Multiscale Management:

Mountain pine beetle

infestation of lodgepole
pine in areas of water
diversion

By Erika Wright
Brief Context:
•This study was conducted to establish if there is any connection
between water diversions and the infestation of mountain pine
beetles in lodgepole pine trees
•Mountain pine beetles are rapidly killing lodgepole pines
throughout the Western USA
•Droughts in areas can affect the resin properties within the
trees which decreases the resistance of infestations that can
happen to the trees.
•Water diversion projects transport water out of basins by
means of dams, canals, and pipelines. Many systems in
Colorado transport water to the western side of the Continental
divide to the east side.
•Diversions can change the habitat of streams; This includes
reducing the water flow, barriers to wildlife, increased water
temperature, and different species populations dependent on
the stream ecosystem
•Main Question: Any connection between water diversions and
the infestation of mountain pine beetles in lodgepole pine
trees?
Scale of
Study Area
• Arapahoe National Forest
in Grand County,
Colorado
• Ground surveys covered
33.8 kilometers
• Three sites were
established to be the
study area
• Site A was centered
around a dam
• Site B and C were
centered around
canals
• 14 plots were
formed across the A,
B, and C sites.
 • The diversions in the area were
categorized using a digital camera
and GPS unit.
• The elevation, aspect, and location
was measured by GPS
• Trees below and above diversions
were measured for mountain pine
beetle infestation by finding bore or
exit holes as well as debris at the
base of the tree from boring –
measured trees were marked by
chalk so they wouldn’t be measured
again
• (1 - alive, not attacked), trees with
indicators and a majority of green
needles (2 – attacked but alive),
trees with indicators and majority or
entirety of brown or missing needles
(3 - beetle-killed), trees dead from

Methodology
indeterminate or non-MPB cause (4
- dead)
 Conclusions
• Data didn’t fit a normal distribution, couldn't take on the
assumption of a parametric test. Tests performed using
Minitab 16. The non-parametric tests that were used
were the Mann-Whitney, cross-tabulation with chi-
square and Fisher’s exact test

•The authors then reclassified the tree data to non-MPB-

attacked or MPB-attacked to look closer at the trees
attacked versus non attacked
•Results of the Fisher’s exact test was p < 0.001. This
means that there was a big strength of the correlation of
the data, and that there seemed to be a big difference in
above and below diversions
•Results showed that overall there were higher mountain
pine beetle infestation below diversions
•44.3% higher proportion of the non-attacked lodgepole
pines above the diversions
•36.4% higher proportion of the killed trees below the
diversions
Conclusions/Reccomendations

• The methods were satisfactory because the researcher seemed to get consistent results in
her data. Her results showed that there were higher percentages of mountain pine beetle
infestations, either attacked of killed, below diversions.
• The author did note some problems in the reliability of the statistical test; mentioned that
some classes contained fewer data which could affect the reliability
• Analysis be improved by possible executing a larger study area in different areas across the
USA and Canada.
• This paper is a great study for other scientists to study more about Mountain Pine Beetles
and prevention measures they can take with diversions in mind.
•Other scientists might find this article helpful when placing diversions to slow the spread and
attack of the beetles
Important Take Home
Messages
• Statistical tests observed a
high correlation between
the attacked and killed
trees on areas below
diversion
• Mountain Pine Beetles
affect the environment on
multiple scales, and this
study helps examine how
they interact with trees
above and below water
diversions
• More research should be
done on ways to
sustainably allow
diversions in places to
prevent attack from
mountain pine beetles
across the Rocky
Mountains
Citation
•Smolinski, Sharon & Anthamatten, Peter & Bruederle, Leo & Barbour, Jon & Chambers, Frederick.
(2014). Mountain pine beetle infestation of lodgepole pine in areas of water diversion. Journal of
Environmental Management. 139. 32–37. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.02.034.