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Whitebark and Limber Pine S Whitebark and Limber Pine S U Pinus albicaulis and Pinus flexilis T A T The decline of whitebark and limber pine across their range is a result of the disease white pine blister rust (caused by the introduced fungus S Cronartium ribicola ), and mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestations. Fire suppression and subsequent loss of habitat are also factors in the decline of these pines in parts of their ranges. As a result, both species are endangered under provincial legislation and whitebark is endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act . Limber pine has yet to be assessed at the federal level. The first step in management of any species is learning its distribution. ) t Alberta is exploring the use of a variety of techniques such as modeling c A and photo interpretation that will help identify locations and potential e f habitat for these pines. Regional surveys for these pines are also i l underway. d l d i W e Throughout the Alberta ranges of whitebark and limber pine, selected ( s stands are being assessed for health. The number and size of trees, the r u t number of trees infested with blister rust, or attacked by mountain e a t pine beetle, and the number of dead trees is documented. Through s g l these surveys, potentially rust resistant trees can be identified and a targeted for cone collection to grow resistant seedlings for replanting g n e l and for gene conservation. a a t r Mountain pine beetle attack and kill healthy whitebark and limber e d b pines. In several stands in the province, verbenone, a synthetically l A produced chemical that deters mountain pine beetles from attacking trees, is placed throughout the n stand to protect the trees. It can be used to protect individual trees or stands of trees; however, it is not most effective at low to moderate levels of beetle infestation. Stands with many mature, cone-bearing E trees and stands where cones are collected are given priority for protection. The fungal pathogen causing white pine blister rust has been spreading throughout white pine hosts in Canada for a century. Blister rust damages tree canopies and kills trees by girdling branches and stems. White pine blister rust requires two different hosts to complete its complex life cycle. Spores produced in cankers on whitebark and limber pine trees infect the alternate hosts. Rust spores produced on the alternate hosts then infect other whitebark and limber pines. The main alternate hosts are gooseberry 0 and currant shrubs (i.e. Ribes specikes). Other potential alternate hosts are louseworts and Indian 8 3 / I paintbrush. Ribes eradications have been attempted in the past but with limited success. Removal of . o N the alternate host may be effective in small isolated stands of trees but not effective on the landscape b u P scale. Research is important to gain information on how best to manage for these pine species. Currently, ) research in Alberta includes cone production, tree interactions with other species, the role of prescribed d e t n i fire, and cone predation by red squirrels. r a p ( d a 2 - n a [email protected] or by using the form at: 8 C Report the location of any 5 s 6 k http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/alberta-conservation-information- 8 r whitebark and limber pine trees - a 5 P you discover, to the Alberta management-system-(acims).aspx 8 y 7 s 7 e - Conservation Management t r 0 - u 8 System. More information can be found at: o c 7 9 o t http://srd.alberta.ca/BioDiversityStewardship/SpeciesAtRisk/DetailedStatus/InvertebratesPlants.aspx . o o h N p http://www.whitebarkfound.org/ N B S I You can help by learning to identify these species to prevent unintentional cutting or damaging of whitebark and limber pine. These trees can not be used for firewood, tent poles, Christmas trees, or any other use. r White pine blister rust is a fungal disease that affects all five- Whitebark and limber pine are long lived trees that establish and grow at high elevations under harsh e Whitebark pine can grow at Whitebark pine grows at higher p a treeline, on steep, rocky cliffs with elevations than limber pine. needle white pine trees. It was introduced into Canada in the p S S conditions that many other trees cannot tolerate. They occur in both mixed and nearly pure stands. d Whitebark generally grows from e shallow soil, on sites exposed to l early 1900s from Europe. The rust originally came from Asia. N T T Because of their ability to grow under windy, arid conditions and in poor soils, whitebark and limber y c strong winds, as well as on less 1500 meters up to treeline while e r A A pine may establish rapidly after fire, and aid in early forest establishment. At treeline, whitebark pine r limber pine can grow up to 2000 O harsh subalpine forest sites. These e I T Infected seedlings and young trees usually do not reach cone- m helps shade and shelter snowpack, thus regulating downstream flows. The large, nutritious seeds of trees are important for soil meters in Alberta. E I u s T n stabilization and reduced erosion producing age (40-70 years). Branch infections can spread to R both pines are an important wildlife food. Whitebark and limber pine form unique forest communities o B c P on these sites. On sites that receive In southern Alberta the ranges of t the main stem of a tree. Main stem infections in young trees s I that contribute greatly to the biodiversity of the mountains and hills of Alberta. H o these pines overlap; however, their A most of their moisture in the form p almost always result in tree death. Large trees can live with R of snow in the winter, the trees are northern extent differs. Whitebark T % H 0 are found as far north as the main stem infections, but suffer from losses of living branches C These two species look very similar and can be difficult to distinguish where they grow together. The 0 important for accumulating snow 1 Kakwa Wildland Interprovincial which leads to reduced cone production. Blister rust-infected n and prolonging snow melt. S most reliable feature used to tell the two apart are the cones. Whitebark seed cones are oval or egg- o Park, while the northern most d trees are also more susceptible to mountain pine beetle attack. E e shaped, grow at right angles to the branches, and are dark brown to dark purple in color. The cone t limber pines have been found near n Limber pine also grows on these i r P D scales remain closed, holding the seeds, until the cones decay on the ground or are opened by foraging harsh, high elevation sites, but also Kootenay Plains in the David animals. Limber pine seed cones are long and pointed, green when closed, and russet brown when ripe at elevations as low as the Thompson corridor. In the northern Mountain pine beetle is an out-breaking forest insect that and open to drop their seeds. Pollen cones of these trees also differ in color. The pollen cones of grassland foothills of southern part of its range, whitebark pine is attacks and kills any species of pine. The beetle prefers to attack restricted to the acidic soils of the whitebark pine are purple-red, while those of limber pine are yellow. Pollen cones are present before Alberta where whitebark does not large, mature trees; infested trees die within one year of attack. grow.Where limber pine grows at Main Range of the Rocky Mountain pine beetle outbreaks have currently subsided in the seed cones have grown in size and are distinguishable. high elevations, it also plays an Mountains. environmentally important role in Alberta range of whitebark and limber pine. The number of soil stabilization, erosion cone-producing whitebark and limber pine trees are reduced reduction, snow accumulation and during an outbreak as the large, mature trees are infested and Whitebark Pine Limber Pine regulated melting. die. The rust infects whitebark and limber pine through the needles Whitebark pine is a small to medium-sized tree that grows to a Limber pine also grows upright or shrublike and spreads into the phloem of height of 5 to 20 meters., the tree often assumes a multi- depending on the harshness of the site. Limber Another potentially significant threat to both species is habitat the tree. As the infection grows, stemmed, shrubby form. On harsh sites at higher elevation or pine is generally a shorter tree than the loss resulting from fire suppression and climate change. the bark and phloem dies. with shallow soil, exposure to wind and/or heavy snow cover, whitebark, growing up to 15 meters. Branches Seedlings of species such as subalpine fir and spruce are more trees grow shorter with twisted stems and are more mat-like or grow along the entire stem. Lower branches are shade tolerant than are whitebark and limber pine seedlings. “krummholz.” On less harsh sites and at the lower elevational long and drooping with upturned tips. Branches These other species are able to outcompete the whitebark and limit of whitebark pine, the tree grows with a tall, straight are very flexible and can bend significantly limber pine, resulting in reduced pine regeneration. Under a trunk. Branches of upright trees tend to sweep up, which gives without breaking which is why the species’ natural fire regime, low intensity fires would burn through the tree a round appearance.
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