Proof for your assertions Mr Robbins?

It seems very likely that there are other explanations for the observed phenomena than 'climate change'. Land-use changes for one. Trees reaching the end of their life-span another. And most likely there are other issues known and understood, and some not.

I'm sorry. I'm not buying it until you provide evidence.

Intriguing ...

Apparently it's ok for the average joe/jill to "abuse" scientific researchers by inferring they don't know what they're talking about.

Apparently it's not ok for scientists to infer that those same joe/jills NOT specialised in spruce, fir or mountain pine beetle habitats have got it all wrong.

Simply astounding! On the other hand, why am I not surprised.

A contribution I wish to make is that here in my dwelling climate change and erratic weather changing is indeed impacting upon insects breeding patterns cross breeding and behaviour.

An example: after the influx of rain last year and this year, insects are now happier in my gardens including the wasps who normally would swipe me at the clothesline every year for ten or so years through 'significant droughts' along with Ants' biting behaviour.

Bees angry around the clothesline when the plants were not feeding them. Not since the regular deluges last year and this year. Spiders bred at an alarming rate, cockroach and mice plagues in abundance [these comments from many neighbours]. All after regular rains resulting from climate change.

One only need observe the locust grasshopper plagues stripping the crops during certain conditions and the overseas arrivals of beetles, insects fireflies doing damage in Australia; a result of climate change making conditions ripe for certain insects relating to certain vegetation. We have to take the negatives with the positives. Australia has suffered significant drought for too many years; crops vegetation and our forests suffering many more years than other overseas countries.

At present in Australia; I am thankful temporarily for the climate change that has brought years of overdue regular rain into our states. Thank you God for the wonderful Easter gift; on the other hand, pray that cyclones do not hurt people or damage their properties

Here’s a different take on the forest dieback.

And I know it’s not in keeping with current fashion where’s it’s chic to blame everything of AGW ( &, for that reason it will probably upset Qanda) -- but what the heck!

“A good example of adaptive cycles in comes from the spruce/fir forests that grow across large areas of North America…Among the forests’ many inhabitants is the spruce budworm…EVERY 40 TO 120 YEARS ,POPULATIONS OF SPRUCE BUDWORMS EXPLODE , KILLING UP TO 80 PERCENT OF THE SPRUCE FIRS …In a young forest, leaf/needle density is low, and though budworms are eating leaves and growing in numbers, their predicators (birds and other insects) are easily able to find them and keep them in check. As the forest matures and leaf density increase the budworms are harder to find and the predators’ search efficiency drops until it eventually passes as threshold where the budworm breaks free of predator control and an outbreak occurs…The managers in this system … become locked into using ever-increasing amounts of pesticides because the industry wouldn’t be able to cope with the shock of a massive pest outbreak. The industry had little resilience ,and yet the continued use of chemicals was only making the problems worse…”

From : Resilience Thinking by Brian Walker and David Salt [ a CSIRO publication!] pages 79-80.

Why am I not surprised that pots 'cherry pick' and take selective data out of context while at the same time calling the kettle black?

And that pesky CSIRO, most recently reviled for 'doctoring' data - how dare they publish something so outa the mainstream!

Oh to be sure, I can attest that Australia's burgeoning population numbers are 'very likely' due to global warming :)