Some risks and causes of mortality in mountain pine beetle populations: A long‐term analysis

Abstract

Summary The interpretation of the probabilities presented in this paper is that none of the competing biological risks, acting in the presence of other risks, offers much, if any, regulatory influence upon a mountain pine beetle population. Consequently, if no single risk, or combination of these risks, offers much help, then the contention that mountain pine beetle populations are food‐regulated is once again strengthened ( Cole and Amman , 1969). The evidence remains (or continues) that the mountain pine beetle is food‐regulated at optimum temperature conditions and temperature‐regulated at optimum food conditions. Reducing and/or minimizing tree loss to the mountain pine beetle is thus dependent upon manipulating the food supply or management of the tree (stand) growth.