The aggressive infestation that took hold in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in 2016 has now spread north. (via AlaskaBeacon)
A spruce, with rust-red coloring that is the usual result of beetle infestation, is seen on July 7 on the Mount Healy Overlook Trail in the front country of Denali National Park and Preserve. The beetle infestation that hit the Matanuska-Susitna Borough hard starting in about 2016 has spread north and reached the national park.
Spruce beetles are native to Alaska, and they can be found throughout the spruce, birch and aspen region known as the boreal forest, albeit in small numbers in the very far north. They bore through the bark of spruce trees, mostly white spruce, to eat and breed in the soft tissue underneath. Since that soft tissue is critical to the trees’ survival, the presence of beetles inevitably kills trees.
“The Park Service is not really in the business of messing with the native processes. In fact you can say that’s what we’re trying to preserve,” said Sarah Stehn, a park fire ecologist.Rather than try to hold back the wave, Denali scientists and managers intend to watch closely as it spreads over the next several years.
As to whether the northward beetle spread is a good or bad thing, park scientists are, to some degree, withholding judgment. For people visiting the park and those living in the communities near it, the sweep of beetle infestations and dead trees can be concerning, Roland and Stehn said. Park rangers are gearing up to answer more visitor questions over the next few years as the infestation progresses.A more tangible concern for park managers are what Roland called “hazard trees” that are at risk of toppling over on heavily used areas like campsites.
The record of temperatures at the Denali National Park and Preserve headquarters shows that minus-40 degree readings, once normal, have not occurred since 2012. Jason Moan, the forest health program manager for the Alaska Division of Forestry, has tracked the beetles for several years. He noted that their relationship to temperature and climate change is multifaceted, complex and sometimes hyper-localized.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Stricter trash pickup times lead to surge in NYC tickets, 28,000 over 4 monthsIn the past four months, the Sanitation Department issued more than 28,337 tickets across the five boroughs to people and businesses who don’t heed the new trash bag setout times of 8 p.m., according to city data.
Baca lebih lajut »
North Korea and China share ‘comradeship written with blood,’ Xi tells Kim in official letterThe Chinese Communist Party delegation to North Korea presented a letter to leader Kim Jong Un from President Xi Jinping affirming their 'comradeship written with blood'
Baca lebih lajut »
Police need help identifying teens that robbed, assaulted 14-year-old in north PhoenixPolice are asking for help identifying four teenagers that reportedly assaulted and robbed a 14-year-old in north Phoenix in late May.
Baca lebih lajut »