Water-Uptake Studies of Dry, Mountain Pine Beetle-Infested, Grey-Stage Lodgepole Pine Sapwood Chips

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-28
Author(s):  
THOMAS Q. HU ◽  
MICHELLE ZHAO ◽  
JAMES DRUMMOND ◽  
PAUL WATSON

Water-uptake studies of dry, mountain pine beetle-infested, grey-stage lodgepole pine (LPP) sapwood chips showed that it was possible to increase the moisture content of these chips significantly (e.g., from 20.5% to 37.0% for early-grey chips) by soaking the chips for 8 min–10 min at optimal conductivity (~200 μS/cm) and pH (~6.0). The environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM)-energy-dispersive spectroscopy chemical-tracer technique provided qualitative information on water movement within 10 min of water soaking of both the green and the beetle-infested, late-grey LPP blocks. ESEM studies also showed the presence of fissures, fungal hyphae, and incipient decay in the late-grey blocks.

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 2403-2412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Kashian ◽  
Rebecca M. Jackson ◽  
Heather D. Lyons

Extensive outbreaks of the mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) will alter the structure of many stands that will likely be attacked again before experiencing a stand-replacing fire. We examined a stand of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) in Grand Teton National Park currently experiencing a moderate-level outbreak and previously attacked by mountain pine beetle in the 1960s. Consistent with published studies, tree diameter was the main predictor of beetle attack on a given tree, large trees were preferentially attacked, and tree vigor, age, and cone production were unimportant variables for beetle attack at epidemic levels. Small trees killed in the stand were killed based mainly on their proximity to large trees and were likely spatially aggregated with large trees as a result of the previous outbreak. We concluded that the driving factors of beetle attack and their spatial patterns are consistent across outbreak severities but that stand structure altered by the previous outbreak had implications for the current outbreaks in the same location. This study should catalyze additional research that examines how beetle-altered stand structure affects future outbreaks — an important priority for predicting their impacts under climate change scenarios that project increases in outbreak frequency and extent.


2008 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Pan ◽  
Dan Xie ◽  
Richard W. Yu ◽  
Jack N. Saddler

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer S. Briggs ◽  
Todd J. Hawbaker ◽  
Don Vandendriesche

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-134
Author(s):  
Wesley G. Page ◽  
Michael J. Jenkins ◽  
Martin E. Alexander

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Stock ◽  
R.A. Gorley

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk., causes extensive mortality of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm., throughout western North America (Van Sickle 1982). The Prince Rupert Forest Region, in the northwest of British Columbia, initiated an aggressive beetle management program in 1981. Logging of infested stands, and winter felling and burning of individual infested trees are the most common direct control techniques.The “Bristol Lake” infestation developed in the Bulkley Forest District, approximately 55 km northwest of Smithers, B.C., on a steep rocky ridge within the valley of Harold Price Creek. The area contained large volumes of mature lodgepole pine, and control of the infestation was therefore considered critical to the local beetle management plan, but the size (50 ha) and rough topography of the infested area precluded normal direct control measures.


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