A Comparison of Rating Systems for Dwarf Mistletoe-Induced Witches' Brooms in Ponderosa Pine
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A Comparison of Rating Systems for Dwarf Mistletoe-Induced Witches’ Brooms in Ponderosa Pine Thomas J. Parker, Camp Navajo, ATTN: AZIA-GC-DE-E, P.O. Box 16123, Bellemont, AZ 86015, and Robert L. Mathiasen, School of Forestry, Box 15018, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/wjaf/article/19/1/54/4717678 by guest on 30 September 2021 ABSTRACT: We compared four methods of assessing dwarf mistletoe infection and estimating volume of dwarf mistletoe-induced witches’ brooms in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Witches’ brooms can provide important wildlife habitat and can influence fire behavior. We used Hawksworth’s dwarf mistletoe rating system (DMR), Tinnin’s broom volume rating system (BVR), an estimate of the percentage of live crown occupied by witches’ brooms (PCB), and a new system, total broom volume (TBV). We rated 12,536 trees for southwestern dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum) infection and broom volume. Using Hawksworth’s DMR and Tinnin’s BVR systems, we were not able to distinguish trees with different witches’ broom volumes at all sample sizes. At all sample sizes, TBV ratings accurately and precisely identified amount of witches’ broom volume. We recommend that TBV be used to quantify witches’ broom volume in ponderosa pine where wildlife habitat and fire ecology are primary concerns. West. J. Appl. For. 19(1):54–59. Key Words: Arceuthobium vaginatum, ponderosa pine, dwarf mistletoe, witches’ broom, infection rating, broom volume rating. Many species of dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium spp., The six-class dwarf mistletoe rating (DMR) system was Viscaceae) induce dense, profuse masses of branches known originally developed to quantify southwestern dwarf mistletoe as witches’ brooms (Hawksworth and Wiens 1996). Witches’ infection (Arceuthobium vaginatum subsp. cryptopodum) in brooms are valuable to wildlife (Hawksworth and Wiens ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe infection (A. 1996, Mathiasen 1996, Parks et al. 1999, Hedwall 2000, douglasii) in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Garnett 2002). At least eight raptor species are known to nest (Hawksworth and Lusher 1956, Hawksworth 1977). However, in witches’ brooms, including federally threatened species in the DMR system, witches’ brooms are not a criterion for such as the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) rating. Although dwarf mistletoe infection is commonly (Hawksworth and Wiens 1996). Witches’ brooms may also associated with the development of witches’ brooms, severely increase crown scorching and decrease tree survival in infested infected ponderosa pines frequently do not have witches’ stands that are burned by prescribed fire (Alexander and brooms (Hawksworth 1961). Because the DMR system regards Hawksworth 1975, Harrington and Hawksworth 1990, Conklin infected branches as the criterion for developing its rating, and Armstrong 2001). In order to evaluate broom volume for rather than the number of brooms or broom volume, it can be fire management and assessment of wildlife habitat, a method applied to trees with or without witches’ brooms. The six- of quantifying broom volume is necessary; however, no class DMR system has become the standard for quantifying broom rating system has been developed for ponderosa pine the severity of dwarf mistletoe infection (technically DMR is (Pinus ponderosa) in the Southwest. a seven-class system, since the zero given for uninfected trees is also a class) (Hawksworth 1977). NOTE: Thomas Parker can be reached at (928) 773-3318; Fax: (928) 773- Tinnin (1998) proposed the broom volume rating (BVR) 3271; E-mail: [email protected]. The authors wish to extend their appreciation to Gregg Garnett, Janine McCabe, and system to quickly provide an infection rating that approximated Hendrick Herlyn for their assistance with data collection. Brian DMR in Douglas-fir with large witches’ brooms. Dwarf Howell assisted with the development of the total broom volume mistletoe infection in Douglas-fir typically results in witches’ rating system. Michelle Corse provided comments on the manuscript, and Carol Chambers and Bill Block provided guidance broom formation (Tinnin and Knutson 1980). The BVR on the thesis. This research was supported in part by funds system does not require counting branches. This makes it an provided by the USDA For. Serv. Rocky Mountain Research excellent system to use when trees have dense brooms that Station and the School of Forestry Mission Research Board, Northern Arizona University. Copyright © 2004 by the Society of make branches difficult to see. Because Tinnin (1998) intended American Foresters. the BVR system to result in a rating similar to DMR, crown 54 WJAF 19(1) 2004 thirds with at least one infection but without brooms receive infected, the third was rated as 1. If a crown third a rating of one on a 0–2 scale. As a result, trees without brooms was uninfected, it was rated as 0. The ratings for but with infections in each crown third receive a BVR of three each third were added, for a possible rating of 0–6. on a 0–6 scale. Conversely, because the BVR system gives the If the bole had an infection but no portion of the live same rating to a portion of the crown that is less than half canopy did, the tree was rated as 1. occupied by brooms, up to 48% of the live crown could be occupied by brooms and the tree would still receive a BVR of 2. Broom volume rating (BVR, Tinnin 1998). The three. Broom volume rating, therefore, is not sensitive to small BVR system incorporates both broom volume and broom volumes, but witches’ broom volume may not need to infection. The live crown of each tree was visually encompass half of the live crown of the tree in order to affect divided into thirds. If more than one half the volume fire behavior (Brown 1975, Koonce and Roth 1985, Conklin of a crown third was occupied by brooms, it was and Armstrong 2001) or to provide wildlife habitat (Hedwall rated as 2. If one half or less of the volume of a 2000, Garnett 2002). crown third was occupied by brooms, but it had at A further limitation of both the DMR and BVR systems least one dwarf mistletoe infection, it was rated as is that they only rate the live crown of trees. Live crown 1. If a third was uninfected, it was rated as 0. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/wjaf/article/19/1/54/4717678 by guest on 30 September 2021 ratios vary widely; therefore, a rating of two in the lower Ratings for each third were added together for a portion of the crown may refer to infections or brooms possible rating of 0–6. For BVR and all broom either near the ground or high in the canopy. Brooms ratings, we considered a witches’ broom to be an occurring near the ground are more important to fire abnormal cluster of branches associated with dwarf behavior than brooms above the scorch height because mistletoe infection that was at least 20 cm in all they can become ladder fuels (Koonce and Roth 1985). three dimensions (depth, height, and width). In Conversely, brooms occurring higher in the crown will addition, when viewed directly below the broom usually survive low intensity surface fires and may thus be without binoculars, needles, twigs, and branches of more valuable to wildlife. Therefore, a witches’ broom the broom structure had to occupy at least 70% of rating system should distinguish broom locations. the horizontal plane in order for a structure to be A dwarf mistletoe rating system that effectively uses considered a broom. witches’ brooms has not been developed for ponderosa pine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of three 3. Total Broom Volume (TBV, Parker 2001). The rating systems—DMR, BVR, and a new rating system known entire height of the tree from ground level to treetop as the total broom volume rating system, or TBV—to accurately (not only the height of live crown as in the other two quantify the extent of tree canopy that was occupied by systems) was visually divided into thirds. The witches’ brooms in ponderosa pine in northern Arizona. bottom third of ponderosa pines in our study were frequently not occupied by live crown. In these Methods cases, in order to visualize a crown volume for the bottom third, the existing live crown (in some cases We examined ponderosa pines for infection by southwestern several meters above ground level) was visually dwarf mistletoe in 16 dwarf mistletoe-infested ponderosa pine projected to the ground from the lowest live branches stands (32–73 ha) in northern Arizona. Stands were at least 1 parallel to the bole. In other words, the width of the km distant from one another and ≥99% ponderosa pine by bottom third was the width of the dripline of the basal area. Stands were located on the Coconino and Kaibab tree. If a third of the tree had no brooms, it was rated National Forests west of the San Francisco Peaks. We as 0. If the volume of a tree third was 1–33% established 40 circular plots (radius 11.3 m, 0.04 ha) per stand occupied by brooms, it was rated as 1. If the relative from a random starting point on a 200 m grid. We examined volume was 34–66% occupied by brooms, it was all trees larger than 12.7 cm in diameter at 1.4 m above the rated as 2. If it was ≥67%, it was rated as 3. The sum ground (dbh), and used binoculars to look for dwarf mistletoe of the ratings of the tree thirds had a maximum of shoots in all examined trees. Binoculars were especially 9 in order to more precisely quantify different useful to locate dwarf mistletoe shoots high in the crown and broom volumes.