In many insects, variation in temperature-dependent developmental rates, life cycle timing and long-distance dispersal provide the capacity to track rapidly changing climatic conditions (Bale et al., 2002). Long-term selective herbivore pressure and exaptation of traits for tree longevity are potential explanations, highlighting the complexity of predicting plant–insect interactions under climate change.Ī well-documented consequence of recent climatic change is alteration in the geographic ranges of species (Lenoir et al., 2008 Mason et al., 2015), often causing complex, cascading, negative effects on biodiversity and community dynamics in newly invaded ecosystems (Forister et al., 2010). GB bristlecone and foxtail pines have relatively high levels of constitutive defenses which make them less vulnerable to climate-driven MPB range expansion relative to other high-elevation pines.Defense traits, including constitutive monoterpenes, resin ducts and wood density, were higher in GB bristlecone and foxtail than in limber pine. MPB-caused mortality was extensive in limber, low in foxtail and absent in GB bristlecone pine.We surveyed stands with sympatric GB bristlecone–limber pine and foxtail–limber pine to determine relative MPB attack susceptibility and constitutive defenses.Defense and susceptibility in two long-lived species, GB bristlecone pine ( Pinus longaeva) and foxtail pine ( P. balfouriana), are unclear, although they are sympatric with a common MPB host, limber pine ( P. flexilis). MPB was recently observed in high-elevation forests of the Great Basin (GB) region, North America. Pinus defenses in recently invaded areas, including high elevations, are predicted to be lower than in areas with longer term MPB presence. Mountain pine beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae) is a significant mortality agent of Pinus, and climate-driven range expansion is occurring.
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