Biomass of Witches' Brooms Caused by Douglas-Fir Dwarf Mistletoe in Northern Arizona

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laine Smith ◽  
Robert Mathiasen ◽  
Richard Hofstetter
Keyword(s):  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Northern Arizona

Insect Communities Associated With Douglas-Fir Dwarf Mistletoe Witches' Brooms In Northern Arizona

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laine Smith ◽  
Richard Hofstetter ◽  
Robert Mathiasen
Keyword(s):  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Northern Arizona

scholarly journals A Comparison of Wildlife Use in Broomed and Unbroomed Ponderosa Pine Trees in Northern Arizona

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Mathiasen ◽  
Gregg N. Garnett ◽  
Carol L. Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Erethizon Dorsatum ◽  
Resting Sites ◽  
Northern Arizona ◽  
Wildlife Use ◽  
Pine Trees

Abstract Dwarf mistletoe infections often induce structures known as witches' brooms that may provide an important wildlife habitat element. We compared evidence of wildlife use in broomed and unbroomed ponderosa pine trees at 12 mistletoe-infested sites in northern Arizona. We systematically sampled 12 broomed and unbroomed trees on each site (n = 144 broomed and 144 unbroomed trees) by climbing and inspecting each tree to document evidence of wildlife use. Broomed trees were used more frequently than unbroomed trees for wildlife activities including foraging/caching, nesting, and roosting/resting sites. We observed evidence of use by Abert squirrel (Sciurus aberti), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), and passerine birds in witches' brooms. Of the 226 brooms we examined, 23% (n = 52) contained evidence of wildlife use. Mammal use was found in 80% (n = 42) of the brooms and of these, 39 were used by Abert squirrel. We recommend that management agencies consider retaining some of these broomed trees to provide habitat for wildlife. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):42–46.

Dwarf mistletoe effects on fuel loadings in ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 662-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Hoffman ◽  
Robert Mathiasen ◽  
Carolyn Hull Sieg
Keyword(s):  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fuel Loading ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Forest Fuels ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forests ◽  
Northern Arizona ◽  
Basaltic Soils ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Fuels Treatments

Southwestern dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium vaginatum (Willd.) J. Presl ssp. cryptopodum ) infests about 0.9 million ha in the southwestern United States. Several studies suggest that dwarf mistletoes affect forest fuels and fire behavior; however, few studies have quantified these effects. We compared surface fuel loadings and predicted fire behavior among four levels of dwarf mistletoe infestation (none, light, moderate, and severe) in a total of 239 plots on 11 sites on basaltic soils in northern Arizona. In each plot we measured tree attributes, dwarf mistletoe rating and surface fuel loading. Stands severely infested by dwarf mistletoe had lower (P < 0.05) tree density and higher snag density, but higher (P < 0.05) total surface fuel loadings and total fuel loadings >7.62 cm and <7.62 cm, than non-infested stands. However, there were no statistical differences in any canopy fuel variables among infestation classes. Predicted fire behavior indicated that the wind speed required to promote the spread of a surface fire into the canopy was lower in severely infested stands than in non-infested stands. These results suggest that stands in northern Arizona that are severely infested with dwarf mistletoe should be priority areas for fuels treatments.

Effects of dwarf mistletoe on the response of young Douglas-fir to thinning

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Knutson ◽  
Robert Tinnin
Keyword(s):  
Radial Growth ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Lower Infection

Four sites from two forests were examined to determine the effect of various levels of infection by Arceuthobiumdouglasii on the growth of Pseudotsugamenziesii in precommercially thinned stands. We found less than 1% mortality among the trees that we examined. Changes in level of infection did occur; we estimate that changes to levels of infection sufficient to cause significant reductions in diameter growth occurred among 19% of the infected trees that we studied. Height growth was significantly reduced in both forests, while diameter growth was reduced by infection in one forest. Trees of lower infection rating (dwarf mistletoe rating 0–2) showed a significant increase in radial growth following thinning in both forests, while more heavily infected trees (dwarf mistletoe rating 5 and 6) did not. Trees that were heavily infected and had spike tops consistently showed significant reductions in diameter growth in both forests.

scholarly journals Western Dwarf Mistletoe Parasitizing Colorado Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce in California

Plant Disease ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Mathiasen ◽  
J. R. Allison ◽  
B. W. Geils
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
First Report ◽  
Blue Spruce ◽  
Northern Arizona ◽  
Jeffrey Pine ◽  
Shoot Production

Western dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium campylopodum Engelm.), a common parasite of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.), was found parasitizing planted Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karsten) in Upper Cuddy Valley, CA (Kern County, T. 9 N., R. 21 W., Sec. 25). One tree greater than 6 m in height of each spruce species was infected and both trees were within 12 m of a Jeffrey pine severely infected with western dwarf mistletoe. Five to 10 branches were infected on each tree and a few of these had abundant mistletoe shoot production, which allowed identification of the parasite. This is the first report of western dwarf mistletoe on Colorado blue spruce. Although this is the first report of natural infection of Norway spruce in California, this mistletoe/host combination has been reported by Weir from artificial inoculation (2) and collected by Russell in central Washington (1). We recommend that these spruce species not be planted within 15 m of pines infected with western dwarf mistletoe. Specimens of western dwarf mistletoe on Colorado blue spruce and Norway spruce were collected and deposited at the Deaver Herbarium, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. References: (1) F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens. 1996. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. USDA Agric. Handb. 709. (2) J. R. Weir. Bot. Gaz. 56:1, 1918.

scholarly journals A Survey of Douglas-fir Dwarf Mistletoe Brooms Used for Nests by Northern Spotted Owls on the Applegate Ranger District and Ashland Resource Area in Southwest Oregon

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katy Marshall ◽  
Mario Mamone ◽  
Rick Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Variable Radius ◽  
Strix Occidentalis ◽  
Nest Habitat ◽  
Spotted Owls ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Southwest Oregon ◽  
Northern Spotted Owls

Abstract A survey was done to provide forest managers in southwest Oregon with information about characteristics of Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium douglasii) brooms used for nests by northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis var. caurina). Data were collected on 35 nest brooms and nest trees. Site, stand, and mistletoe data were collected in variable-radius plots in a 20 ac area around 11 of the nest trees. On average, half the nest trees' crowns were occupied by brooms. Douglas-fir trees in variable radius plots immediately surrounding the nest trees were more heavily infected than trees in neighboring plots. The majority of owl nests were in Type 2 and 3 brooms. Few nests were in Type 1 brooms even though they were the most common broom type. The majority of nests were in brooms in the lower third of the tree crowns and on the lower to middle third of the slope. Survey results were used to make recommendations for managing infected trees and stands for current and replacement spotted owl nest habitat in the survey area. West. J. Appl. For. 18(2):115–117.

scholarly journals Dwarf Mistletoe Pruning May Induce Douglas-Fir Beetle Attacks

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Hadfield ◽  
Paul T. Flanagan
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Dendroctonus Pseudotsugae ◽  
Diameter At Breast Height ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Number Of Branches

Abstract Fresh attacks of Douglas-firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) by Douglas-fir beetles (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) were found in a campground that had trees pruned to remove Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium douglasii) infections. All Douglas-firs with a diameter at breast height (dbh) of at least 12.7 cm were examined. Beetle attacks were found on 41% of the pruned trees and 5% of the unpruned trees. Among pruned trees, both the average number of branches pruned and the average dbh were greater in trees attacked by Douglas-fir beetles than in unattacked trees. West. J. Appl. For. 15(1):34-36.

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