Predicting where crop pests and diseases can occur, both now and in the future under different climate change scenarios, is a major challenge for crop management. One solution is to estimate the fundamental thermal niche of the pest/disease to indicate where establishment is possible. Here, we develop methods for estimating and displaying the fundamental thermal niche of pests and pathogens and apply these methods to Huanglongbing (HLB), a vector‐borne disease that is currently threatening the citrus industry worldwide. We derive a suitability metric based on a mathematical model of HLB transmission between tree hosts and its vector Our model predicts that transmission of HLB is possible between 16 and 33°C with peak transmission at ~25°C. The greatest uncertainty in our suitability metric is associated with the mortality of the vectors at peak transmission, and fecundity at the edges of the thermal range, indicating that these parameters need further experimental work. We produce global thermal niche maps by plotting how many months each location is suitable for establishment of the pest/disease. This analysis reveals that the highest suitability for HLB occurs near the equator in large citrus‐producing regions, such as Brazil and South‐East Asia. Within the Northern Hemisphere, the Iberian peninsula and California are HLB suitable for up to 7 months of the year and are free of HLB currently.
- Award ID(s):
- 1750113
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10348927
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Parasites & Vectors
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1756-3305
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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