Date of Award
Fall 12-20-2024
Level of Access Assigned by Author
Open-Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Forest Resources
Advisor
Adam Daigneault
Second Committee Member
Parinaz Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran
Third Committee Member
Aaron Weiskittel
Abstract
Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.; SBW) is a native forest pest, with cyclical outbreaks that defoliate balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and spruce (Picea spp.) trees in Maine. The last outbreak that happened in Maine was during the 70s and 80s and killed trees on more than seven million acres of spruce-fir forests, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. Defoliation has been observed in northern Maine since 2019, and forest managers are being proactive in monitoring and managing for SBW. Typically, SBW is monitored by field sampling, including pheromone traps on trees and L2 (second instar larvae) sampling to detect precise population levels. Remote sensing technology can be used to supplement field data by providing a better understanding of where the outbreaks are happening and to what extent defoliation has occurred. The goal of this study was to explore how remote sensing technology can be integrated with field sampling to aid in monitoring SBW. This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach to enhance SBW monitoring and management in Maine. A survey administered to forest managers aims to understand perceptions on SBW and establish a baseline of the use of remote sensing in Maine’s forest industry. The survey findings indicate a clear need to have policies and collaborations between forest organizations to prepare for the SBW outbreak. Remote sensing is used for forestry applications among managers (54%), and there is a positive trend towards its gradual integration for forest health monitoring. However, challenges persist to have greater adoption and more effective use of remote sensing, including limited knowledge and skills. The cost-effectiveness analysis looks at the use of remote sensing for monitoring SBW, via Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, commercial PlanetScope imagery, and UAV-based imagery. While there are tradeoffs between cost and accuracy between different approaches, the integrated framework proposed in this thesis emerges as a promising cost-effective strategy for monitoring SBW outbreaks. Using the value of information (VOI) approach, we are able to understand the added benefits of using remotely sensed imagery for SBW monitoring. Utilizing this integrated approach leverages both remote sensing and field sampling can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring efforts, leading to more effective management strategies for mitigating pest outbreaks for forest managers. Given the diverse ownership of Maine’s forest community, this research provides insights into the cost-effectiveness of monitoring and management actions on different scales and enables forest managers to make timely and effective decisions regarding SBW on their land. The findings in this study are specific to SBW, but the integrated monitoring approach and cost-effectiveness analysis can be adopted for other forest health monitoring needs.
Recommended Citation
Foster, Allison E., "Cost-effective and Efficient Monitoring and Management of Maine's Spruce Budworm Outbreak" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4097.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/4097
