Date of Award
Spring 2025
Project Type
Dissertation
Program or Major
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
First Advisor
Jeff Garnas
Second Advisor
Matthew Ayres
Third Advisor
Jessica Bolker
Abstract
Climate change is shifting species distributions. In New England, warmer winters allow southern species to survive further north. The northward range expansion of the tree-killing southern pine beetle is the focus of this dissertation. Outbreaks of this beetle cause both ecological and economic damage, which threaten the globally rare pine barrens ecosystem. I used an interdisciplinary approach to study this insect: 1) I synthesized literature on the beetle’s natural enemies; 2) I used a suite of chemical attractants to investigate the insect community attracted to the beetle’s pheromones and assessed the diversity and abundance of its potential predators; 3) I employed and assessed hyperspectral remote sensing for detecting trees attacked by the beetle; and 4) I evaluated the risk of beetle outbreaks in northeastern National Parks, integrating multiple forestry techniques. Ultimately, this work will provide critical information to support natural resource managers’ decision-making in a rapidly changing climate.
Recommended Citation
Kanaskie, Caroline Rachel, "Responding to range expansion: Assessing insect communities, tree decline symptoms, and tree mortality risk as the southern pine beetle moves north" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations. 2920.
https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/2920