At the 2012 Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program workshop, hosted by the Foothills Research Institute, Maya Evenden presented some results from ongoing research related to drought. Mountain Pine Beetles moving into Alberta from BC will encounter different species of tree, as well as very different climate conditions, specifically much drier weather. This study looks at how drought affects mountain pine beetle activity by evaluating the chemical profiles of trees in different states of health, and how beetles react to them. Beetles are shown to have a higher fat content (a sign of health) after living in water-defecit trees.
Additional research looked at the dispersal capacity of beetles, and the relationships between sex, age and weight on flight distance.
Dr. Maya Evenden is Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta.
