Bark beetles, though only the size of a grain of rice, are an important part of forest ecosystems. The picture for this episode shows a forest struggling with beetle infestation in the middle of its Red Phase (discussed in the episode). Beetle infestations contribute to wildfires and the burn season that is becoming a regular part of American western summers. Through this new series, Jessa and Emma would like to inform their listeners about wildfire and water trends in Idaho, and also look into how scientists in and around Idaho are responding to climate change. This second installment takes a microscope to small, relatively unknown causes that contribute to increased wildfire severity with the help of Dr. Hicke’s research.
To learn more about Dr. Hicke and his work on bark beetles, visit his webpage at: https://webpages.uidaho.edu/~jhicke/.
For comments, topic suggestions, or more information, please reach out to Jessa at jessabriggs@isu.edu and Emma at thacemma@isu.edu.