WHAT’S HAPPENING UPSLOPE (scalable type)
The Health of Timberline Forests: A formidable enemy of whitebark pine is on the move
in the Three Sisters Wilderness
Wolftree staff and volunteers established 30 permanent plots (~500 m2 in size) in the upper montane and subalpine forests within the wilderness area. The purpose of these plots is to establish long-term monitoring sites designed to measure changes in the composition and condition of timberline forests. In addition, the plots furnish detailed information about the presence or absence of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) in forests containing whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). White pine blister rust is an invasive pathogen that infects five needle pines such as whitebark pine, western white pine (Pinus monticola), limber pine (Pinus flexilis), and others.A native of Eurasia, the rust entered North America in the early 1900’s on imported white pine saplings grown in Germany.
Preliminary findings indicate that white pine blister rust is present throughout the Three Sisters Wilderness area. Evidence of the pathogen was found in over 70% of the plots. In addition, the data suggest the rust is often associated with elevated mountain pine beetle, mistletoe and porcupine activity. Read more & view photoss (700 KB pdf file) |
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