Symbiotic fungi transform terpenes from spruce resin into attractants for bark beetles

Bark beetles use the smell of fungus to pick the best trees to infest

Chemical signals from fungi tell bark beetles which trees to infest

50 years ago, the first canopy ecologists used rock climbing gear to get into the treetops, anchoring their ropes with petons hammered into bark. Now, they worry that some destructive climbing techniques could come full circle as recreational sports climbers take to the trees.