Response of high-elevation limber pine (Pinus flexilis) to multiyear droughts and 20th-century warming, Sierra Nevada, California, USA

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2508-2520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance I. Millar ◽  
Robert D. Westfall ◽  
Diane L. Delany
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Pinus Flexilis ◽  
Limber Pine ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation

Limber pine ( Pinus flexilis James) stands along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, California, experienced significant mortality from 1985 to 1995 during a period of sustained low precipitation and high temperature. The stands differ from old-growth limber pine forests in being dense, young, more even-aged, and located in warmer, drier microclimates. Tree growth showed high interannual variability. Relative to live trees, dead trees over their lifetimes had higher series sensitivity, grew more variably, and had lower growth. Although droughts recurred during the 20th century, tree mortality occurred only in the late 1980s. Significant correlations and interactions of growth and mortality dates with temperature and precipitation indicate that conditions of warmth plus sustained drought increased the likelihood of mortality in the 1985–1995 interval. This resembles a global-change-type drought, where warming combined with drought was an initial stress, trees were further weakened by dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium cyanocarpum (A. Nels. ex Rydb.) A. Nels.), and proximally killed by mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins). However, the thinning effect of the drought-related mortality appears to have promoted resilience and improved near-term health of these stands, which suffered no additional mortality in the subsequent 1999–2004 drought.

Forest mortality in high-elevation whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) forests of eastern California, USA; influence of environmental context, bark beetles, climatic water deficit, and warming

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 749-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance I. Millar ◽  
Robert D. Westfall ◽  
Diane L. Delany ◽  
Matthew J. Bokach ◽  
Alan L. Flint ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Deficit ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Pinus Albicaulis ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
Climatic Water Deficit

Whitebark pine ( Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) in subalpine zones of eastern California experienced significant mortality from 2007 to 2010. Dying stands were dense (mean basal area 47.5 m2/ha), young (mean 176 years), and even-age; mean stand mortality was 70%. Stands were at low elevations (mean 2993 m), on northerly aspects, and experienced warmer, drier climates relative to the regional species distribution. White pine blister rust was not observed; mountain pine beetle infestations were extensive. Ring widths were negatively correlated with climatic water deficit and positively correlated with water-year precipitation. Although trees that survived had greater growth during the 20th century than trees that died, in the 19th century trees that eventually died grew better than trees that survived, suggesting selection for genetic adaptation to current climates as a result of differential tree mortality. Air surveys (2006–2010) in the Sierra Nevada, Mt. Shasta, and Warner Mountains showed similar trends to the intensive studies. Observed mortality from air surveys was highest in the Warner Mountains (38%) and lowest in the Sierra Nevada (5%); northern aspects at lower elevations within each mountain region had the highest probabilities of mortality and dying stands had higher climatic water deficit. Scenarios for the future of whitebark pine in California are discussed.

Changes in white pine blister rust infection and mortality in limber pine over time

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 919-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyndi M. Smith ◽  
David W. Langor ◽  
Colin Myrholm ◽  
Jim Weber ◽  
Cameron Gillies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Pinus Flexilis ◽  
Limber Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Pine Beetle

Limber pine (Pinus flexilis E. James) is under threat from white pine blister rust (WPBR), mountain pine beetle, drought, and fire suppression across its range in western North America. In 2003–2004, we established 85 plots to assess the mortality and incidence of WPBR on limber pine, and remeasured them in 2009. Infection was evident in 74% of the plots in 2003–2004 and 88% of the plots in 2009. The proportion of dead trees increased from 32% in 2003–2004 to 35% in 2009. The percentage of live trees infected increased from 33% in 2003–2004 to 43% in 2009. Mean live limber pine basal area in 2009 ranged from 0.03 to 77.8 m2/ha per plot. Twenty (24%) of the plots had no seedlings in the first measurement, but only 15% in the second measurement. Seedling infection was low (8% in 2003–2004 and 4% in 2009). In 12 plots that were measured three times, mortality increased from 30% of all trees in 1996 to 50% in 2003, then decreased to 46% in 2009. Infection decreased from 73% of live trees in 1996 to 46% in 2003, then increased to 66% in 2009. High mortality and infection levels suggest that the long-term persistence of many limber pine populations in the southern part of the study area are in jeopardy, and continued monitoring is needed to assist with management decisions.

scholarly journals Albedo-induced radiative forcing from mountain pine beetle outbreaks in forests, south-central Rocky Mountains: magnitude, persistence, and relation to outbreak severity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 11935-11968 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vanderhoof ◽  
C. A. Williams ◽  
Y. Shuai ◽  
D. Jarvis ◽  
D. Kulakowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
South Central ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Central Rocky Mountains ◽  
Induced Changes

Abstract. Mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreaks in North America are widespread and have potentially-persistent impacts on forest albedo and associated radiative forcing. This study utilized multiple datasets, both current and historical, within lodgepole pine stands in the south-central Rocky Mountains to quantify the full radiative forcing impact of outbreak events for decades after outbreak (0 to 60 yr) and the role of outbreak severity in determining that impact. Change in annual albedo and radiative forcing peaked at 14–20 yr post-outbreak (0.06 ± 0.006 and −0.8 ± 0.1 W m−2, respectively) and recovered to pre-outbreak levels by 30–40 yr post-outbreak. Change in albedo was significant in all four seasons, but strongest in winter with the increased visibility of snow (radiative cooling of −1.6 ± 0.2 W m−2, −3.0 ± 0.4 W m−2, and −1.6 ± 0.2 W m−2 for 2–13 yr, 14–20 yr and 20–30 yr post-outbreak, respectively). Change in winter albedo and radiative forcing also increased with outbreak severity (percent tree mortality). Persistence of albedo effects are seen as a function of the growth rate and species composition of surviving trees, and the establishment and growth of both understory herbaceous vegetation and tree species, all of which may vary with outbreak severity. The establishment and persistence of deciduous trees was found to increase the temporal persistence of albedo effects. MPB induced changes to radiative forcing may have feedbacks for regional temperature and precipitation, which could impact future MPB outbreaks dynamics.

scholarly journals Pre-Emptive Detection of Mature Pine Drought Stress Using Multispectral Aerial Imagery

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 2338
Author(s):  
Nancy Grulke ◽  
Jason Maxfield ◽  
Phillip Riggan ◽  
Charlie Schrader-Patton
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Classification Tree ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Classification Tree Model

Drought, ozone (O3), and nitrogen deposition (N) alter foliar pigments and tree crown structure that may be remotely detectable. Remote sensing tools are needed that pre-emptively identify trees susceptible to environmental stresses could inform forest managers in advance of tree mortality risk. Jeffrey pine, a component of the economically important and widespread western yellow pine in North America was investigated in the southern Sierra Nevada. Transpiration of mature trees differed by 20% between microsites with adequate (mesic (M)) vs. limited (xeric (X)) water availability as described in a previous study. In this study, in-the-crown morphological traits (needle chlorosis, branchlet diameter, and frequency of needle defoliators and dwarf mistletoe) were significantly correlated with aerially detected, sub-crown spectral traits (upper crown NDVI, high resolution (R), near-infrared (NIR) Scalar (inverse of NDVI) and THERM Δ, and the difference between upper and mid crown temperature). A classification tree model sorted trees into X and M microsites with THERM Δ alone (20% error), which was partially validated at a second site with only mesic trees (2% error). Random forest separated M and X site trees with additional spectra (17% error). Imagery taken once, from an aerial platform with sub-crown resolution, under the challenge of drought stress, was effective in identifying droughted trees within the context of other environmental stresses.

A 1000-Year Record of Temperature and Precipitation in the Sierra Nevada

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. Graumlich
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Late 20Th Century ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Decadal Scale ◽  
Tree Ring Data ◽  
Precipitation Variation

AbstractTree-ring data from subalpine conifers in the southern Sierra Nevada were used to reconstruct temperature and precipitation back to A.D. 800. Tree growth of foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana) and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ssp. australis) is influenced by nonlinear interactions between summer temperature and winter precipitation. Reconstruction of the separate histories of temperature and precipitation is feasible by explicitly modeling species and site differences in climatic response using response surfaces. The summer temperature reconstruction shows fluctuations on centennial and longer time scales including a period with temperatures exceeding late 20th-century values from ca. 1100 to 1375 A.D., corresponding to the Medieval Warm Period identified in other proxy data sources, and a period of cold temperatures from ca. 1450 to 1850, corresponding to the Little Ice Age. Precipitation variation is dominated by shorter period, decadal-scale oscillations. The long-term record presented here indicates that the 20th century is anomalous with respect to precipitation variation. A tabulation of 20- and 50-yr means indicates that precipitation equaling or exceeding 20th-century levels occurred infrequently in the 1000+-yr record.

scholarly journals Greater Temperature and Precipitation Extremes Intensify Western U.S. Droughts, Wildfire Severity, and Sierra Nevada Tree Mortality

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph L. Crockett ◽  
A. Leroy Westerling
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
First Century ◽  
Precipitation Extremes ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Climate Simulations ◽  
Climatic Water Deficit ◽  
Mortality Incidence ◽  
Warming World

Abstract Extensive drought in the western United States (WUS) during the twenty-first century and associated wildfire and tree mortality incidence has highlighted the potential for greater area of severity within widespread droughts. To place recent WUS droughts into a historical context, the authors analyzed gridded daily climate (temperature, precipitation, and climatic water deficit) data to identify and characterize the spatiotemporal evolution of the largest WUS droughts of the last 100 years, with an emphasis on severe cores within drought extents. Cores of droughts during the last 15 years (2000–02 and 2012–14) covered a greater area than in earlier droughts, driven by greater temperature and precipitation extremes. Comparing fire extent and severity before, during, and after drought events using the monitoring trends in burn severity dataset (1984–2014), the authors found fire size and high-severity burn extent were greater during droughts than before or after. Similarly, recent Sierra Nevada forest mortality was greatest in cores immediately after the drought. Climate simulations anticipate greater extremes in temperature and precipitation in a warming world; droughts and related impacts of the last 15 years may presage the effects of these extremes.

scholarly journals First Report of Limber Pine Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium cyanocarpum) on Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) from California

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-134
Author(s):  
R. Mathiasen ◽  
C. Daugherty
Keyword(s):  
White Pine ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Pinus Flexilis ◽  
First Report ◽  
Northern Arizona ◽  
Limber Pine ◽  
Sugar Pine ◽  
Northern Arizona University ◽  
Western White Pine

Limber pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium cyanocarpum (A. Nelson ex Rydberg) Coulter & Nelson; Viscaceae) severely parasitizes limber pine (Pinus flexilis James) and several other white pines, including western white pine (P. monticola Dougl. ex D. Don) and whitebark pine (P. albicaulis Engelm.), over an extensive geographic range in the western United States (1). However, limber pine dwarf mistletoe has not been previously reported on sugar pine (P. lambertiana Dougl.), another white pine found within the range of limber pine dwarf mistletoe (1). In August 2009, we found a sugar pine infected with limber pine dwarf mistletoe approximately 0.8 km northeast of Tahquitz Peak in the San Jacinto Mountains, California (33°45′24′′N, 116°40′24′′W; elevation 2,640 m). The infected sugar pine was 13 inches (33 cm) in diameter and had 13 infections on five of its lower branches. Ten of the infections were producing mature male and female mistletoe plants with open flowers or developing fruits, respectively. Two of the infected branches were forming witches' brooms in response to infection by limber pine dwarf mistletoe. The infected sugar pine was growing within 3 m of four limber pines severely infected with limber pine dwarf mistletoe. The male and female plants produced on the infected sugar pine were morphologically identical to those growing on the infected limber pines. Limber pine dwarf mistletoe can be distinguished from sugar pine dwarf mistletoe (A. californicum Hawksw. & Wiens), the principal dwarf mistletoe parasitizing sugar pine in California, by its smaller plants (mean height 3 cm versus 8 cm) and flowering period (August to September versus June to July). In an attempt to determine the relative susceptibility of sugar pine to limber pine dwarf mistletoe, we conducted a survey of the infested limber pine stand. Because there were no additional sugar pines growing in the area, it was impossible to assess the general susceptibility of sugar pine to limber pine dwarf mistletoe, but the production of many mature plants from 10 of the infections on the sugar pine suggests this tree species may be highly susceptible. However, this is currently the only known location where sugar pine co-occurs with limber pine dwarf mistletoe (1), so assessing the susceptibility of sugar pine to this dwarf mistletoe will depend on locating additional sites where they co-occur. It should be noted also that previous surveys in the San Jacinto Mountains failed to detect infection by limber pine dwarf mistletoe on sugar pine (1). Specimens of limber pine dwarf mistletoe on sugar pine were collected and deposited at the Deaver Herbarium (ASC), Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (Accession No. 92697). To our knowledge, this is the first report of limber pine dwarf mistletoe parasitizing sugar pine. References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. USDA For. Serv. Agric. Handb. 709, 1996.

Initial tree mortality and insect and pathogen response to fire and thinning restoration treatments in an old-growth mixed-conifer forest of the Sierra Nevada, California

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 3011-3020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia E. Maloney ◽  
Thomas F. Smith ◽  
Camille E. Jensen ◽  
Jim Innes ◽  
David M. Rizzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Heterobasidion Annosum ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Mixed Conifer ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Blister Rust

Fire and thinning restoration treatments in fire-suppressed forests often damage or stress leave trees, altering pathogen and insect affects. We compared types of insect- and pathogen-mediated mortality on mixed-conifer trees 3 years after treatment. The number of bark beetle attacked trees was greater in burn treatments compared with no-burn treatments, and in some cases, larger pine trees were preferentially attacked. Restoration treatments are not expected to change the trajectory of spread and intensification of dwarf mistletoe. Thinning treatments may have provided a sanitation effect in which large leave trees have lower levels of dwarf mistletoe. Although thinning treatments are known to exacerbate root disease, <12% of cut stumps were infected with root pathogens ( Armillaria gallica and Heterobasidion annosum ). Treatments increased Ribes (alternate host for white pine blister rust) frequency and abundance, which may have very localized impacts on white pine blister rust dynamics. In some instances, fire, insects, and pathogens appear to conflict with forest restoration goals by reducing the percentage of pine and producing proportionally higher rates of tree mortality in large-diameter size classes. To better understand the long-term effects of restoration treatments on pathogens and insects, continued monitoring over the course of varying climatic conditions will be needed.

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