Research Examines Shelf Life of Beetle-Infected Trees
August 24, 2006
Research conducted at the University of Northern
British Columbia has quantified the significant
decline in wood quality in trees killed by the mountain pine beetle. The
research was funded by the Government of Canada’s Mountain Pine Beetle
Initiative and is one of the first studies that focus on the rate of
deterioration and fall of lodgepole pine infected by the beetle in British Columbia.
Led by UNBC Forestry professor Kathy Lewis (pictured at left), the
research team has determined that the greatest changes in wood quality occur
within the first two years of mortality. These changes include significant
declines in wood moisture accompanied by a large increase in the prevalence of
blue stain, the number and depth of cracks in the wood, and rot at the
base. After this initial decline in wood
quality, however, there is only minor additional degradation before the tree
falls down. Actual tree fall appears to
occur later in central BC ( > 10 years) than in other areas where pine
beetle research has been conducted. Researchers examined a total of 450 dead trees located in
various areas southwest of Prince
George. By
analyzing tree rings, the sample trees were cross-dated against live trees to precisely
determine their year of mortality.
“To reduce the impacts of the current and future
mountain pine beetle outbreaks, it’s important to know the relationship between
time-since-death and the factors that affect wood quality,” says Dr. Lewis., a 1996 BC Forester of the Year
award recipient. “We’re not saying that
after two years the wood is of no use, but the changes in wood quality affect
the range of wood products that can be manufactured and the technologies used for
production. This information is vital to planning the timing and distribution
of salvage harvesting operations to recover the greatest-possible value from
the wood.”
The results were announced today in Prince George at a Beetle Research Forum hosted by Natural Resources Canada. The present mountain pine beetle outbreak in the central interior of British Columbia is considered the largest outbreak ever in North America. It is affecting an area in excess of 8.5 million hectares.
The results were announced today in Prince George at a Beetle Research Forum hosted by Natural Resources Canada. The present mountain pine beetle outbreak in the central interior of British Columbia is considered the largest outbreak ever in North America. It is affecting an area in excess of 8.5 million hectares.
Contact:
Kathy Lewis, Forestry professor, UNBC - 250.960.6659
Doug Thompson, Researcher, UNBC - 250.960.6807
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622