Impacts of Exotic Pests on Forest Ecosystems: An Update

Pests (e.g., insects, pathogens) affect forest communities through complex interactions with plants, other animals, and the environment. While effects of exotic (non-native) pests on trees received broad attention were extensively studied, fewer studies addressed ecosystem-level consequences these effects. Related so far mostly only targeted a very few dominant hemlock woolly adelgid—HWA, beech bark disease—BBD, spongy moth—SM) limited to aspects situation such as (1) pests’ direct physical disturbance ecosystems, (2) altered geochemical elements soils, water, air excretion), (3) feedback from alteration ecosystems native present future pest invasions. New also show that, in general, planted forests appear be more prone invasions thus suffer greater impacts than natural forests. Integrated are critically needed address direct/indirect ecosystem elements, both short- long-term effects, We discuss implications new findings corresponding management strategies.