EXPERIENCE OF MAPPING INVASIONS BY FOREST ALIEN PEST INSECTS IN WESTERN SIBERIA USING GIS TOOLS
E.S. Volkova, I.A. Kerchev, S.A. Krivets, M.A. Melnik
Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: Tomsk oblast, dendrophagous insects, outbreak foci, aerophotography, monitoring of invasive processes
Abstract
Biological invasions into dark coniferous forests of Western Siberia by dangerous alien stem pests: four eyed fir bark beetle (Polygraphus proximus Blandf.) and small spruce bark beetle (Ips amitinus Eichh.) were studied using traditional and modern methods of mapping. Along with the monitoring of invasion carried out in Tomsk oblast, which included a wide survey of its territory to obtain factual data on the degree of degradation of damaged forests, special attention was paid to the use of GIS technologies. Using an example of some aspects of these invasions, the features and possibilities of compiling as well as using map material for scientific and applied purposes are presented. The high efficiency of spatiotemporal assessment of observed processes and phenomena at the local level by using modern mapping methods with the involvement of ground monitoring material and orthophotos from unmanned aerial vehicles is shown. A spatial assessment of the degree of degradation, vital state, and the amount of damage caused by invasive bark beetles in model areas using GIS is made. The highest degree of risk from the expansion of P. proximus and I. amitinus was revealed for the southern and southeastern parts of Tomsk oblast. The use of the GIS functionality made it possible to create a series of original thematic maps that reflect various aspects of the spatial features of invasions, which permits short-term forecasts of the origin and spread of pest foci, monitoring and control of their development, as well as identifying the direction of the pest spread process at different levels of the territorial hierarchy.
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