Koprowski, J. L., M. I. Alanen, and A. M. Lynch. 2005. Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide: Response of endemic Mt. Graham red squirels to catastrophic forest damage. Biological Conservation 126: 491-498.

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:16:00 +0000

Authors

John L. Koprowski

Marit I. Alanen

Ann M. Lynch

A consequence of isolation is increased susceptibility to catastrophe. Insect damage to fragmented and isolated forests has the potential to serve as a catastrophic force; such damage has increased worldwide due to climate change and fire suppression policies. We examined the response of endangered endemic Mt. Graham red squirrels to catastrophic insect damage due to moths, beetles, and introduced aphids. Insects changed the forest environment significantly for the endemic squirrel by reducing basal area and stem densities of live stems, while increasing number and basal area of standing dead stems. Availability of two major foods, fungi and tree seeds, declined in insect-damaged forests relative to trends in undamaged forests. Numbers of Mt. Graham red squirrels declined precipitously in insect-damaged forests suggesting a catastrophe. Conservation options are limited in such situations. Forest-insect induced catastrophes are likely to become more common in the near future as forest health declines due to past management tactics and climate change. Prudent conservation measures include the anticipation of insect outbreaks and effective forest treatments to decrease likelihood of such catastrophes to species of precarious conservation status, while avoiding abrupt changes to critical habitat.

Additional Information

Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide: Response of endemic Mt. Graham red squirrels to catastrophic forest damage

Date of publication:

2005

Topics

bark beetle

aphid

forest health

climate change

Arizona

Mount Graham Red Squirrel

insect-damage

conservation.arizona.edu - bark beetle

Koprowski, J. L., M. I. Alanen, and A. M. Lynch. 2005. Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide: Response of endemic Mt. Graham red squirels to catastrophic forest damage. Biological Conservation 126: 491-498.

Authors

Additional Information

Topics