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Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States

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Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States Technical Reference 6711-1 August Prepared by: 2016 Dana L. Perkins, Ph.D., Forest Ecologist, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Robert E. Means, State Forester, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Alexia C. Cochrane, Vegetation Ecologist, Cochrane Consulting (Bureau of Land Management, Idaho, retired) Pesticide Precautionary Statement This publication reports research involving pesticides. It does not contain recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate state or federal agencies, or both, before they can be recommended. CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers. Suggested citation: Perkins, D.L., R.E. Means, and A.C. Cochrane. 2016. Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States. Technical Reference 6711-1. Bureau of Land Management, Denver, Colorado. Publishing Services by the Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, Denver, Colorado. BLM/OC/ST-16/004+6711 Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States Technical Reference 6711-1 August Prepared by: 2016 Dana L. Perkins, Ph.D., Forest Ecologist, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Robert E. Means, State Forester, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Alexia C. Cochrane, Vegetation Ecologist, Cochrane Consulting (Bureau of Land Management, Idaho, retired) In Memoriam Dedicated to Robert E. Means (10/1/1953 – 5/26/2015), whose passion for forests and love of learning inspired all who worked with him. He was a man of highest integrity with the compassion, wisdom, courage, and understanding to do his best, to do the right thing, and to make a difference. He succeeded. Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States iii Photo by Michael Sulis [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons via 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], Photo by Michael Sulis [CC BY-SA Acknowledgments We are grateful to the authors of three important strategies for whitebark pine restoration, for much of this reference is reproduced from their documents: “A Range-Wide Restoration Strategy for Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)” (Keane et al. 2012), “Whitebark Pine Strategy for the Greater Yellowstone Area” (Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee - Whitebark Pine Subcommittee 2011), and “Whitebark Pine Restoration Strategy for the Pacific Northwest Region 2009–2013” (Aubry et al. 2008). We are also grateful for reviews and editorial suggestions from Christy Cleaver, Bob Keane, Mary Francis Mahalovich, Kelly McCloskey, Connie Millar, Anna Schoettle, and Diana Tomback. We also send a huge thanks to Brian Weihausen for preparing maps and GIS modeling and to Mike DeArmond for his inspiring vision of healthy whitebark pine forests. A heartfelt thanks goes to National Operations Center employees Nancy Esworthy (editor) and Ethel Coontz (visual information specialist) for their excellent suggestions, which greatly improved this publication. We are especially grateful to Kathy Radigan, senior forester in BLM’s Division of Forest, Rangeland, Riparian, and Plant Conservation, Washington Office, who retired in January 2016 after 30 years of federal service. Not only did Kathy’s support and passion for our public lands lead the national BLM forestry program forward, but her vision and guidance inspired and made possible the creation of this document as a valuable resource for conserving and managing whitebark pine ecosystems. Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States v Contents Abstract ................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary ................................................................................xiii Introduction .................................................................................................1 Section 1: Ecology .......................................................................................5 Systematics ...............................................................................................5 Distribution ..............................................................................................5 Description ...............................................................................................6 Importance to Wildlife ............................................................................9 Community Characteristics ....................................................................10 Range Margin Populations ....................................................................11 Fire ..........................................................................................................11 Genetics ..................................................................................................12 Section 2: Disturbances and Threats ....................................................13 Overview .................................................................................................13 White Pine Blister Rust ..........................................................................14 Mountain Pine Beetle ............................................................................16 Climate Change ......................................................................................19 Extent of Decline ....................................................................................20 Section 3: Conservation Actions ...........................................................23 Mapping .................................................................................................24 Inventory ................................................................................................28 Monitoring .............................................................................................29 Gene Conservation .................................................................................30 Cone Collection for Rust Resistance – Plus-Tree Selection ...................31 Protection of Seed Sources ....................................................................31 Silvicultural Practices ..............................................................................32 Prioritization of Stand Treatments........................................................42 Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States vii Summary ................................................................................................45 Research and Management Needs .......................................................47 References ..............................................................................................75 Appendixes Appendix 1: Maps Showing Probability of Occurrence of Whitebark Pine on BLM Lands in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho and in Eastern California and Nevada ........................................51 Appendix 2: White Pine Blister Rust Damage Codes for Ranking Severity of Infection, and Mountain Pine Beetle Activity Rating for Whitebark Pine ................................................................53 Appendix 3: Monitoring Report for Health Status of Five-Needle Pines on Wyoming BLM Lands (Reprint) .........................................55 Appendix 4: Scion and Pine Pollen Collection and Handling .................57 Appendix 5: Whitebark Pine Plus-Trees in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming ....................................................61 Appendix 6: Cone Collecting Guidelines ..............................................63 Appendix 7: Whitebark and Limber Pine (Five Needle Pine) Management Guidelines for Wyoming BLM, August 2011 (Reprint) .......65 List of Figures and Tables Figures Figure 1.1: Whitebark pine mortality from a mountain pine beetle outbreak in 2005 ...............................................................1 Figure 1.2: Whitebark pine distribution map .......................................6 Figure 1.3: Multiple age classes of whitebark pine, limber pine, and subalpine fir on Commissary Ridge, BLM-Wyoming ...........7 Figure 1.4: Three whitebark pines, each with multiple stems forming a tree clump .........................................................................8 viii Conservation and Management of Whitebark Pine Ecosystems on Bureau of Land Management Lands in the Western United States Figure 1.5: Male pollen cones and a mature, ovoid-shaped whitebark pine cone ..........................................................................8 Figure 1.6: Whitebark pine cones stored in a pine squirrel midden on the ground ........................................................................9 Figure 1.7: Whitebark pine cones displayed in the top of the tree, an adaptation for bird-dispersed pines ..................................10 Figure 1.8: Understory plant community on a xeric site .....................10
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