Monitoring white pine (Pinus albicaulis, P. balfouriana, P. flexilis) community dynamics in the Pacific West Region - Klamath, Sierra Nevada, and Upper Columbia Basin Networks

McKinney, Shawn; Rodhouse, Tom; Chow, Les; Chung-MacCoubrey, Alice; Dicus, Gordon; Garrett, Lisa; Irvine, Kathi; Mohren, Sean; Odion, Dennis; Sarr, Daniel; Starcevich, Leigh Ann

Three Pacific West Region (PWR) Inventory and Monitoring Program networks, the Klamath Network (KLMN), Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN), and the Upper Columbia Basin Network (UCBN), have identified high priority park vital signs, indicators of ecosystem health, which represent a broad suite of ecological phenomena operating across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Our intent has been to develop a balanced and integrated suite of vital signs that meets the needs of current park management, and that also will accommodate unanticipated environmental conditions and management questions in the future. The high elevation white pine tree species found in these networks are vulnerable to invasive pathogens as well as other stressors such as climate-change induced drought, and have been recognized as high priority vital signs for five parks: Crater Lake National Park (CRLA) and Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO) in KLMN, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI) and Yosemite National Park (YOSE) in SIEN, and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (CRMO) in UCBN. Currently, populations of these white pine species and their respective communities are in better ecological condition within the participating network parks compared to populations elsewhere in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains (e.g., blister rust infection and mountain pine beetle infestation rates are lower). However, the observed steeply declining trends in white pine populations in the northern Cascade and Rocky Mountain ranges, coupled with the identification of blister rust and mountain pine beetle in our parks is a significant cause for concern about the future status of these valuable communities. Monitoring of white pine community dynamics will enable parks the opportunity for early detection of downward trends and perhaps more effective management intervention. Also, monitoring information from these parks will contribute meaningfully to the broader regional assessment of the status and trend of white pine species across western North America. The objectives of the protocol are to determine the status and trends in: 1. Tree species composition and structure 2. Tree species birth, death, and growth rates 3. Incidence of white pine blister rust and level of crown kill 4. Incidence of pine beetle and severity of tree damage 5. Incidence of dwarf mistletoe and severity of tree damage 6. Cone production of white pine species This protocol details the why, where, how, and when of the PWR’s white pine community dynamics monitoring program. As recommended by Oakley et al. (2003), it consists of a protocol narrative and a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) which detail the steps required to collect, manage, and disseminate the data representing the status and trend of white pine community dynamics and the condition of associated communities in each of the three networks. The intent of the protocol is to ensure that a scientifically credible story about the ecological condition of white pine communities and their responses to invasive pathogens, , park management actions, changing precipitation patterns, and other stressors can be told to park visitors and managers alike. These long-term data can contribute to the development of informative models of relationships between white pine community dynamics and key environmental factors and management actions specific to each park.

Monitoring white pine (Pinus albicaulis, P. balfouriana, P. flexilis) community dynamics in the Pacific West Region - Klamath, Sierra Nevada, and Upper Columbia Basin Networks

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