Mountain Pine Beetle Mania
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Mountain Pine Beetle mania A Junior High Science Resource Mountain Pine Beetle mania Resource Authors: John Cunnian, Inside Education Erin Gluck, Inside Education Steve McIsaac, Inside Education Resource Design: Kristin Manchakowski Technical Review: Mountain Pine Beetle Strategic Direction Council (See page 26 for contact information.) Inside Education www.insideeducation.ca [email protected] P: 780-421-1497 Th is teaching resource is supported by: Parks Canada Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Alberta Community Development Hinton Wood Products - A Division of West Fraser Mills Ltd. Spray Lake Sawmills With additional support from: Alberta Newsprint Company Canfor Sundance Forest Industries Ltd. Weyerhaeuser Mountain Pine Beetle Curriculum Connections: Key Messages: Th is resource was designed to bring the biology and • Th e mountain pine beetle is a naturally occurring issues surrounding the mountain pine beetle into the insect found in pine forests in the southern Rocky spotlight for junior high science students in Alberta. Mountains and in areas west of the Continental Th e major curriculum connections are as follows: Divide; however, it has not historically occurred in the northeastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. An Alberta Grade 7 Science Unit A: abundance of mature pine forests as a result of many Interactions & Ecosystems years of wildfi re suppression and milder winters have combined to enable the expansion of mountain pine Alberta Grade 7 Science Unit B: beetle into large tracts of pine forest — prime beetle Plants for Food & Fibre habitat. Alberta Grade 8 Science Unit B: • Th ere are a variety of diff erent groups concerned Cells & Systems about managing the mountain pine beetle. All Alberta Grade 9 Science Unit A: of these groups have the same goal of a healthy Biological Diversity forest, but each group may have diff erent ideas on Alberta Grade 9 Science Unit C: the methods needed to manage the beetle that fi t Environmental Chemistry with their own land management objectives. Th ese methods include: prescribed burning, cut and burn and cut and peel harvesting, development of fuel Other connections in the Alberta junior high breaks, individual tree removal, thinning of highly curriculum include the Junior High susceptible stands and earlier harvesting of high-risk Environmental & Outdoor Education and forest areas already designated for harvest. Career and Technology Studies (Forestry, • Th e Alberta government, federal government and Wildlife strands) programs. the forest industry are working cooperatively at a regional scale to monitor and deal with mountain British Columbia students may benefi t from the pine beetle infestations in Alberta in order to protect resource as well. Applicable science curriculum forest health, recreational opportunities, enhance connections include: wildlife habitat and reduce forest fuels. British Columbia Grade 7 Life Science Unit: Ecosystems British Columbia Grade 8 Life Science Unit: Global Ecosystems British Columbia Grade 8 Life Science Unit: Diversity Mountain Pine Beetle Table of Contents Total classroom time to complete unit: 7 periods What is the Mountain Pine Beetle? (A Primer for Teachers & Students)........ Page 1 Glossary of Terms............................................................................................. Page 5 Extension Activity............................................................................................. Page 7 Beetle Doodle.................................................................................................... Page 8 5 minutes - end of each class Evaluation Rubric for Beetle Doodle................................................................ Page 8 What do You Know About the Mountain Pine Beetle? (Pre- & Post-Survey).. Page 9 30-60 minutes Th e Rise and Fall of the Mountain Pine Beetle................................................ Page 11 60 minutes Examining Epidemics....................................................................................... Page 15 45-60 minutes What’s the Problem?......................................................................................... Page 18 45 minutes 60 minutes Part 1&2 Stopping the Spread.......................................................................................... Page 20 60 minutes Part 3 Evaluation Rubric for Stopping the Spread Town Hall Meeting..................... Page 24 20 minutes Pine Beetle Squares Wrap-Up Activity............................................................. Page 25 Mountain Pine Beetle Websites........................................................................ Page 27 Mountain Pine Beetle Strategic Direction Council Information Page.................. Page 27 Mountain Pine Beetle What is the Mountain Pine Beetle? A Primer for Teachers & Students If you have been following the news in British Usually the larvae over-winter in the tree, develop into Columbia and ever-increasingly in Alberta, you may pupae and in the summer emerge as adult beetles. Th ey have heard of a very small (usually less than 1 cm long), then exit the tree to fi nd another pine tree host, and yet very important insect: the mountain pine beetle. the cycle continues. Th e eggs of one beetle can produce Th e mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) is enough beetles to colonize 15 more trees! a forest insect found in the southern Rocky Mountains Generally, the life cycle of the mountain pine beetle is and in areas west of the Continental Divide; however, as follows: until recently it had not occurred in the northeastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Mountain pine beetle life cycle Canadian Forest Service Adult mountain pine beetle Th is cycle is usually one year, but may take two years to complete if conditions are not favourable (e.g. rainy Because it is a bark beetle, the majority of its life cycle summers, cool summers, high altitudes). is spent under the outer bark of mature pine trees – in British Columbia and Alberta that mostly means What Role Does it Play in the Forest? lodgepole pine trees (Pinus contorta var. latifolia). Th e mountain pine beetle (MPB) prefers mature large Adult female beetles bore into the inner bark called pine trees and can kill them within one year of attack. the phloem. Th ey create j-shaped vertical galleries into By selecting aging, stressed, large pine trees, the beetle which eggs are laid. Th e eggs mature and develop into plays a role in helping to renew the forest through a larvae. Th e larvae tunnel away from the egg galleries. process called succession. Succession is the term used to describe the process by which a forest originates, grows and changes over time. Initially, the dead trees provide food and shelter for other species. Eventually, the nutrients of the trees are broken down and returned to the soil. By removing the larger trees, more light and space are available for young trees to grow. Th e MPB is also a food source for some bird, mammal and other insect species. In particular, woodpeckers have adapted to fi nd and eat bark beetles under the bark. How do Bark Beetles Kill a Tree? Mountain pine beetle Once a female beetle colonizes a new host tree, she larva galleries releases pheromones that attract other female and male beetles to the tree – meaning a successful MPB colonization always involves many more than one Words appearing in bold can be found in the glossary pgs. 5-6 beetle. Th e sharp mouthparts of the adult mountain pinepine beetlebeetle areare ideallyideally suitedsuited forfor boringboring tthroughhrough tthehe 1 Mountain Pine Beetle mania What is the Mountain Pine Beetle? cont’d bark to make the long, vertical galleries where the eggs defense against the MPB is to try to “pitch” the are laid. It is also those mouthparts that carry blue stain beetle out of the tree by a fl ow of sap or pitch. fungus (their body carries it too). Blue stain fungal Sometimes the tree can successfully get rid of the spores clog up the tree’s water-conducting vessels, or beetles before the gallery is completed and before xylem. major damage has occurred. Th ese trees will not usually die. In addition, the larvae cause even more direct feeding • Round exit holes where the adult beetles have left damage than the adults. Th ey tunnel horizontal the tree the following year will also be evident galleries around the tree. Th ese galleriesgirdle the tree and disrupt the phloem layer. Th e phloem is important • Boring sawdust found in bark crevices and around because it transports nutrients throughout the tree. By the base of the tree disrupting both the xylem and phloem of pine trees, • An abundance of woodpecker evidence (fl aked off the MPB larvae and their accompanying blue stain bark, especially) can also indicate a colonized tree fungus make a deadly combination. Th e girdling of the tree and cutting off nutrient fl ow in the phloem layer is Under the Outer Bark what causes the tree to die so quickly – within one year • Egg galleries (j-shaped and up to 41 cm long) under of colonization, in most cases. the bark, beginning above the entrance holes and running along the grain of the wood • Larval galleries girdling around the tree • Presence of eggs, larvae, pupae and/or beetles • Greyish blue sapwood caused by blue stain fungi carried by the beetles So What Has Changed? Normally, MPB populations are kept in check by natural factors such as predators, parasites, wet summers, and early, cold winters (-30 oC