Spatio-temporal infestation patterns of Ips typographus (L.) in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany

The Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany has experienced infestations of bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) since the 1980s, resulting in considerable ecological loss due to the destruction of almost 5800ha of spruce forests. Although there have been numerous investigations on the physiology and ecology of the bark beetle, until now the spatio-temporal infestation and dispersal dynamics of the bark beetle over a longer period have still not been satisfactorily understood. The understanding of the structure and the dispersal of bark beetle infestations is however of significant importance for forest management systems in order to predict the risk of outbreaks, especially in the face of climate change.