Exit78 Photo of the Day #211 |
When we visited Rocky Mountain National Park at the beginning of September, 2009, the park was at the peak of a mountain pine beetle infestation that eventually killed millions of acres of Colorado trees. The dead trees detracted somewhat from the scenic beauty of the park.
Nymph Lake and beetle killed trees, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, September 3, 2009 (Pentax K10D)
Photo editing was used to recolor most of the dead trees in the image below from our hike to Nymph and Dream Lakes to show what Rocky Mountain National Park’s Nymph Lake looked like before the infestation.
Nymph Lake with many beetle killed trees recolored, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, September 3, 2009 (Pentax K10D)
The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) is a species of bark beetle native to the forests of western North America, inhabiting ponderosa, whitebark, lodgepole, Scotch, jack pine, and limber pine trees. The beetles normally play an important role in forests, attacking old or weakened trees, speeding the development of younger, healthier woodlands.2
Years of unusually hot, dry summers and mild winters may have weakened trees, making them more susceptible to beetle infestation. Large stands of lodgepole pine, a “favorite” of the beetle, monocultural replanting (outside the park), climate change, and a century of forest fire suppression are also thought to contribute to the susceptibility of western North American forests to the beetles. The ongoing outbreak may be the largest forest insect blight ever seen in North America.2
- Each photo in this series is an “original work” – a copyright term – of Michael Goad.
- Mountain pine beetle – Wikipedia
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Let me try again … these infestations and diseases are a worry for all of us – but shows what nature will do when humans transport flora and fauna around the world …
The colouration certainly shows … cheers Hilary
Hilary recently posted…We are the World Blogfest … # 11 – People and Nature work together to ‘knit’ life-connecting bridges …
Actually the pine beetles and the trees they infest are all native to North America. I’ve known about the pine beetles since 1963 when my grandparents took my sister and me to Yellowstone. They were dealing with an infestation that year.
On the other hand, lodgepole pine, which the beetles love, is a serious invasive species in New Zealand, along with several other western North American pine species. It is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord and is prohibited from sale, commercial propagation, and distribution. I found that interesting.
Mike recently posted…Flooded