The Southern Pine Beetle, or SPB, (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman) is a bark beetle that is endemic to the Southern forest ecosystem. Beetle populations remain stable for years at a time; however, for reasons not fully understood the beetle undergoes accelerated population growth on approximate ten-year cycles, culminating in increased beetle activity. Although most trees can withstand a beetle assault when populations are reduced, healthy trees, and even pine species that are not generally attacked can become a host tree for millions of beetles during infestations.
Much of Appalachia was paralyzed by an unusually heavy snowstorm on January 27, 1998, resulting in major power failures and tremendous tree damage. Environmental hazards such as this storm have historically been a factor with southern pine beetle populations. This study hypothesizes that the blizzard of January 27, 1998, significantly increased the southern pine beetle population. The evidence, however, did not support this hypothesis.
","abstract_html":"<p>The Southern Pine Beetle, or SPB, (<em>Dendroctonus frontalis</em> Zimmerman) is a bark beetle that is endemic to the Southern forest ecosystem. Beetle populations remain stable for years at a time; however, for reasons not fully understood the beetle undergoes accelerated population growth on approximate ten-year cycles, culminating in increased beetle activity. Although most trees can withstand a beetle assault when populations are reduced, healthy trees, and even pine species that are not generally attacked can become a host tree for millions of beetles during infestations.</p><p>Much of Appalachia was paralyzed by an unusually heavy snowstorm on January 27, 1998, resulting in major power failures and tremendous tree damage. Environmental hazards such as this storm have historically been a factor with southern pine beetle populations. This study hypothesizes that the blizzard of January 27, 1998, significantly increased the southern pine beetle population. The evidence, however, did not support this hypothesis.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Jennings, David Scott"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MS (Master of Science)","degree_level":"Thesis - restricted","degree_discipline":"Technology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2002,"date_issued":"2002-05-04T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2002-05-04T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:19:07Z","subjects":["Southern Pine Beetle","Geography","GIS","Remote Sensing","Geographic Information Systems","Biology","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology","Life Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/670","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Jennings, David Scott"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2002-05-04T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Technology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - restricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MS (Master of Science)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Southern Pine Beetle","Geography","GIS","Remote Sensing","Geographic Information Systems","Biology","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology","Life Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/1827/viewcontent/JenningsD.041802.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/670"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The Southern Pine Beetle, or SPB, (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman) is a bark beetle that is endemic to the Southern forest ecosystem. Beetle populations remain stable for years at a time; however, for reasons not fully understood the beetle undergoes accelerated population growth on approximate ten-year cycles, culminating in increased beetle activity. Although most trees can withstand a beetle assault when populations are reduced, healthy trees, and even pine species that are not generally attacked can become a host tree for millions of beetles during infestations.
Much of Appalachia was paralyzed by an unusually heavy snowstorm on January 27, 1998, resulting in major power failures and tremendous tree damage. Environmental hazards such as this storm have historically been a factor with southern pine beetle populations. This study hypothesizes that the blizzard of January 27, 1998, significantly increased the southern pine beetle population. The evidence, however, did not support this hypothesis.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Assessment of the Potential Role of Blizzard Damage in the Spatial Distribution of Southern Pine Beetle Infestation in Unicoi County, Tennessee."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Jennings, David Scott"],"dc:date.issued":["2002-05-04T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The Southern Pine Beetle, or SPB, (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman) is a bark beetle that is endemic to the Southern forest ecosystem. Beetle populations remain stable for years at a time; however, for reasons not fully understood the beetle undergoes accelerated population growth on approximate ten-year cycles, culminating in increased beetle activity. Although most trees can withstand a beetle assault when populations are reduced, healthy trees, and even pine species that are not generally attacked can become a host tree for millions of beetles during infestations.
Much of Appalachia was paralyzed by an unusually heavy snowstorm on January 27, 1998, resulting in major power failures and tremendous tree damage. Environmental hazards such as this storm have historically been a factor with southern pine beetle populations. This study hypothesizes that the blizzard of January 27, 1998, significantly increased the southern pine beetle population. The evidence, however, did not support this hypothesis.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/1827/viewcontent/JenningsD.041802.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/670"],"dc:rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"dc:subject":["Southern Pine Beetle","Geography","GIS","Remote Sensing","Geographic Information Systems","Biology","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology","Life Sciences"],"dc:title":["Assessment of the Potential Role of Blizzard Damage in the Spatial Distribution of Southern Pine Beetle Infestation in Unicoi County, Tennessee."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Technology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - restricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["MS (Master of Science)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:19:07Z"}