Linking frass and insect phenology to optimize annual forest defoliation estimation.

ABSTRACT: It is often logistically impractical to measure forest defoliation events in the field due to seasonal variability in larval feeding phenology (e.g., start, peak, and end) in any given year. As such, field data collections are either incomplete or at coarse temporal resolutions, both of which result in inaccurate estimation of annual defoliation (frass or foliage loss). Using Choristoneura pinus F. and Lymantria dispar dispar L., we present a novel approach that leverages a weather-driven insect simulation model (BioSIM) and defoliation field data. Our approach includes optimization of a weighting parameter (w) for each instar and imputation of defoliation. Results show a negative skew in this weighting parameter, where the second to last instar in a season exhibits the maxim

SUBMITTER: Thapa B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9978851 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature