User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
My hypothesis touches on the ecological process of invasive species and their impact on native species. In the situation of the Spruce Beetle and Spruce trees, the presence of the invasive spruce beetle has a negative impact on the spruce tree population as they burrow themselves into the bark of the tree through small holes and slowly kill the tree by depriving them of their essential nutrients. By the spruce beetle impacting the spruce trees, it in turn also affects the surrounding ecosystem as spruce trees provide habitat for some animals and insects in the community. Another idea that underpins my research, is the impact that climate change has on the intensity of the spruce beetle destruction in Kluane because other researchers have linked the spruce beetle infestations to higher summer temperatures.
Keywords:
Spruce Beetle
Invasive species
Climate Change
