Expected Timber-Based Economic Impacts of a Wood-Boring Beetle (Acanthotomicus Sp.) That Kills American Sweetgum

The Global Forest Health Crisis: A Public-Good Social Dilemma in Need of International Collective Action

Society is confronted by interconnected threats to ecological sustainability. Among these is the devastation of forests by destructive non-native pathogens and insects introduced through global trade, leading to the loss of critical ecosystem services and a global forest health crisis. We argue that the forest health crisis is a public-good social dilemma and propose a response framework that incorporates principles of collective action. This framework enables scientists to better engage policymakers and empowers the public to advocate for proactive biosecurity and forest health management. Collective action in forest health features broadly inclusive stakeholder engagement to build trust and set goals; accountability for destructive pest introductions; pooled support for weakest-link partners; and inclusion of intrinsic and nonmarket values of forest ecosystems in risk assessment. We provide short-term and longer-term measures that incorporate the above principles to shift the societal and ecological forest health paradigm to a more resilient state.

The Sweetgum Inscriber, Acanthotomicus suncei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Reared on Artificial Diets and American Sweetgum Logs

The sweetgum inscriber, Acanthotomicus suncei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a recently discovered pest of American sweetgum planted in China, with a potential for causing a devastating invasion into North America. Research on the beetle has been hampered by a dwindling access to breeding material. We tested the effect of four artificial diets on A. suncei's developmental time, length and weight of adults, egg hatching rate, pupation rate, and eclosion rate. Additionally, we evaluated the same parameters on A. suncei reared on American sweetgum logs. Only one diet supported the full development of A. suncei after 30 d. Beetles reared on this diet, which was made of small quantities of agar and additives (i.e., inositol, potassium sorbate, and methylparaben), supported the shortest developmental time of 45.55 ± 1.24 d. Beetles reared on American sweetgum logs exhibited a longer developmental time of 59.52 ± 4.52 d. Beetles reared on the artificial diet were markedly bigger and heavier than those reared on American sweetgum logs (p < 0.01). The egg hatching rate (58.90% ± 6.80%) and eclosion rate (86.50% ± 4.69%) of A. suncei on the artificial diet were significantly greater than those on sweetgum logs. However, the pupation rate (38.60% ± 8.36%) was much lower on the artificial diet than on the sweetgum logs. Here, we reported the best artificial diet for A. suncei and discuss the advantages and disadvantages over rearing the beetle on American sweetgum logs.

Integrating policy to achieve a harmonized sustainability model: A multidisciplinary synthesis and conceptual framework

While the concept of environmental sustainability has steadily grown over the past thirty years, little progress has been made in unifying the efforts of the entities most involved: society, the environment, the economy, and governmental policy. This synthesis integrates across disciplines to outline the need for a harmonized sustainability model to align disparate environmental objectives. Specifically, this study highlights the disconnect between policy and capitalistic economies regarding environmental sustainability. We then provide a framework for an updated sustainability model and offer pathways toward an improved state of environmental sustainability. Notable contributions include the development of a dynamic, harmonized sustainability model derived from basic supply and demand curves that functions for both the consumption and disposal of resources at multiple scales.

Preinvasion Assessment of Exotic Bark Beetle-Vectored Fungi to Detect Tree-Killing Pathogens

Exotic diseases and pests of trees have caused continental-scale disturbances in forest ecosystems and industries, and their invasions are considered largely unpredictable. We tested the concept of preinvasion assessment of not yet invasive organisms, which enables empirical risk assessment of potential invasion and impact. Our example assesses fungi associated with Old World bark and ambrosia beetles and their potential to impact North American trees. We selected 55 Asian and European scolytine beetle species using host use, economic, and regulatory criteria. We isolated 111 of their most consistent fungal associates and tested their effect on four important southeastern American pine and oak species. Our test dataset found no highly virulent pathogens that should be classified as an imminent threat. Twenty-two fungal species were minor pathogens, which may require context-dependent response for their vectors at North American borders, while most of the tested fungi displayed no significant impact. Our results are significant in three ways; they ease the concerns over multiple overseas fungus vectors suspected of heightened potential risk, they provide a basis for the focus on the prevention of introduction and establishment of species that may be of consequence, and they demonstrate that preinvasion assessment, if scaled up, can support practical risk assessment of exotic pathogens.

Estimating Potential Distribution of Sweetgum Pest Acanthotomicus suncei and Potential Economic Losses in Nursery Stock and Urban Areas in China

Simple Summary

American sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua (Altingiaceae) was introduced to China over 60 years ago. It is an important tree species for increasing landscape value and promoting afforestation in urbanized areas of eastern China in the past 20 years. Sweetgum inscriber Acanthotomicus suncei is a local bark beetle pest and lethal to the introduced American sweetgum. To estimate the potential economic losses caused by the sweetgum inscriber, we survey the beetles’ natural distribution in China. Based on field collections, potential distribution was predicted. Nurseries stocking American sweetgum were found in the high suitability area of this pest. Additionally, we predict the direct loss incorporating tree and removal cost. A questionnaire was sent to maintenance companies, growers, and gardener associations for tree removal prices. In addition, the market price and inventory were also gained from telephone interview. Our economic analysis indicates that if sweetgum inscriber were to become established in the main American sweetgum business, the potential losses of nursery stock and urban area could range from USD 12.81 to 14.41 million. The results will serve as a baseline measure to control urban forest pests.

Abstract

American sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua (Altingiaceae) was first introduced to China over 60 years ago. It is an important tree species for increasing landscape value and promoting afforestation in urbanized areas of eastern China in the past 20 years. Sweetgum inscriber Acanthotomicus suncei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a local bark beetle pest and lethal to the introduced American sweetgum. To provide preliminary estimates of the potential economic losses caused by the sweetgum inscriber, a field investigation was conducted to survey the beetles’ natural distribution in China. Based on field collections, potential distribution was predicted using Maxent. All nurseries stocking American sweetgum were in the high and very high suitability area of sweetgum inscriber. Additionally, we employed a model of direct loss incorporating tree and removal cost. A questionnaire was sent to maintenance companies, growers, and gardener associations for tree removal prices. We estimated the removal cost of each tree. In addition, the market price and inventory were also gained from telephone interview. Our economic analysis indicates that if sweetgum inscriber were to become established in the main American sweetgum business, the potential losses of nursery stock and urban area could range from USD 12.81 to 14.41 million.

Peering into the Cuba phytosanitary black box: An institutional and policy analysis

To mitigate the movement of non-native organisms with trade, phytosanitary systems have been implemented within and between countries. In some countries such as Cuba, little is known about the within-state plant health system. To facilitate the development of future trade partnership between Cuba and the United States, agencies need to understand the organizational structure and diagnostic capacity of the Cuban Plant Protection System, identify potential synergies between the United States and Cuban systems, and identify steps towards cooperation. This paper fills this critical void by presenting a descriptive analysis of the plant health system in Cuba. Information was integrated from available literature, informal interviews with Cuban experts, and workshops focused on Cuban policies, risk, and potential collaboration attended by Cuban and American experts. We identify the next practical steps in improving cooperation, including building trust and capacity. Mutual understanding of phytosanitary systems will be crucial for the regional economic and environmental stability of a post-embargo United States-Cuban relationship.

National Trade can Drive Range Expansion of Bark- and Wood-Boring Beetles

Several native species of bark- and wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera) have expanded their range within their native biogeographic regions in the last years, but the role of human activity in driving this phenomenon has been underinvestigated. Here we analyze 3 yr of trapping records of native bark- and wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae and Scolytinae) collected at 12 Italian ports and their surrounding forests to help elucidate the human role in the movement of native species within their native biogeographic region. We trapped several species that occurred either inside or outside their native distributional range within Italy. Species richness and abundance of those species found in the ports located within their native range were most strongly associated with the amount of forest cover in the surrounding landscape, suggesting that they could have arrived in the ports from the nearby forests. The abundance of the species found outside their native range was instead most strongly linked to the amount of national imports arriving at the port where trapping occurred, suggesting that they were likely introduced to the ports from other parts of Italy. This study demonstrates that national sea transportation can favor species range expansion within a country, and confirms that the forests that surround ports can serve as a source of species that can be potentially moved with exports.