Shealyn Malone

Introduction Climate extremes and biotic agents are common disturbances in forest ecosystems, but in recent years, the increased frequency of their incidence and interaction has driven unprecedented tree and forest mortality across the globe (Jactel et al., 2012; Anderegg et al., 2015; Kolb et al., 2016).

Introduction Conifers produce a variety of secondary metabolites for defense against herbivory (Bartwal et al., 2013; Celedon & Bohlmann, 2019; Kopaczyk et al., 2020). Secondary metabolites are a broad class of carbon-based molecules and, in conifers, are typically dominated by mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes (Celedon & Bohlmann, 2019). Terpenes can be critical to successful defense against bark beetles (Smith, 1961; Manning & Reid, 2013; Erbilgin et al., 2017; Roth et al., 2018).

0 It is winter here in Montana, and after a frigid walk with my dog Beau, I am grateful for a hot cup of chamomile tea to warm my insides. Wisps of fragrant vapor curl off the liquid surface; a woody, citrus scent tickles my nose. The familiar aroma of my favorite chamomile tea is the result of many different compounds, but one in particular: (E)-β-farnesene (EBF).