Canadian Forest Service Publications
Forest insect- and disease-caused impacts to timber resources of west-central Canada: 1988-1992. 1995. Brandt, J.P. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northwest Region, Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, Alberta. Information Report NOR-X-341.
Year: 1995
Issued by: Northern Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 11634
Language: English
Series: Information Report (NoFC - Edmonton)
Availability: Order paper copy (free), PDF (download)
Abstract
Methods were developed to calculate the impacts caused by major pests to the timber resources of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. Impacts were quantified for volume losses due to growth reduction and tree mortality. Impacts were not determined for pests of young stands and for diseases caused by fungi such as needle casts and rusts, stem rusts, and cankers of conifers, and cankers of hardwoods. Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) defoliation resulted in a volume loss of 134 000 m3/year due to growth reduction and mortality. Jack pine budworm (C. pinus pinus Free.) caused a volume loss of 62 000 m3/year due to mortality. Forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) caused volume losses of 1 625 000 m3/year due to growth reduction and 2 444 000 m3/year due to mortality. Large aspen tortrix (C. conflictana [Wlk.]) caused 24 000 m3/year in growth reduction. Bruce spanworm (Operophtera bruceata [Hulst]) defoliation resulted in 163 000 m3/year in growth reduction. Neither large aspen tortrix nor Bruce spanworm caused tree mortality. Volume losses due to mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) and Douglas-fir beetle (D. pseudotsugae Hopk.) were less than 1000 m3/year. Volume loss due to spruce beetle (D. rufipennis [Kby.]) was 2000 m3/year. Lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. ex Engelm.) infestations resulted in volume losses of 170 000 m3/year due to growth reduction and 898 000 m3/year due to mortality. Wood decay volume loss was 10 726 000 m3/year. Forest insect- and disease-caused impacts to the timber resources of the study area totaled 16.2 million m3/year between 1988 and 1992.
