision-making. Studies concerned with changes in the ecology of forest pests or their relationship to host plants are also welcome.

Dr. Roman Modlinger
Dr. Anna Jirošová
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest pest management
  • control methods
  • disturbance
  • population dynamics
  • invasive species
  • bark beetles
  • tree diseases
  • semiochemicals
  • remote sensing
  • pheromones
  • forest health
  • predisposition

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

27 pages, 10472 KiB  
Article
Predictive Model for Bark Beetle Outbreaks in European Forests
by Ángel Fernández-Carrillo, Antonio Franco-Nieto, María Julia Yagüe-Ballester and Marta Gómez-Giménez
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071114 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1388
Abstract
Bark beetle outbreaks and forest mortality have rocketed in European forests because of warmer winters, intense droughts, and poor management. The methods developed to predict a bark beetle outbreak have three main limitations: (i) a small-spatial-scale implementation; (ii) specific field-based input datasets that [...] Read more.
Bark beetle outbreaks and forest mortality have rocketed in European forests because of warmer winters, intense droughts, and poor management. The methods developed to predict a bark beetle outbreak have three main limitations: (i) a small-spatial-scale implementation; (ii) specific field-based input datasets that are usually hard to obtain at large scales; and (iii) predictive models constrained by coarse climatic factors. Therefore, a methodological approach accounting for a comprehensive set of environmental traits that can predict a bark beetle outbreak accurately is needed. In particular, we aimed to (i) analyze the influence of environmental traits that cause bark beetle outbreaks; (ii) compare different machine learning architectures for predicting bark beetle attacks; and (iii) map the attack probability before the start of the bark beetle life cycle. Random Forest regression achieved the best-performing results. The predicted bark beetle damage reached a high robustness in the test area (F1 = 96.9, OA = 94.4) and showed low errors (CE = 2.0, OE = 4.2). Future improvements should focus on including additional variables, e.g., forest age and validation sites. Remote sensing-based methods contributed to detecting bark beetle outbreaks in large extensive forested areas in a cost-effective and robust manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Forest Pests—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1734 KiB  
Article
The Potential Threats of Spodoptera frugiperda on Six Economic Tree Species in the Tropical Region
by Jiabao Xue, Yi Chen, Xiangyi Kong, Ruizong Jia, Xiaoqi Jiang, Jingyuan Guo, Yunling Guo and Yan Yang
Forests 2024, 15(4), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040701 - 15 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1053
Abstract
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a highly significant agricultural pest that poses a threat to crop production worldwide. It is polyphagous, has a strong migratory ability, and is difficult to control, which makes it a threat not only to crops but also to [...] Read more.
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a highly significant agricultural pest that poses a threat to crop production worldwide. It is polyphagous, has a strong migratory ability, and is difficult to control, which makes it a threat not only to crops but also to woody plants. However, research on its adaptability to woody plants is limited. This study compares the feeding adaptations (survival rate, pupation time, pupation rate, weight, length, and daily food consumption), protective enzyme activities, and feeding preferences of S. frugiperda on leaves of six economically important tree species (Areca catechu L., Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng, Cocos nucifera L., Camellia oleifera Abel, Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen, and Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.), with Zea mays L. used as a control treatment. The results indicate that S. frugiperda did not survive when fed with A. catechu, C. oleifera, and D. odorifera. A. catechu had similar survival rates (83.33%), pupation (86.67%), weight, and length data compared to the maize control. C. nucifera had lower survival rates (46.67%) but no significant differences in pupation (76.67%), weight, and length data of S. frugiperda. H. brasiliensis exhibited significantly lower survival (50.00%) and pupation rates (46.67%) compared to maize. However, there was no significant difference in weight and length data, and its preference index was higher among the six tree species treatments. Therefore, A. sinensis is a vulnerable tree with a high risk, while H. brasiliensis and C. nucifera showed varying degrees of susceptibility. A. catechu, C. oleifera, and D. odorifera were found to be unsuitable hosts for S. frugiperda. In conclusion, this study extensively explores the feeding effects of S. frugiperda on six economically important tree species. It provides insights into the feeding preferences of the pest, thereby informing the potential threat posed by S. frugiperda to economically important trees. It helps to prevent further damage from S. frugiperda and provides a reference for agriculture and forestry to develop effective joint prevention and control measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Forest Pests—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5155 KiB  
Article
Pilot Study of 3D Spatial Distribution of α-Pinene Emitted by Norway Spruce (L.) Karst Recently Infested by Ips typographus (L. 1758) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae)
by Barbora Stříbrská, Antonioni Acacio Campos Moliterno, Tereza Hüttnerová, Martin Leiner, Peter Surový and Anna Jirošová
Forests 2024, 15(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010010 - 20 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1444
Abstract
The Eurasian Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus) (L. 1758) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) poses a significant threat to Eurasia’s Norway spruce (Picea abies) (L.) Karst, forests. Early detection of infested trees is crucial to control beetle outbreaks and allow salvage logging [...] Read more.
The Eurasian Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus) (L. 1758) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) poses a significant threat to Eurasia’s Norway spruce (Picea abies) (L.) Karst, forests. Early detection of infested trees is crucial to control beetle outbreaks and allow salvage logging before the next generation emerges. Besides traditional methods, new approaches focus on monitoring volatile organic compounds, mainly monoterpenes, emitted by infested trees. Using analytical chemistry, we studied the distribution of these compounds, particularly α-pinene, around infested trees. In lab trials, we optimized α-pinene detection using dynamic absorption and solid-phase microextraction (SPME), analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). We conducted forest trials, revealing varying α-pinene abundance due to changing conditions. However, consistent trends emerged: levels were highest near the infested tree stem and 1.3 m above ground in the first trial and at a 1 m distance from the infested stem in the second. We generated a three-dimensional cloud depicting the distribution of α-pinene around infested trees in their natural habitat. These findings open avenues for detecting bark beetles on a large scale by mapping elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds emitted by infested trees, potentially leading to alternative pest management methods. Scanning methods, such as electronic sensors combined with remote sensing, hold promise for this application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Forest Pests—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 2578 KiB  
Article
Forest Insect Outbreak Dynamics: Fractal Properties, Viscous Fingers, and Holographic Principle
by Vladislav Soukhovolsky, Anton Kovalev, Olga Tarasova and Yulia Ivanova
Forests 2023, 14(12), 2459; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122459 - 18 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1310
Abstract
During the growth of a forest insect outbreak epicenter, there are processes that involve the formation and expansion of the primary epicenter of forest damage, as well as secondary epicenters—both connected and unconnected to the primary one. This study characterizes outbreak epicenters in [...] Read more.
During the growth of a forest insect outbreak epicenter, there are processes that involve the formation and expansion of the primary epicenter of forest damage, as well as secondary epicenters—both connected and unconnected to the primary one. This study characterizes outbreak epicenters in terms of their fractal dimensions and “viscous finger” parameters at the epicenter boundary, highlighting their significance in the context of forest insect management. Local outbreak epicenters were found to be characterized by fractal dimension D = 1.4–1.5, and the boundaries of the epicenters were described using the “viscous finger” model. Proposed models were constructed and validated using remote sensing data obtained from MODIS and Sentinel-2 satellites at epicenter sites and boundaries during the outbreak of the Siberian silk moth Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetverikov from 2014 to 2020 in the Krasnoyarsk region of Russia. The study revealed that the frequency of the mode spectrum of one-stage spatial series of “viscous fingers” corresponds with the data on the development of the outbreak foci area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Forest Pests—2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop