March 10th, 2025
MLP researcher James Tricker recently published an article in Regional Environmental Change titled “A tale of two disturbances: Can mountain pine beetle restore landcover composition and pattern altered by fire suppression in Jasper National Park?”
The article reports on his research in Jasper National Park, where he analyzed landcover maps derived from historical and repeat photographs to better understand how changing disturbance regimes are altering ecosystem composition and configuration in the montane ecoregion. The results indicate that the recent mountain pine beetle outbreak has reintroduced landscape heterogeneity following a century of fire suppression. However, the study also notes that succession in MPB-affected stands will likely differ from post-fire disturbance, as the beetle targets only pine species. The timing of new compounding disturbances such as the Jasper Wildfire Complex will further influence the recovery and future composition of species in the study area.
Read the full article here: Springer Link