Health Assessment and Genetic Structure of Monumental Norway Spruce Trees during A Bark Beetle (Ips typographus L.) Outbreak in the Białowieża Forest District, Poland

A devastating outbreak of the bark beetle Ips typographus has led to the death of 75% of protected 'Monuments of Nature' Norway spruce trees in Białowieża Forest, Poland, with only 12 out of 47 surviving as of 2017. This unprecedented loss threatens the genetic diversity of one of Europe's oldest and largest spruce populations, which had previously accounted for 30% of the forest's composition. The outbreak was linked to climate shifts—reduced precipitation during growing seasons and rising temperatures—compounded by storms that toppled weakened trees. Genetic analysis revealed that these ancient spruces (average age 225 years) possessed significantly higher genetic variability than younger stands, with unique alleles and diversity metrics. Their loss could erode the gene pool of Norway spruce in this UNESCO-listed forest, underscoring the need for conservation efforts to preserve biodiversity amid climate-driven ecological shifts.

Nowakowska, J. A., Hsiang, T., Patynek, P., Stereńczak, K., Olejarski, I., & Oszako, T. (2020). Health Assessment and Genetic Structure of Monumental Norway Spruce Trees during A Bark Beetle (Ips typographus L.) Outbreak in the Białowieża Forest District, Poland. Forests, 11(6), 647. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11060647