Whitebark Pine in the Northern Cascades: Tracking the Effects of Blister Rust on Population Health in North Cascades National Park Service Complex and Mount Rainier National Park

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints201802.0148.v1
• Publication Date: 2018-02-26T01:44:15Z
• Authors: Regina Rochefort; Shay Howlin; Lacey Jeroue; John Boetsch; Lise Grace
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 13. Climate action; <i>Pinus albicaulis</i>; whitebark pine; blister rust; national park; subalpine; Cascades; mountain pine beetle; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; ecology; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) is a key component of subalpine and alpine ecosystems in the northern Cascades. The species survival threatened by white blister rust, mountain beetles, fire exclusion, climate change. Trees were monitored permanent plots two national parks three times between 2004 2016. proportion trees showing signs rust infection increased North Cascades National Park Service Complex from 32% to 51% 2016 18% 38% Mount Rainier Park. Mortality 7% 21% 44% Annual mortality rates calculated for time periods: 2004-2009, 2009-2015/2016, 2004-2015/2016. rates, annualized across entire study period, 1.47% 2.27% Complex; these decreased first period second, which could reflect resistance. Signs beetle rare limited few individual plots. Although reproductive found most stands, densities low regeneration was dominated fir.