Determining the Relationship between Whitebark Health and Visits by Clark’s Nutcrackers
Barringer L and Tomback D. 2009. Determining the Relationship between Whitebark Health and Visits by Clark’s Nutcrackers. Nutcracker Notes: Whitebark pine ecosystem foundation. (16)
Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) in the northern Rocky Mountains is declining as a result of Cronartium ribicola, the invasive pathogen causing white pine blister rust, and also from on-going outbreaks of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) is the primary seed disperser for whitebark pine. Previous work shows that nutcrackers make fewer visits to damaged forests than to healthier forests when seeds are ripe. (McKinney and Tomback 2007, McKinney et al. 2009). If nutcrackers are not visiting whitebark pine in heavily damaged stands, natural regeneration will diminish greatly. We tested published predictions relating live trees and cone production to the likelihood of nutcrackers visiting whitebark pine (McKinney et al. 2009). We worked in four national parks-- Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, USA, and Waterton Lakes, Canada.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Barringer, Lauren; Tomback, Diana
- Units
- CRCO , GLAC , GRTE , WALA , YELL
- Keywords
- Clark's nutcracker, five needle pine, Pinus albicaulis, Seed Dispersal, Whitebark Pine
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds