A review and synthesis of the effects of unsalvaged mountain-pine-beetle-attacked stands on wildlife and implications for forest management

Abstract

The mountain pine beetle epidemic has dramatically altered lodgepole pine forests in British Columbia, with potentially profound effects on wildlife and wildlife habitats. Forest managers should understand the nature of these effects so that they can incorporate ecological considerations when managing stands after beetle attack. This paper summarizes the processes by which the mountain pine beetle affect wildlife and wildlife habitats, and the factors that dictate the nature of these effects. Factors that affect the ecological legacy of unharvested, beetle-attacked stands include time since infestation, the type and amount of remaining live vegetation, ecosystem type, and surrounding landscape characteristics.