U.S.-China Cooperative Research: Pine Sawfly Outbreak Distribution Patterns in Western U.S. and China: Role of Plant Quality

这项研究计划解决了根本的生态原因， 在中国和美国爆发的破坏性森林昆虫 States. 在本提案中，概述了将测试 林分条件（年龄、密度、基因型）在 使松树林在经济上 重要森林食叶昆虫-松叶蜂 （膜翅目：叶蜂科）。 尽管有大量的文献 林分条件是森林昆虫发生的主要因素 人们对疾病爆发的基本机制知之甚少 造成了这种普遍现象。 几乎相同的松树 叶蜂爆发模式发生在美国黄松林， 美国西部和中部的云南松林 中国 松叶蜂爆发仅限于低密度 限制年龄等级的树。 提出了一种强实验方法来严格测试 林分条件的重要性， 中国和美国的叶蜂爆发。 林分操作 将进行实验，以建立林分密度， 复制已知支持松叶蜂的林分密度 爆发 两个假设机制的重要性， 将对观察到的爆发模式进行测试。 基本 实验设计是在四川进行平行研究 省，中国和亚利桑那州，美国。 具体的研究活动包括一个月的 瓦格纳博士的访问和4-6个月的实地研究，每年由 来自亚利桑那州北方的博士生和研究技术人员 大学 这项研究将由一位科学家和 四川省实验中心科研人员 林业科学研究院。 同样，一位来自 四川省林科院将在亚利桑那州进行4-6年的研究 每年有几个月，为期两年。 中国人短期访问 科学家研究设施和研究领域在美国将 也得到支持。 瓦格纳博士和萧汉先生 以前在松树上与松叶蜂打交道的丰富经验 物种 这个项目将提高我们对 森林害虫暴发的原因，提高美国的培训 和中国科学家，提高科学和文化 中国和美国之间的交流。

This research proposal addresses the fundamental ecological cause of outbreaks of damaging forest insects in China and the United States. In this proposal experiments are outlined that will test the role of forest stand conditions (age, density, genotype) in predisposing pine forests to outbreak by an economically important group of forest defoliators - pine sawflies (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae). Despite extensive literature implicating stands conditions as a major factor in forest insect outbreaks little is known about the fundamental mechanisms responsible for this universal phenomenon. Nearly identical pine sawfly outbreak patterns occur in Pinus ponderosa forests of the western United States and Pinus yunnanenis forests of central China. Pine sawfly outbreaks are restricted to low density stands of a restricted age class. A strongly experimental approach is proposed to rigorously test the importance of stand conditions in predisposing trees to sawfly outbreaks in both China and the US. Stand manipulations will be conducted to experimentally create stand densities that replicate the densities of stands known to support pine sawfly outbreaks. The importance of two hypothesized mechanisms for the observed outbreak patterns will be tested. The basic experimental design is to conduct parallel studies in Sichuan Province, China and Arizona, USA. Specific research activities to be conducted include a 1 month visit by Dr. Wagner and 4-6 months of field research each year by a doctoral student and research technicians from Northern Arizona University. This research will assisted by a scientists and research staff of the Experiment Center of Sichuan Provincial Academy of Forestry Science. Similarly a scientist from the Sichuan Forestry Academy will conduct research in Arizona for 4-6 months each year for two years. Short term visits by Chinese scientists to research facilities and study areas in the US will also be supported. Dr. Wagner and Mr. Hend Xiao both have extensive previous experience working with pine sawflies on pine species. This project will improve our basic understanding of the causes of forest insect outbreaks, improve the training of US and Chinese scientists, and enhance scientific and cultural exchange between China and the United States.