Temporal variations in English populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid ('Elatobium abietinum'), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming

Angus R. Westgarth-Smith; Suzanne A.G. Leroy; Philip E.F. Collins; Richard Harrington

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001

Temporal variations in English populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid ('Elatobium abietinum'), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming

Angus R. Westgarth-Smith, Suzanne A.G. Leroy, Philip E.F. Collins, Richard Harrington

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Based on an exceptionally long modern ecological dataset (41 years), it has been possible to show that warm weather in England associated with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index causes the spring migration of the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), a pest species of spruce trees (Picea) to start earlier, continue for longer and contain more aphids. An upward trend in the NAO index during the period 1966-2006 is associated with an increasing population size of E. abietinum. It is important to understand the mechanisms behind the population fluctuations, because this aphid causes considerable damage to Picea plantations. Present day weather-associated fluctuations in forest insect pests may be useful analogues in understanding past pest outbreaks in forests.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	153-160
Journal	Quaternary International
Volume	173-4
Early online date	24 May 2007
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001
Publication status	Published - 30 Nov 2007

Bibliographical note

Note: This research was supported by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the UK and Lawes Agricultural Trust.

Keywords

Biological sciences

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10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001

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title = "Temporal variations in English populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid ('Elatobium abietinum'), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming",

abstract = "Based on an exceptionally long modern ecological dataset (41 years), it has been possible to show that warm weather in England associated with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index causes the spring migration of the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), a pest species of spruce trees (Picea) to start earlier, continue for longer and contain more aphids. An upward trend in the NAO index during the period 1966-2006 is associated with an increasing population size of E. abietinum. It is important to understand the mechanisms behind the population fluctuations, because this aphid causes considerable damage to Picea plantations. Present day weather-associated fluctuations in forest insect pests may be useful analogues in understanding past pest outbreaks in forests.",

keywords = "Biological sciences",

author = "Westgarth-Smith, \{Angus R.\} and Leroy, \{Suzanne A.G.\} and Collins, \{Philip E.F.\} and Richard Harrington",

note = "Note: This research was supported by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the UK and Lawes Agricultural Trust.",

year = "2007",

month = nov,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001",

language = "English",

volume = "173-4",

pages = "153--160",

journal = "Quaternary International",

issn = "1040-6182",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

Temporal variations in English populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid ('Elatobium abietinum'), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming. / Westgarth-Smith, Angus R.; Leroy, Suzanne A.G.; Collins, Philip E.F. et al.
In: Quaternary International, Vol. 173-4, 30.11.2007, p. 153-160.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Temporal variations in English populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid ('Elatobium abietinum'), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming

AU - Westgarth-Smith, Angus R.

AU - Leroy, Suzanne A.G.

AU - Collins, Philip E.F.

AU - Harrington, Richard

N1 - Note: This research was supported by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the UK and Lawes Agricultural Trust.

PY - 2007/11/30

Y1 - 2007/11/30

N2 - Based on an exceptionally long modern ecological dataset (41 years), it has been possible to show that warm weather in England associated with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index causes the spring migration of the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), a pest species of spruce trees (Picea) to start earlier, continue for longer and contain more aphids. An upward trend in the NAO index during the period 1966-2006 is associated with an increasing population size of E. abietinum. It is important to understand the mechanisms behind the population fluctuations, because this aphid causes considerable damage to Picea plantations. Present day weather-associated fluctuations in forest insect pests may be useful analogues in understanding past pest outbreaks in forests.

AB - Based on an exceptionally long modern ecological dataset (41 years), it has been possible to show that warm weather in England associated with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index causes the spring migration of the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), a pest species of spruce trees (Picea) to start earlier, continue for longer and contain more aphids. An upward trend in the NAO index during the period 1966-2006 is associated with an increasing population size of E. abietinum. It is important to understand the mechanisms behind the population fluctuations, because this aphid causes considerable damage to Picea plantations. Present day weather-associated fluctuations in forest insect pests may be useful analogues in understanding past pest outbreaks in forests.

KW - Biological sciences

U2 - 10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001

DO - 10.1016/j.quaint.2007.05.001

M3 - Article

SN - 1040-6182

VL - 173-4

SP - 153

EP - 160

JO - Quaternary International

JF - Quaternary International

ER -

Temporal variations in English populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid ('Elatobium abietinum'), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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