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People

Keith McClain

Organization
fRI Research
Category
Job Title
Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program Lead
Phone
780-245-4416

Program & Project Involvement

Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program
Program

Mountain Pine Beetle Ecology Program

The program carries out focused research on infestations of mountain pine beetle in Alberta.

The interaction of prescribed fire and beetle populations
Project

The interaction of prescribed fire and beetle populations

Can fire be used to slow the spread of mountain pine beetle?

Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle Attack on hydrology and post-attack vegetation and hydrology recovery in lodgepole pine forests in Alberta
Project

Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle Attack on hydrology and post-attack vegetation and hydrology recovery in lodgepole pine forests in Alberta

This project will describe how mountain pine beetle attack drives changes in hydrology and vegetation.

The mountain pine beetle in novel pine forests: Predicting impacts in a warming environment
Project
Cold tolerance of mountain pine beetle: Impact on population dynamics and spread in Canada
Project

Cold tolerance of mountain pine beetle: Impact on population dynamics and spread in Canada

This study examines how instar mortality varies with the severity and duration of cold exposure.

Beyond Beetle: Natural and facilitated lodgepole pine regeneration after mountain pine beetle outbreaks in Alberta
Project
Stand Dynamics after Mountain Pine Beetle Attack
Project

Stand Dynamics after Mountain Pine Beetle Attack

How will a stand respond after MPB infestation, and what can the forestry industry do to help it regenerate?

Monitoring and decision support for regeneration management in a mountain pine beetle environment
Project

Monitoring and decision support for regeneration management in a mountain pine beetle environment

How can forest companies best help stands bounce back from a MPB infestation?

Comparison of understory burning and mechanical site preparation to regenerate lodgepole pine stands killed by MPB
Project

Comparison of understory burning and mechanical site preparation to regenerate lodgepole pine stands killed by MPB

While detection and control efforts are key to mitigating MPB, it's also important to improve how land managers respond after an attack.

Mountain pine beetle population dynamics in new habitats and climates: The potential for eastern and northern spread in Canada
Project

Mountain pine beetle population dynamics in new habitats and climates: The potential for eastern and northern spread in Canada

Warmer weather is driving MPB range expansion, but how well will the beetle take hold in novel habitats?