Insect population waves can suppress vegetation across millions of hectares

Evidence

The resulting wave of vegetation suppression and mortality can cover areas of up to several million hectares (Clark, 1979). Intense herbivory by any insect species can weaken the host and facilitate successive host colonization by other insect species exploiting more highly stressed plants. The resulting heterotrophic succession accelerates host decline, death, and decomposi­ tion. — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1557

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Disturbance triggers insect outbreaks once populations cross a regulatory threshold — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1547; Insects make irregular forest disturbance more regular so ruderal species persist — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1581; Monoculture management and fire exclusion promote insect-induced vegetation mortality — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1582 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Insects make irregular forest disturbance more regular so ruderal species persist #expands (0.78) — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1581
• Large-scale disturbances can prevent landscapes from reaching equilibrium #exemplifies (0.78) — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 2272
• Monoculture management and fire exclusion promote insect-induced vegetation mortality #expands (0.75) — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1582
• Species extinction and pest irruption signal sickness in the land organism #expands (0.72) — Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 689