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Limber pine health in the southern and central Rocky Mountains

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dc.contributor.authorCleaver, Christy, author
dc.contributor.authorJacobi, William, advisor
dc.contributor.authorReich, Robin, committee member
dc.contributor.authorNegron, Jose, committee member
dc.contributor.authorSteingraeber, Dave, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T06:37:28Z
dc.date.available2015-09-30T06:30:24Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractWhite pine blister rust, bark beetles, and dwarf mistletoe are causing decline in health and mortality in limber pine and impacting limber pine seedlings in the central and southern Rocky Mountains. Ecologically valuable limber pines often grow in fragile ecosystems where few other trees can grow. The combined effects of mountain pine beetle, white pine blister rust, dwarf mistletoe, and climate change could greatly impact the biodiversity of these ecosystems. Current condition status and long term monitoring of limber pine trees and seedlings are needed to advise land managers and to implement restoration. Our study objectives were to: (1) assess site, stand, and health characteristics of limber pine trees and seedlings in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, (2) determine factors that influence the occurrence and incidence of white pine blister rust, bark beetles, and dwarf mistletoe, and (3) determine factors that impact seedlings, including site, stand, and meteorological characteristics. In 2011 and 2012, we assessed 22,700 limber pines on 508 plots in limber pine-dominated stands in twenty-five study areas in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Mean density of live limber pine was 311 stems/ha. Fifty percent of all standing trees were classified as healthy, 26% were declining or dying, and 24% were dead. White pine blister rust was the primary damage agent and was widespread, occurring in 23 of the 25 study areas with a mean incidence of 26%. Bark beetle-caused mortality occurred in all 25 study areas and 18% of standing limber pines were killed by bark beetles. Limber pine dwarf mistletoe occurred within 20 study areas, on 29% of plots with an average incidence of 9%. In previously monitored study areas, incidence of WPBR increased 6%, bark beetles by 17%, while dwarf mistletoe remained the same. Live limber pine seedling density averaged 141 stems/ha. Of all standing live and dead limber pine seedlings, 1.5% were dying, 4.4% were dead, and white pine blister rust occurred on 5.3% of live seedlings. We used statistical modeling to determine the meteorological, macro, and micro site factors and stand factors that influenced the occurrence and incidence of white pine blister rust, bark beetles, and dwarf mistletoe on limber pines. We also used statistical modeling to determine factors that predict density (stems/ha) of limber pine seedlings and proportion of limber pine seedlings with white pine blister rust. Limber pine stands heavily impacted by mountain pine beetle and white pine blister rust, combined with low seedling density in some study areas suggest that some limber pine stands may not survive. These areas may be in need of additional monitoring so land managers can decide if restoration efforts are warranted.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study was funded by U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Forest Health Monitoring, Evaluation Monitoring Program, BLM Wyoming, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, Colorado State Forest Service, and Boulder County Open Space.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierCleaver_colostate_0053N_12515.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/83886
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectmountain pine beetle
dc.subjectwhite pine blister rust
dc.subjectseedlings
dc.subjectdwarf mistletoe
dc.subjectlimber pine
dc.titleLimber pine health in the southern and central Rocky Mountains
dc.typeText
dcterms.embargo.expires2015-09-30
dcterms.embargo.terms2015-09-30
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEcology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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