Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of insects in the dynamics of cone production of red pine

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The mortality of red pine cones was studied for several consecutive years using life tables in eight different stands in the northern Great Lakes States. Usually less than 20% of a cohort of female flowers survived to maturity. Insects were the main source of mortality and were primarily responsible for annual fluctuations in the abundance of mature cones. Insects were probably also responsible, along with late summer weather (especially precipitation), for influencing the rate of initiation and differentiation of flower bud primordia, as shown in a model of the flowering-cone production processes. These studies suggest that the devastation of developing cone crops by insects may actually enhance flower primordia production and thus the future abundance of feeding and breeding sites for cone insects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahamson, L.P., Kraft, K.J.: A population study of the cone moth Laspeyresia toreuta Grote in Pinus banksiana stands. Ecology 46, 561–563 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Art, H.W., Marks, P.O.: A summary table of biomass and net annual primary production in forest ecosystems of the world. International Union of Forest Research Organizations, Section 25: Yield and Growth. Forest Biomass Studies, Life Sciences and Agric. Exp. Sta., Univ. Maine, Orono (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, B.V., Bingham, R.T., Schenk, J.A.: Insect caused losses to western white pine cones. U.S.F.S. Res. Note 102, 7 pp. Intermt. For. and Range Exp. Sta., Ogden, Utah (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bramlett, D.L.: Cone crop development records for six years in short leaf pine. For. Sci. 18, 31–33 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, I.R.: Seed production in Scots pine. Physiology of Tree Crops, Proc. of Symp. at Long Ashton Res. Sta., Univ. of Bristol. (L.C. Luckwill, C.V. Cutting, eds.), pp. 55–63 (1969)

  • Dickmann, D.I., Kozlowski, T.T.: Mobilization by Pinus resinosa cones and shoots of C-14 photosynthate from needles of different ages. Am. J. Bot. 55, 900–906 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickmann, D.I., Kozlowski, T.T.: Seasonal growth patterns of ovulate strobili of Pinus resinosa in central Wisconsin. Canad. J. Bot. 47, 839–848 (1969a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickmann, D.I., Kozlowski, T.T.: Seasonal changes in the macro- and micro-nutrient composition of the ovulate strobili and seeds of Pinus resinosa. Canad. J. Bot. 47, 1547–1554 (1969b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickmann, D.T., Kozlowski, T.T.: Seasonal variations in reserve and structural components of Pinus resinosa cones. Am. J. Bot. 56, 515–520 (1969c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Debarr, G.L., Ebel, B.H.: Conelet abortion and seed damage of short leaf and loblolly pines by a seed bug, Leptoglossus corculus. For. Sci. 20, 165–170 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eis, S. Association of western white pine cone crops with weather variables. Canad. J. For. Res. 6, 6–12 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowells, H.A.: Silvics of forest trees of the United States. U.S.D.A. Agric. Handbook No. 271, 762 pp. (1965)

  • Goldberg, S.: Introduction to difference equations with illustrative examples from economics, psychology, and sociology, 260 pp. New York: Wiley 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Goyer, R.A., Nachod, L.H.: Loblolly pine cone and seed losses to insects and other factors in a Louisiana seed orchard. For. Sci. 22, 386–391 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Graber, R.E.: Impact of the white-pine cone beetle on a pine seed crop. J. For. 62, 499–500 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hard, J.S.: Frost damage to red pine conelets. U.S.F.S. Res. Note LS-5, 2 pp., N. Cent. For. Exp. Sta., St. Paul, Minn (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hard, J.S.: Identification of primary red pine cone insects. U.S.F.S. Res. Note LS-12, 10 pp., N. Cent. For. Exp. Sta., St. Paul, Minn. (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedlin, A.F.: Some aspects of the cone and seed insect problem in the Pacific Northwest. For Chron. 37, 6–9 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedlin, A.F.: Results of a six-year plot study on douglas fir cone insect population fluctuations. For. Sci. 10, 124–128 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Janzen, D.H.: Seed predation by animals. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 2, 465–492 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Keen, F.P.: Cone and seed insects of western forest trees. U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull. 1169, 168 pp. (1958)

  • Kinzer, H.G., Ridgill, B.J., Watts, J.G.: Biology and cone attack behavior of Conophthorus ponderosae in southern New Mexico (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 63, 795–798 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, F.B.: Insect damage to loblolly pine cones. Va. For. 7, 14–15 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski, T.T.: Growth and development of trees, Vol. II. Cambial growth, root growth, and reproductive growth. Physiol. ecol. (T.T. Kozlowski, ed.), pp. 393–433. New York Academic Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski, T.T., Keller, T.: Food relations of woody plants. Bot. Rev. 32, 293–382 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraft, K.J.: Ecology of the cone moth Laspeyresia toreuta in Pinus banksiana stands. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 61, 1462–1465 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Krugman, S.L., Koerber, T.W.: Effect of cone feeding by Leptoglossus occidentalis on ponderosa pine seed development. For. Sci. 15, 104–111 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulman, H.M.: Effects of insect defoliation on growth and mortality of trees. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 16, 289–324 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, M.M., Schubert, G.H.: Cone crops of ponderosa pine in central Arizona including the influence of abert squirrels. U.S.F.S. Res. Paper RM-58, 13 pp., Rocky Mt. For. and Range. Exp. Sta., Fort Collins, Colo. (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary, R.E., Skog, K.E.: QUASI — A generalized computer program for system identification using quasilinearization. Ecology 53, 969–973 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leopold, A.C.: Plant growth and development. 466 pp. New York: McGraw Hill 1964

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, D.T.: Variation in cone production of red pine in relation to weather. Canad. J. Bot 45, 1683–1691 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, L.A.: The seed production capacity and efficiency of red pine cones (Pinus resinosa Ait). Canad. J. Bot. 34, 27–36 (1965a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, L.A.: Insects affecting seed production in red pine. Part I. Conophthorus resinosae Hopk. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Canad. Entomol. 88, 599–608 (1956b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, L.A.: Insects affecting seed production in red pine. Part II. Dioryctria disclusa Heinrich, D. abietella (D.S.), and D. cambiicola (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae). Canad. Entomol. 89, 70–79 (1957a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, L.A.: Insects affecting seed production in red pine. Part III. Eucosma monitorana Heinrich, Laspeyresia toreuta Grote, (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae), Rubsaamenia sp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and other insects. Canad. Entomol. 89, 150–164 (1957b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, L.A.: Insects affecting seed production in red pine. Part IV. Recognition and extent of damage to cones. Canad. Entomol. 89, 264–271 (1957c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, D.R.: Biological interactions associated with spruce budworm infestations. Ecol. Effects of Nuclear War. BNL. 917 (C-43); pp. 61–68 (1964)

  • Margalef, R.: Information theory in ecology. General Systems 3, 36–71 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, J.D.: Factors affecting the production of seed by forest trees. For. Abstr. 24, 1–13 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattson, W.J.: The impact of insects on second-year cone crops in red pine seed-production areas. U.S.F.S. Res. Note NC-53, 2 pp., N. Cent. For. Exp. Sta., St. Paul, Minn. (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattson, W.J.: Relationship between cone crop size and cone damage by insects in red pine seed-production areas. Canad. Entomol. 103, 617–621 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkel, E.P.: A study of losses in the 1960 slash pine cone crop. U.S.F.S. Res. Note 164, 2 pp., S.E. For. Exp. Sta., Asheville, N.C. (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkel, E.P., Squillace, A.E., Bengtson, G.W.: Evidence of inherent resistance to Dioryctria infestation in slash pine. Proc. Eighth South. Conf. on Forest Tree Improvement, pp. 96–99 (1965)

  • Mott, D.G.: The analysis of determination in population systems. Systems analysis in ecology (K.E.F. Watt, ed.), 276 pp. New York: Academic Press 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Owens, J.N.: The relative importance of initiation and early development on cone production in douglas fir. Canad. J. Bot. 47, 1039–1049 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Puritch, G.S.: Cone production in conifers. A review of the literature and evaluation of research needs. Pacific Forest Research Center. Canadian Forestry Service. Victoria, B.C. Info. Report BC-X-65, 94 pp. (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehfeldt, G.E., Stage, A.R., Bingham, R.T.: Strobili development in western white pine: periodicity, prediction, and association with weather. For. Sci. 17, 454–461 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rockwood, L.L.: The effect of defoliation on seed production of six Costa Rican tree species. Ecology 54, 1363–1369 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeser, J.: Some aspects of flower and cone production in ponderosa pine. J. For. 39, 534–536 (1941)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roques, A.: Etude de la merocenose des cônes de pin sylvestre en forêt de Fontainbleau. Ph.D. dissertation, L'Universite de Paris VI, 164 pp. (1975)

  • Sarvas, R.: Investigations on the flowering and seed crop of Pinus sylvestris. Tutkimuksia Männyn Kukkimisesta Ja Siemensadosta, Suomenkielinen Selastus, 198 pp. (1962)

  • Simak, M.: Influence of cone size on the seed produced (Pinus sylvestris L.). Meddelanden Fran Statens Skogsforskningsinstitut, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 5–16 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, R.E.: Surveys of Douglas-fir cone and seed insect damage in northwestern California, 1954–1958. J. For. 57, 897–899 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tappeiner, J.C.: Effect of cone production on branch, needle, and xylem ring growth of Sierra Nevada douglas-fir. For. Sci. 15, 171–174 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripp, H.A., Hedlin, A.F.: An ecological study and damage appraisal of white spruce cone insects. For. Chron. 32, 400–410 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Waters, W.E.: Forest insect population dynamics—some basic considerations. Forest Insect Population Dynamics. U.S.F.S. Res. Paper NE-125, 8 pp., N.E. For. Exp. Sta., Upper Darby, Pa. (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watt, K.E.F.: A mathematical model for the effect of densities of attacked and attacking species on the number attacked. Canad. Ent. 91, 129–144 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. North Central Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, 1992 Folwell Avenue, 55108, St. Paul, MN, USA

    William J. Mattson

Authors
  1. William J. Mattson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mattson, W.J. The role of insects in the dynamics of cone production of red pine. Oecologia 33, 327–349 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348117

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348117

Keywords

Search

Navigation