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This paper explores how wildfires and beetle communities interact to influence Douglas-fir beetle outbreaks in British Columbia's forests. Traditionally, DFB populations are expected to surge after fires due to an abundance of weakened trees, but this study reveals a more complex dynamic. The presence of woodboring beetles, which also colonize fire-injured trees, can significantly constrain DFB population growth through interspecific competition. Specifically, when woodborers infest over 50% of trees in a stand, DFB reproduction falls below replacement levels, suggesting that these competitors can suppress potential DFB irruptions and ultimately influence forest resilience after disturbances.

This document investigates how partial harvesting strategies, designed to enhance mule deer habitat and allow timber extraction in British Columbia's dry Douglas-fir forests, impact complex interactions with natural disturbances like insect outbreaks and wildfires. The study, spanning 30 years, found that while short-term harvesting altered forest structure and reduced the immediate risk of crown fires and Douglas-fir beetle infestations, many of these structural and susceptibility changes reverted over the long term. The removal of harvesting residuals proved more significant in mitigating long-term disturbance risks, particularly for Douglas-fir beetles and intense surface fires, than the time elapsed since the treatment itself. The authors conclude that sustainable forest management integrating timber extraction and mule deer habitat conservation is achievable if partial harvesting occurs at intervals of 30 years or less and residuals are promptly cleared.