![]() NPS Illustration / M. Perez Spruce beetles have lived in the Denali area for a long time, causing death of individual and patches of spruce trees now and again. However, with large numbers of beetles causing many trees to die in just a few years, one may be concerned about the health of the forest. However, spruce is just one part of the forest. Forests to the north are more spatially patchy, contain more black spruce, and generally grow slower than those in the south. It may become more difficult for spruce beetles to locate and infest suitable host trees. Additionally, beetles may struggle to keep their population high with more frequent extreme cold temperatures (e.g., 40 below zero). To understand nature, is to be observant and accept all outcomes. Information here was summarized from: Roland, C., Walton, J., and Tomerlin, M. (2024). Spruce beetle monitoring project, data exploration. Preliminary results from in-progress research supported by the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program, Central Alaska Network, and Denali National Park and Preserve. Berg, E. E., Henry, J.D., Fastie, C.L., De Vodler, A.D., and S.M. Matsuoka. 2006. Spruce beetle outbreaks on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon Territory: Relationship to summer temperatures and regional differences in disturbance regimes. Forest Ecology and Management 227(3): 219-232. Matsuoka, S., Holsten, E. H., Shephard, M. E., Werner, R. A., and R. E. Burnside (eds). 2006. Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems of south-central Alaska. Special Issue, Forest Ecology and Management 227(3): 193-283. |
Last updated: April 14, 2025