POSSIBLE TITLE:

AN ARTIFICIAL MICROCLIMATE FOREST SECLUDING BARK BEETLES

RATIONALE:

- to propose a possible solution which can address the infestation of pine trees in Camp John
Hay by means of an artificial microclimate ecosystem which secludes the bark beetles from a healthy
pine trees and other inhabitant trees.

- __________________ nayunan _______________

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

- the study is expected to generate satisfactory findings and information on the following
aspects; land use, economical as well as social profits.

INTRODUCTION:

Forests need to be managed so that the risks and impacts of unwanted

disturbances are minimized. Measures to protect forests from insect pests and
diseases are an integral part of sustainable forest management. The
importance of considering the impacts of insect pests and diseases on forests
and the forest sector has been recognized for some time. Effective pest
management requires reliable information – information on the pests
themselves, their biology, ecology, and distribution, their impacts on forest
ecosystems and possible methods of control. Typically more information is
available on pests of trees in industrialized rather than non-industrialized
countries and also for pests of trees grown in commercially valuable planted
forests (which include plantation forests and planted semi-natural forests)
compared to pests in naturally regenerated forests. Virtually nothing is known
of the pests associated with those trees harvested from naturally regenerated
forests, at least in the tropics Corley & Jervis (2012). Infestation of forest trees
are becoming more alarming causing turmoil in any academic fields.
Most infestation of trees are associated with the combined attack of fungus,
and insects namely bark beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and the over
decaying of trees. Bark beetles play an important role in forest ecology, for
example, by creating complex early successional forests. Infestations can have
significant economic impact. In undisturbed forests, bark beetles serve the
purpose of hastening the recycling and decomposition of dead and dying wood
and renewing the forest. According to research, pine bark beetles are attracted
to pine trees by smelling the trees sap. Though most trees will emit small
amounts of sap naturally, trees which sustain injury due to man or nature are
more likely to get beetle activity. Two features tend to make certain tree hosts
vulnerable to being attacked: 1) the tree species smell like freshly dead trees
to the beetles even if they are perfectly healthy, and 2) the immune system of
the tree over-reacts to the presence of the strange new fungus, to the point that
the tree kills itself Hulcr & Dunn (2011). With these mentioned, bark beetles
 attack trees which are dead, rotten and has a decaying structure. And also, a
warm atmosphere is an ideal place for bark beetles to colonize.
In line with these, Camp John Hay, a luxurious tourist spot, is one of a
places with an abundant resource of pine trees who is experiencing infestation
brought by the bark beetles. Assessment and further studies were conducted
to evaluate the current situation, however, a remarkable solution is yet be
introduced.
A plausible solution to address the problem is to alienate the bark beetles
to an artificial microclimate environment that is secluded to the healthy
ecosystem. The microclimate structure is in the form similar to that of a
greenhouse having an ecosystem consisting of decaying trees and an ideal
temperature to bark beetles. A second layer is also constructed, wherein, the
temperature is dropped to where bark beetles are most susceptible with.
Methods:

References:

Bark beetle (2019), Bark beetle retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark_beetle

Hulcr & Dunn (2011) The sudden emergence of pathogenicity in insect-fungus symbioses threatens naive
forest ecosystems. Proceedings of the Royal Society B- Biological Sciences (in press). Retrieved from:
http://www.ambrosiasymbiosis.org/ambrosia-beetles/importance/