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Ecological Consequences of Pathogen and Insect Invasions

Ecological Consequences of Pathogen and Insect Invasions The introduction and successful establishment of nonnative species poses a significant threat to the function and structure of native ecosystems and biodiversity. Forest ecosystems are especially threatened due to the worldwide importance of wood packaging material universally used in global trade, the importation of lumber and wood products, and the importation of live trees for planting. This collectively enables a number of invasion pathways that facilitate the introduction of forest insects and pathogens. Consequently, forest ecosystems worldwide are under threat from nonnative forest pest species, many of which pose little concern in their native habitats due to the checks and balances associated with natural enemies and host plant defensive responses. Unfortunately, the lack of concern for many species in their native habitats leads to a significant knowledge gap when such species are introduced into a new environment and begin to pose negative ecological consequences. In this review, I discuss variation in establishment success and ecological consequences exerted by nonnative forest insects and pathogens, define characteristics of high-impact species, and review recent research on the ecological consequences of these high-impact species in forest ecosystems. Although specific insect and pathogen examples are drawn from invasions in North American forest ecosystems, the concepts of habitat invasibility, species invasiveness, and the ecological consequences expressed by nonnative forest species are not unique to North America. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Current Forestry Reports Springer Journals

Ecological Consequences of Pathogen and Insect Invasions

Tobin, Patrick
Current Forestry Reports , Volume 1 (1) – Jan 30, 2015
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References (101)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by Springer International Publishing AG
Subject
Environment; Sustainable Development; Environmental Management; Nature Conservation; Forestry; Forestry Management; Ecology
eISSN
2198-6436
DOI
10.1007/s40725-015-0008-6
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The introduction and successful establishment of nonnative species poses a significant threat to the function and structure of native ecosystems and biodiversity. Forest ecosystems are especially threatened due to the worldwide importance of wood packaging material universally used in global trade, the importation of lumber and wood products, and the importation of live trees for planting. This collectively enables a number of invasion pathways that facilitate the introduction of forest insects and pathogens. Consequently, forest ecosystems worldwide are under threat from nonnative forest pest species, many of which pose little concern in their native habitats due to the checks and balances associated with natural enemies and host plant defensive responses. Unfortunately, the lack of concern for many species in their native habitats leads to a significant knowledge gap when such species are introduced into a new environment and begin to pose negative ecological consequences. In this review, I discuss variation in establishment success and ecological consequences exerted by nonnative forest insects and pathogens, define characteristics of high-impact species, and review recent research on the ecological consequences of these high-impact species in forest ecosystems. Although specific insect and pathogen examples are drawn from invasions in North American forest ecosystems, the concepts of habitat invasibility, species invasiveness, and the ecological consequences expressed by nonnative forest species are not unique to North America.

Journal

Current Forestry Reports – Springer Journals

Published: Jan 30, 2015

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