Infection levels of pathogens in the European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) at managed and unmanaged forest locations: a meta-data analysis

Abstract

Abstract Forest management greatly affects the population density of the European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus. In this study, a meta-analysis was used to determine whether infection levels of pathogens of I. typographus differ between managed and unmanaged spruce stands. The analysis used data from 10 publications and a total of 61 locations. The results indicated that infection levels of the most common pathogens (ItEPV, Gregarina typographi, and Mattesia schwenkei) are higher in unmanaged than in managed locations. The only exception is the microsporidium Chytridiopsis typographi, which is more common in managed than in unmanaged locations. Our meta-analysis indicates that pathogen levels are generally higher in unmanaged than in managed locations.