Behavioural ecology of interactions between trees and bark beetles mediated by climate

植食性昆虫与其寄主植物之间的相互作用是陆地生态系统中最常见和最有效的相互作用之一。最近的一个例子是山地松甲虫（MPB）的爆发，Dendroctonus ponderosae是一种树皮甲虫，已经杀死了数亿棵成熟的松树。我的研究计划将调查的状态依赖的繁殖策略的个体小蠹在其宿主树木的动态栖息地质量的背景下。虽然人们长期以来一直观察到MPB在爆发期间主要杀死大直径的松树，但这种模式的原因尚未得到解决。理论预测，植物的防御分配将随着生长速率和树高的变化而非线性变化。使用元分析和实证研究，我们将量化树的直径，高度，年龄和增长率（相关的产业利益的特征）和数量和质量的内树皮（韧皮部），其中甲虫饲料和繁殖之间的关系。我们的实证工作将集中在水胁迫（空间和历史）和树龄的影响，松树内外的历史范围内的MPB，并考虑其贡献MPB爆发。鉴于这些树的过程中，我们将研究树木性状如何影响树的选择和繁殖策略的小蠹根据甲虫的状态。特别是，我们将测试MPB是否使用树的声发射来预测树防御甲虫攻击的能力。为了研究MPB对大直径树木的明显偏好，我们将确定甲虫在直径不同的树木中的遭遇率和繁殖成功率。利用我们对树的性状动态和小蠹的状态依赖性繁殖行为的理解，我们将用实证研究和模型来测试它们对小蠹种群动态的贡献。这项研究计划带来了新的见解，从行为生态学，以更好地了解树皮甲虫生态，影响加拿大的森林的关键类群。这项工作对于预测树皮甲虫和其他森林昆虫在气候变化中的影响至关重要。

Interactions between herbivorous insects and their host plants are among the most common and potent interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. A recent example is the outbreak of mountain pine beetles (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, a bark beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of mature pine trees. My research program will investigate the state-dependent reproductive tactics of individual bark beetles in the context of the dynamic habitat quality of their host trees. While it has long been observed that MPB kill primarily large-diameter pines during outbreaks, the causes of this pattern are unresolved. Theory predicts that defence allocation by plants will vary non-linearly with growth rate and tree height. Using meta-analyses and empirical studies, we will quantify the relationships between tree diameter, height, age and growth rate (correlated traits of interest to industry) and the quantity and quality of inner bark (phloem) in which beetles feed and reproduce. Our empirical work will focus on the effects of water stress (spatially and historically) and tree age in pine within and outside the historical range of MPB and consider their contributions to MPB outbreaks. Given these tree processes, we will examine how tree traits influence tree choice and reproductive strategies of bark beetles according to beetle state. In particular, we will test whether MPB use tree acoustic emissions to predict the ability of the tree to defend itself against beetle attack. To examine the apparent preference of MPB for large diameter trees, we will determine encounter rates and reproductive success of beetles in trees that vary in diameter. Using our understanding of tree trait dynamics and state-dependent reproductive behaviour of bark beetles, we will test their contributions to beetle population dynamics with empirical studies and models. This research program brings new insights from behavioural ecology to better understand bark beetle ecology, a key taxon affecting Canada's forests. This work is critical for anticipating the effects of bark beetles and other forest insects in a changing climate.