Disjunct Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) Structure and Dynamics, Acadia National Park, Maine

Conkey, L.E.; Keifer, M.; Lloyd, A.H.; National Park Service, Acadia National Park

From Article, 'In this study, we analyze spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment and mortality in two disjunct jack pine stands at the southeasternmost point of the species distribution in Acadia National Park, Maine.' We use dendroecology to determine age structure and dynamics of two contrasting stands of relict jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) at Acadia National Park, ME. Neither stand has burned since the nineteenth century, and both are along exposed ridge tops with little to no soil. Cadillac Mt. jack pine are regenerating in high numbers and show high growth rates, low serotiny, and appear to be expanding into additional suitable regeneration sites on the summit area. Schoodic Head jack pine, in contrast, are older, show greatly diminished regeneration relative to red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and to the Cadillac jack pine, display lower growth rates, greater mortality, higher serotiny, and do not appear to be expanding into suitable regeneration sites. Cadillac jack pine radial growth shows a low but significant correlation to climatic factors; Schoodic jack pine growth is not significantly related to climate. We conclude that the jack pine stand at Schoodic Head is not likely to persist without external disturbance, but that the Cadillac jack pine are currently in a mode of healthy regeneration and growth in the absence of human mediation. /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Cadillac Mountain/SCHOODIC PENINSULA/Schoodic Head/

Disjunct Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) Structure and Dynamics, Acadia National Park, Maine

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