Susceptibility of white spruce to attack by spruce beetles during the early years of an outbreak in Alaska

Abstract

Twenty-five variable sample plots were examined in mature white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) stands, in southcentral Alaska. These stands, located in the Canyon Creek – Quartz Creek valley on the Kenai Peninsula, have been infested by spruce beetle, Dendroctonusrufipennis (Kirby), since 1978. Diameter was not an important criterion for spruce susceptibility to attack or death unless large diameter was coupled with slower than average radial growth in the last 5 years, an apparent indicator of current tree vigor. A sigmoid transformation of percent mortality of spruce was inversely related to the logarithm of mean cumulative radial growth of spruce in the last 5 years and was directly related to number of spruce per hectare greater than 24.1 cm in diameter. This relationship is portrayed graphically as a rudimentary stand hazard rating model.