THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO EVALUATE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF FORESTS ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. TO ATTACK AND INFESTATION BY FOUR MAJOR INVASIVE INSECTS. IT ALSO SEEKS TO PLACE THIS SUSCEPTIBILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. THE INSECTS OF INTEREST INCLUDE TWO NATIVE (MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE [DENDROCTONUS PONDEROSAE] AND SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE [D. FRONTALIS]), AND TWO NON-NATIVE BEETLES (OAK SPLENDOR BEETLE [AGRILUS BIGUTTATUS] AND BROWN SPRUCE LONGHORN BEETLE [TETROPIUM FUSCUM]) WHICH THREATEN EASTERN US FORESTS. ALL FOUR SPECIES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC DAMAGE IF THEY BECOME ESTABLISHED (OR EXPAND INTO) IN EASTERN FORESTS. THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: 1) DEFINE AND ARTICULATE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF EASTERN US FORESTS TO THESE INVASIVE BEETLES, 2) CONTEXTUALIZE THESE SUSCEPTIBILITY ESTIMATES WITH LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY INFORMATION, AND 3) DESCRIBE HOW THESE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY ESTIMATES CHANGE OVER TIME WITH VARYING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (I.E., CLIMATE AND LAND-USE). A SERIES OF DATASETS, MODELS, AND ANALYSES WILL BE PRODUCED TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, PARTICULARLY AS THEY RELATE TO: HOST TREE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE, INSECT CLIMATE-HABITAT SUITABILITY, INVASION POTENTIAL, AND LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY. EACH OF THESE FACTORS WILL BE CONSIDERED ALONGSIDE PROJECTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. THE RESULTS AND PRODUCTS PRODUCED OVER THE COURSE OF THISPROJECT WILL HELP INFORM THE SUSTAINABLE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF US FORESTS BY PROVIDING BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DECISION MAKERS WITH IMPORTANT CONTEXT AND INFORMATIONAL TOOLS CONCERNINGTHESE POTENTIALLY-DAMAGING INSECTS.