Development of a novel trait-based approach to understand how and why optimal trap design for forest pests varies across taxa

Insect pests pose a major threat to forestry in Canada, the UK and globally, particularly in the context of a changing climate and global trade. Effective survey and detection tools are needed to provide early warnings of pest outbreaks and provide information to guide decisions about the need for management action. For eruptive and invasive species, early detection is critical to maximize the likelihood of control measures being successful.
However, detection programs are currently operationally and conceptually inadequate because we lack a mechanistic understanding as to how and why the most effective trap design varies with target taxa. This project will apply a novel analytical approach to evaluate the effect of trap design on the detection of forest pests according to their traits, such as body size and other physical characteristics. Trait approaches are becoming increasingly popular in ecological studies due to their potential to improve mechanistic understanding but have yet to be applied in this context. The findings will therefore inform the development of
more effective detection programs for forest insect pests.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sandy Smith

Student:

Partner:

University of Reading

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Forestry; Life Sciences (not health); Environmental Science and Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program: