Comparación intercontinental de Sirex

Resumen / Abstract

Forests in the United States and around the world are being increasingly damaged by the inadvertent introductions of invasive forest pests from elsewhere. Some of the largest impacts and greatest management challenges come from the surprise pests, which are not pests in their native ecosystems. An example is the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, which is not a pest in its native Europe, but has become a very serious pest where it has been accidentally introduced in the southern hemisphere. It has recently become established in the Northeastern U.S. (adding to this regions status as a global hotspot for invasive pests), and is prompting intense discussion of potential impacts and possible management responses. This project will include international collaborations with scientists in three other countries to better understand the factors that produce highly variable abundance and impacts from this species in different ecosystems. This will permit informed management responses in the United States and elsewhere. Furthermore, the research will develop general tactic to improve capacity in the U.S. and internationally to manage the expanding threats to forests from accelerating introductions of non-native insects.