AN EVALUATION OF SELECTED SPRUCE BARK BEETLE INFESTATION DYNAMICS USING POINT IN TIME EXTENSIVE FOREST INVENTORY DATA, KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA

Forest inventory data collected in 1987 from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, were used to explore whether or not such data can be used to evaluate dynamics of a spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby)) infestation there. The utility of the inventory data as an evaluation tool is shown by performing analyses equivalent to those performed by other researchers in smaller scale studies conducted on the Kenai Peninsula and comparing results. Analyses showed that extensive forest inventory data can be used to estimate areas of infestation and to establish relations among tree diameter, recent radial growth, tree stocking, state of beetle attack, and stage of infestation. Understanding of spruce bark beetle infestation dynamics on broad, regional scales, can be achieved while also obtaining extensive forest inventory data.