FIRE AND INSECTS IN NORTHERN AND BOREAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF NORTH-AMERICA

Fire and insects are natural disturbance agents in many forest ecosyst ems, often interacting to affect succession, nutrient cycling, and for est species composition. We review literature pertaining to effects of fire-insect interactions on ecological succession, use of prescribed fire for insect pest control, and effects of fire on insect diversity from northern and boreal forests in North America. Fire suppression po licies implemented in the early 1900s have resulted in profound change s in forest species composition and structure. Associated with these c hanges was an increased vulnerability of forest stands to damage durin g outbreaks of defoliating insects. Information about the roles that b oth fire and insects play in many northern forests is needed to increa se our understanding of the ecology of these systems and to develop so und management policies.