Accumulation of Urban Insect Pests in China: 50 Years’ Observations on Camphor Tree ( Cinnamomum camphora )

Zhiyuan Xiang, Meifang Zhao and U. S. Ogbodo
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Zhiyuan Xiang: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Meifang Zhao: Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
U. S. Ogbodo: National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Since China experienced a rapid and unprecedented process of urbanization and climate change from 1978 onwards, pest outbreaks were frequently reported on urban forests, which reflects a significant imbalance between natural regulation and human control. Based on information extracted from all journal articles and reports about insect pests on camphor tree ( Cinnamomum camphora ) in urban China, we characterized historical patterns and trends in pest outbreaks over large areas. Our results suggested that (1) most distribution areas of C. camphora in urban China had pest records (14 provinces) over the last 50 years, especially at the south-eastern coastal areas; (2) pests on camphor tree in urban China showed an accelerated growth since the 1990s; and (3) pests on camphor tree in urban China were characterized by native and leaf-feeding species. Urbanization seems to positively correlate with urban pest outbreaks. Changes of urban pest outbreaks could largely be described by synchronic changes of socio-economic indicators, of which CO 2 emissions as metric tons per capita is the most significant predictor, followed by GDP and human population. Thus, managers and city planners should allocate resources to socio-economic-related pest outbreaks for a sustainable ecosystem.

Keywords: Cinnamomum camphora; insect pest; outbreak; urban tree; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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