Spatial synchrony between geographical distributions of insect and host populations, under climate change scenario in Korea

Based on climate change scenario, local distribution of insect pest population should be changed in near future as well as their host. Even though well defined insect geographical distribution model is developed and projected its potential establishment in Korea under climate change scenario, it has defectiveness without geographical matching of its host. SADIE (spatial analysis with distance indices) allows improved interpretation of the spatial associations between two populations within a given sampling area because it is designed for data that are distributed in discrete areas with relatively well-defined boundaries, and measures the extent of clustering with subsequent testing for spatial patterns in relationships among sample locations.

In this study, we calculated and analyzed the spatial association between the Ecoclimatic Index (EI) of light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana, using CLIMEX, and projected farm land suitability of apple trees for the possibility of shift and matching geographical location of insect-host relationship under climate change scenario in Korea.