Managing for Healthy White Pine Ecosystems in the United States to Reduce the Impacts of White Pine Blister Rust
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Managing for Healthy White Pine Ecosystems in the United States to Reduce the Impacts of White Pine Blister Rust Executive Summary n this report we outline the urgent need for of this disease, from understanding the basic vision, focus, and leadership to manage a biology of the pathogen and its hosts and non-native invasivedisease that threatens identifyingnatural disease resistance in sugar I the stability and survival of white pine pine, western white pine and eastern white pine to ecosystems in 40 of our 50 states. All nine of our developing improved planting stock and initiating native white pine species are at risk and include breeding programs with other species. We now some ofthe oldest, most realize that blister rust is a majestic, and ecologically or permanent resident of North culturally significant pine America. Therefore, our species in the United States. efforts have shiftedtowards White pines play critical facilitatingthe survival of roles in forest development white pine species in the and integrity.Without white presence of the disease and pines these forest minimizing its ecological, communities would be economic and aesthetic altered dramatically. impacts. Historically, white pines thrived because of their This plan is designedto abilityto regenerate in establish direction to restore openings created by fire, white pines where they have outgrow their competitors, been catastrophically and resist many native decimated, to sustain white insects and pathogens. All pines where the rust is species of white pine are present but not yet susceptible at all ages to a devastating, and to plan non-native fungus which mitigating actions when the causes white pine blister rust spreads into areas where rust. it is not yet present. Unless we take a bold and White pine blister rust is scientifically sound caused by a non-native approach, we risk losing a invasive pathogen, Figure 1. Westernwhitepine mortality. significantcomponent of our Cronartium ribicola that native forests, and with it, was introduced to North America ITomEurope considerable irreplaceablebiodiversity,as well as almost a century ago. Despite significantefforts genetic and cultural resources. This effort will to contain it, this fungus has continued to spread require the applicationof existing management (Fig. 1) and may be poised to invade the last tools and continued research and development uninfected white pine ecosystems, includingthe using integrated genetics, pathological, ancient bristlecone pine forests of the Southwest. silvicultural,disease management and ecosystem restoration strategies over several decades. Much has been accomplished since the discovery i-Summary The USDA Forest Service, with its expertise in Tools such as prescribed burning, forest health protection, forest management, and pruning, thinning, alternate host control ecosystem and disease research, is uniquely (demonstrated to be effectivein the positioned to implementthis plan, a blueprint to Northeast), and hazard rating projects will ensure white pine survival through management, be used to improve survival of planted restoration, research, and public involvement. pines (Fig. 3). Integrated Strategy to Protect, Sustain, and Restore White Pines. The survivalof white pines and their ecosystems in North America depends upon a combination of traditional and innovative scientific and management strategies: => Genetic Strategies. The best solution known to save white pines ftom white pine blister rust is to enhance numbers of rust resistant white pines (Fig. 2) in Figure 3. Pruned western whitepine plantation. appropriate ecosystems. It is critical to protect existing white pines that have survived the effects of this disease and => Research and Information Needs. Even though much ofthe basic biology ofthe pathogen and its hosts is known, vital research is stillneeded to understand the intricate mechanisms and inheritance of host resistance in order to incorporate them effectively into breeding programs. Figure 2. Rust resistance testing. Long-term perfonnance foster their regeneration in order to of Figure 4. UninfectedRibes. broaden the base of genetic resistance. seedlings The identificationof resistant trees in with improvedresistance, as well as the species such as whitebark pine and epidemiologyof the disease affecting bristlecone pine is also necessary where these seedlings, will be monitored. The we do not yet have well developed role of differentspecies of Ribes (Fig. 4) breeding programs in place. in maintainingand spreading disease also needs further study. => Silvicultural Strategies. Enhance planting of rust resistant white pine => Public Outreach and Partnerships. seedlings in openings created by natural Federal, State, Tribal, and non- disturbances and silviculturalmethods. governmental organizations, and the Creating openings near surviving white public willwork together to protect, pines will enhance planting and restore, and sustain these ecosystems. regeneration opportunities. Summary - ii The Resource: White Pines and Their a minor to moderate component, to white pine- Ecosystems dominated ecosystemswhere they are the major tree species, to harsh high-elevationsites where ine species of white pines are native white pines are the only conifers that can survive. to U.S. forests: eastern white pine (Fig. 5), western white pine, sugar Historically,white pines thrived in many forests N pine, whitebark pine, limber pine, because of their abilityto regenerate in openings southwestern white pine, Rocky Mountain created by fire, outgrow their competitors, and bristlecone pine, Great Basin bristlecone pine, resist many native insects and pathogens. Today, and foxtail pine. White pines occur naturally in white pine ecosystems are being transformed and impoverishedby the combined effects of white pine blister rust and lack of openings for regeneration (Fig. 6). Without fire or other openings, white pines fare poorly and are replaced by other speciesthat can regenerate beneath the pine canopy. In many cases in western forests, a few conifer species, such as grand fir and Douglas-fir, will become dominant resulting in forests that are less diverse, densely overstocked, especiallyfire-prone, and more susceptibleto insects and disease. Eastern white pine is also favored by fire and other openings, although it is more shade tolerant. However, Figure 5. Eastern whitepine. with limitationson active management, Lake 40 of our 50 states, :tromseashore to timberline States pine forests convert into disease prone, and ttom isolated desert mountain ranges to unthrifty hardwood stands. extensive inland forests. These pines include some of the oldest, most majestic, and most culturally significanttrees in the United States. An ancient bristlecone pine in eastern California is believed to be the oldest livingthing on Earth at over 4,700 years of age. The great size and superior wood quality of mature eastern white, western white, and sugar pines made them the chief prize of lumbermenas they worked westward across the continent. White pines play an important role in maintaining watershed health and wildlifehabitat as well as Figure 6. This whitebarkpine ecosystemhas been impacted providing commercialproducts and desirable extensively by blister rust and bark beetles. recreational experiences. White pine ecosystems contain white pines as a significantor dominant part of their coniferous tree cover and play critical roles in forest development and integrity. Examples of white pine ecosystems range ttom mixed-conifer ecosystems where white pines are 1 The Disease: White Pine Blister Rust Ecological Impacts and Its Impacts The effects of blister rust go far beyond the loss hite pine blister rust, a fungus of individualtrees. There is a cascading effect on native to Asia, was introduced to associated plant and animal communities the eastern and western coasts of throughout affected ecosystems. Natural W North Americaaround the turn regeneration and intermediate age classes have of the 20thcentury on infected white pine nursery been rapidly killed by blister rust resulting in stock grown in Europe. In spite of a complicated dramatic changes to normal successional life cycle requiring the presence of gooseberries pathways. In some cases, the impact of blister or currants (Ribes species) as well as pines, the rust combined with lack of regeneration pathogen has spread into 38 states (Fig. 7), opportunities threatens to eliminatethe white causing substantial damage and mortality in pines as functioningcomponents of forest seven of the nine native white pine species. ecosystems. This outcome has significant Infected trees may lose much of their canopy, negative impacts for watershed health, wildlife where cones are produced, years before death habitat, and the abilityof these ecosystemsto occurs. Two white pine species, the long-lived respond to changes brought on by fire, insects, Rocky Mountain and Great Basin bristlecone pathogens and other agents of change. For pines, remain untouched by this disease, but for example,western white pine was once the how long? dominant species on five million acres in the InlandNorthwest. 1920 1925 1953 Current !-~ Forestedlands B.o."".,.",,,,...,.. Forested lands at risk Figurt: 7. History af whitt: pint: blistt:r rust spread. 2 Today, less than ten percent of that area has a regimes, and reduced wildlifediversity. significantwestern white pine component. Where western white pine have been killed by Bristlecone, foxtail, limber and whitebark pines blister